Fertilizer sector plans to invest US$ 4.02 billion over the next four years
Brazil
Ministry of Agriculture published pesticide registration requests of 19 equivalent technical products and 1 technical product. (Ministry of Agriculture)
Distributors of agricultural inputs seek to anticipate receivables to obtain credit, reduce risks and increase cash flow. “The distributor is one of the main financiers of agribusiness. Theoretically, the whole production chain works when the distributor manages to buy on credit to sell on credit, however, what we are seeing is the suppliers’ credit limits becoming more and more restricted. In addition, some inputs such as fertilizers and seeds also require a good amount of cash to purchase up-front,” said Gustavo Cansian, commercial coordinator at fintech TerraMagna. (TerraMagna)
“Environmental reassessment [of pesticides] stems from indications that the products, after entering the market, cause greater risk than what was measured at the time the substance was analyzed…”, according to Ibama’s technical team. (Ibama)
Between 2019 and 2022, Ibama analyzed 927 registration processes for chemical formulated products, of which 733 PPAs were approved (79.07%), 169 filed (18.23%), and 25 rejected (2.69%). (Flavio Hirata, AllierBrasil)
Research revealed high efficiency of two Brazilian strains of Trichoderma fungus – Trichoderma asperelloides CMAA 1584 (BRM 065723) and Trichoderma lentiforme CMAA 1585 (BRM 065775) – for the control of white mold, disease caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, that affects several crops, such as cotton, soybean, beans, sunflower and tomato. One of the strains can inhibit 100% of the germination of sclerotia, that are fungal survival structures. Strains showed aptitude to solubilize inorganic phosphorus, a nutrient of low availability in tropical soils. (Unesp: Embrapa; Federal University of Lavras; USDA)
Sebastião Ferraz Ribeiro Filho is the new executive director of Stoller do Brasil, leaving the position of marketing director at the company. (Stoller do Brasil)
CropLife partners with Schroder Consultoria Agro to support courses for agricultural drone pilots, held monthly by Schroder, in which more than 400 professionals have already been trained. “Our courses teach how to fly drones and how to apply agricultural pesticides with drones, two different things, but equally important”. said Eugênio Schröder, director of Schroder Consultoria Agro. (CropLife Brasil; Schroder Consultoria Agro)
Lavoro Agro announces agreement for the acquisition of corporate control of Referência Agroinsumos, headquartered in Dom Pedrito, State of Rio Grande do Sul. The partnership is Lavoro’s first retail distribution operation in the State. Referência has grown approximately 43% a year over the last four years, opened up seven stores in Rio Grande do Sul and recorded net revenue of approximately US$ 57.39 million during the 2022 fiscal year. (Lavoro Agro; Referência Agroinsumos)
Bill No. 475/23 provides for obliging companies that manufacture or resell pesticides to pay for the training of farmers and employees who will handle pesticides. Proposal will be analyzed by the Chamber of Deputies. “Even if they understand the recommendation, they may not have the necessary knowledge for the correct use of personal protective equipment and the handling of the product with security”, says deputy Marx Beltrão, author of the proposal. (Chamber of Deputies)
Fertilizer sector plans to invest US$ 4.02 billion over the next four years to boost Brazilian production of raw materials and reduce external dependence. “Brazil has done its homework and now has full conditions to enable a strong and structured national production”, said the executive director of the National Union of Raw Material Industries for Fertilizers, Bernardo Silva. According to the union, the reduction in international dependency will be achieved through the creation of new factories, expansion of investments to other regions of the country, increase in total production capacity and reactivation of plants. (Sinprifert)
Fertilizer Purchasing Power Index – IPCF reached 0.98 in February. Value is the most favorable of the last 20 months for the farmer. There was a 2% decrease in fertilizer prices, mainly caused by nitrogen products. Commodity prices continued with little variation, with a drop of 0.3% compared to the previous month. (Mosaic Fertilizantes)
Sindiveg developed an online platform for registering and qualifying farmers and pesticide applicators, that provides free courses aimed at improving the efficiency of applications and the quality of life of farmers and consumers. Platform is provided for in Decree No. 10.833/2021, that determined the creation of a registration of applicators, with mandatory training for these professionals. It is estimated that by 2026 two million farmers will be qualified. (Sindiveg)
André Rizk is the new legal and compliance vice-president at Lavoro Agro. (Lavoro Agro)
In compliance with court decision, Anvisa approved the toxicological evaluation of pesticide based on glyphosate, from Fuhua. (Anvisa)
Marcelo Okamura is the new president of the National Institute for Processing Empty Packaging – InpEV. Okamura steps down as director of research and development for Latin America at FMC. (InpEV; FMC)
Mosaic will invest US$ 153.04 million in the Taquari-Vassouras Mineral Chemical Complex, in Rosário do Catete, State of Sergipe. Company plans to extend until 203 the local extraction operation of sylvinite, used in the processing of potash. Mosaic predicts that 450 thousand tonnes of potash will be processed annually because of the investments, compared to 370 thousand tonnes processed in 2022. (Mosaic Fertilizantes)
Igor Lima is Bayer’s new global marketing director, leaving the Brazil marketing management for corn and sorghum. (Bayer)
Latin America
Ministry of Agriculture of Ecuador will supply 484,000 50 kg bags of urea at a reduced price to farmers between March and June of 2023. Fertilizer price will be subsidized by 50%, through a contribution of US$ 9.54 million from the Ministry. (MAG)
Adama Ltd. announced acquisition of a further 40% share of Adama Chile, formerly known as Chile Agro, becoming the owner of 100% of the company and strengthening its presence in the plant nutrition and agricultural pesticides markets in Latin America. Adama’s initial investment of 60% in Chile Agro was made in 2013. (Adama Ltd.)
Albaugh announced acquisition of Corteva’s glyphosate portfolio. Purchase includes registrations, brand names, regulatory data, formulations, patents and know-how, used for the worldwide commercialization of Corteva’s glyphosate, with the exception of Argentina. “This will expand our direct access to glyphosate markets in areas where we previously did not have a strong presence, including countries such as Chile, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia, as well as complementing our existing glyphosate offerings in the US, Canada and Brazil”, said Jens Thorsen, chief marketing officer at Albaugh. (Corteva Agriscience; Albaugh LLC.)
Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos reported daily losses of approximately US$ 400,000 because of blockades at the entrance of the Llipi Industrial Complex, in the department of Potosí, that prevent the passage of potassium chloride cargo. In 2022, YLB sold almost 55 thousand tonnes of potassium chloride, exporting the product from Bolivia to Brazil, Chile, Peru, Malaysia and Paraguay. (YLB)
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