FMC Corporation’s lawsuit against Rainbow Agro in Mexico
Brazil
According to José Miranda, Bruna Tripode, Valéria Jardim, Cherre da Silva and Eliane Quintela, researchers at Embrapa, the biological control of the cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) is “especially interesting”, because it can reduce the use of chemical products during critical stages of plant development, when the root system is not yet completely established (initial phase, between 20 and 50 days after emergence) or when the cotton bolls are open. According to them, the difficulties for the mass breeding of natural predators, commercial production and commercialization are being overcome by the bioinput manufacturers and the demand for these products is growing. (Embrapa Cotton; Embrapa Rice and Beans)
Fertilizer sales increased 77% in Brazil for the 2023/24 summer crop, according to a survey by StoneX Consulting. The “significant delay in purchases of fertilizers for summer crop, that still continued at the end of May, has now been solved, with the index having reached 77% in Brazil and 80% in the Midwest, the same levels observed in the past three years”, according to Stonex. (Stonex Consulting)
Updated tables of formulated and technical pesticides, containing all registrations approved in Brazil, in addition to information such as package leaflets, labels and registration certificates, etc. (MAPA)
State of Minas Gerais leads the production of soil remineralizers and silicate fertilizers in Brazil, with 43% of local production, followed by the States of Goiás (24%) and São Paulo (10%). (Brazilian Association of Soil Remineralizers and Natural Fertilizers Producers)
Total sales of formulated products in 2022 reached 800.65 thousand tonnes, while sales of technical products reached 364.98 thousand tonnes. Herbicides reached 733,895 tonnes, followed by fungicides (181,803 tonnes) and insecticides (127,718 tonnes). Of the 3,055 registrations of formulated products in force in the period, 1570 were categorized as “not commercialized”. (Ibama)
Erica Barbagalo is the new vice president of human resources for Bayer in Brazil and for the agricultural division in Latin America. Andrea Garcia is the new Vice President of Legal, Patents and Compliance for Brazil and for the agricultural division of Latin America. (Bayer CropScience)
According to researchers Daniel Debona and Darlan Sartori, at the Federal Technological University of the State of Paraná, the mixtures of triazoles, strobilurins and carboxamides have excelled in controlling yellow spot, caused by the fungus Pyrenophora tritici-repentis. This is the main leaf spot disease that affects wheat in southern Brazil. The use of healthy seeds, seed treatment with fungicides, such as iprodione, and balanced fertilization with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are also important to reduce damage caused by the disease. (UTFPR)
Vittia, a Brazilian company specialized in plant nutrition and biotechnology, ended the 2Q of 2023 with a loss of US$ 2.93 million. In the same period of 2022, the company reported a profit of US$ 1.06 million. (Vittia S.A.)
Representatives of the Public Ministry, managers and activists defended, at a hearing at the Human Rights Commission on August 10th, that pesticides should be subject to more taxes in the tax reform project (PEC 45/2019), that is being reviewed in the Senate. (Agência Senado)
On August 14 and 15, the 14th Brasil Agrochemshow took place at Expo Center Norte, in the city of São Paulo. The event had 75 exhibitors (pesticide manufacturers, formulators, CROs, logistics companies, consultancies, etc.) and more than 600 participants, in a space dedicated to networking and business. Lectures were given on agribusiness, the environment and registration of pesticides. The opening was held by the CEO of SLC Agrícola, Aurélio Pavinato. (AllierBrasil)
Agricultural inputs distribution market earned US$ 21.08 billion between January 2022 and January 2023. States with the largest share in volume were Mato Grosso (23%), Minas Gerais (22%) and Paraná (14%). In the period, of the total sold by the industry, 46% were pesticides, 26% were soil fertilizers, and 17% were seeds. (Andav)
Incidence of greening (HLB) reached record levels in several regions of Brazil in 2022. Depending on the amount of spraying, expenses with the disease have increased considerably and may represent up to 30% of disbursements in the 2023/24 season. Continuous use of pyrethroids without adequate rotation with products with other modes of action may have led to increased resistance in psyllid populations. (Cepea; Fundecitrus)
Unigel announced the resumption of operations at its fertilizer plant in the State of Sergipe in September. The company also announced it has returned to producing styrene in the city of Cubatão, State of São Paulo. (Unigel)
Ordinance No. 606 from the Ministry of Agriculture, from August 11th of 2023, establishes guidelines for the training of pesticide applicators, in compliance with article 42-A of Decree No. 4074, from January 4th, 2002. (MAPA)
Gustavo Horbach is the new CEO of Eurochem for South America. (Eurochem)
152 tonnes of illegal pesticides were seized in a joint operation by the Ministry of Agriculture, Ibama and the Federal Highway Police, that involved 15 municipalities in the State of São Paulo. 29 companies were inspected, and four were interdicted due to “precarious manufacturing conditions of agricultural inputs”. 42 infraction notices were issued, representing US$ 2,104,611 in fines. (MAPA)
Latin America
YPF Agro, leader in fertilizer sales in Argentina, announced the launch of the SUMMA platform, a “comprehensive precision agriculture service”, that aims to guarantee the precise use of fertilizers, through application at variable rates. “The more variable the management, the greater the possible return and the increase in the gross margins. Possibilities include variable fertilization of phosphorus and nitrogen or variable corn density”, according to Cecilia Bonelli, business manager at YPF Agro. (YPF Agro)
Interco Trading, a Brazilian startup that imports oil derivatives, started importing urea, potassium chloride and boron from Bolivia to Brazil. Accord
Among the 10 most used pesticides in Costa Rica, eight are considered highly toxic, according to a technical report by the Institute for Research on Toxic Substances at the National University. The most used active ingredients in the country are mancozeb, glyphosate, 2,4-D, chlorothalonil, diazinon, paraquat, diuron, ethoprophos, chlorpyrifos and oxamyl. (UNA)
The Federal Court of Administrative Justice of Mexico granted an injunction in favor of FMC Corporation in a lawsuit against Rainbow Agro Sciences. The lawsuit refers to “patent infringement related to the company seeking registration of chlorantraniliprole and products containing chlorantraniliprole in Mexico”. Chlorantraniliprole is FMC’s main active ingredient for insecticide products, sold in the country under the brand name “Rynaxypyr Active”. The injunction demands the Federal Committee for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks to prohibit the import and export of Rainbow’s technical chlorantraniliprole in Mexico and denies Rainbow any registration of formulated products containing chlorantraniliprole. (FMC Corporation; Cofepris)
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