Paraguay Will Increase the Purchase of Urea From Bolivia
Brazil
With the prospect of an increase in citrus production in 2024, the specialist José Lopes, from the Technical Assistance, Rural Extension and Agricultural Research Agency of the State of Goiás, said that there is great effort spent to ensure that greening does not reach the orchards in the State. “It is essential that people understand that purchasing seedlings produced without phytosanitary monitoring puts the entire citrus industry at risk”, said Lopes. “There was an increase in cultivated citrus area [in Goiás], due to the migration of farmers to the State, as the main citrus regions face problems caused by greening”. (Emater – GO)
According to Flavio Hirata, partner at the consulting firm AllierBrasil, in 2023 Ibama approved 46 environmental evaluations for pesticide registration through legal actions promoted by companies. There was a slight drop when compared to 2022, with 48 approvals. CHDS, Rainbow, Oxiteno and Tecnomyl represent 39.1% of the approvals by court decision. Most of the approvals were products containing glyphosate, in addition to 2,4-D and cyproconazole. (AllierBrasil)
Rafael Oliveira is the new marketing director for “Crops and Campaigns” at Syngenta, leaving his position as director of “Indirect Access” at the company. (Syngenta)
According to Décio Gazzoni, researcher at Embrapa Soybean, the Brazilian government has two programs to monitor pesticide residues in food. “One of them is conducted by Anvisa… the Pesticide Residue Analysis Program in Food. According to him, “the Anvisa report indicates that, from 2013 to 2022, residues relating to 342 active ingredients were evaluated, in 21,735 samples of 36 foods… there was no extrapolation of the Acceptable Daily Intake for any of the pesticides evaluated, so no situation of potential chronic risk to consumers’ health was identified”. (CCAS)
Paula Bianca Salmazo is the new regulatory affairs leader at SynTech Research Group. (Syntech Research Group)
According to Maria Gabriela Oliveira, director of Atlas Agro, the approval of Bill No. 699/2023, regarding the creation of a legal framework for the nitrogen fertilizer market in Brazil, could enable large investments, mainly for nitrogen fertilizer factories using green hydrogen. “Future green fertilizer factories in Brazil can have a relevant impact on the country’s trade balance, avoiding billions of dollars in imports”. (Atlas Agro)
Luciane Reis is the new head of communications at AgroGalaxy and Aqua Capital. (AgroGalaxy)
“The urea market has been affected in recent days by production cuts in Egypt. This had an upward impact on futures prices and FOB prices in several regions. In Brazil, this meant an increase in CFR urea prices”, according to Tomás Pernías, analyst at StoneX. (StoneX Consulting)
The International Agricultural Surveillance System – Vigiagro has barred entry of 576 kg of contaminated peaches at Guarulhos Airport, State of São Paulo. The cargo came from the USA, and had the presence of a quarantine pest that is a risk to national agriculture (Anarsia lineatella, a borer from the order Lepidoptera). The material will be sent for incineration. “Loads of imported fruit arrive at the Guarulhos airport every day. We know that the issuance of the certificate is based on the inspection of part of the cargo, only a sample. It is up to Vigiagro to certify that the cargo is truly free of any pest that poses agricultural risks”, said Sandra Kunieda, head of Vigiagro in Guarulhos. (MAPA)
According to Lidia Cristina dos Santos, a lawyer specialized in agribusiness, “those who work in this market and follow the subject of reevaluations [of pesticides] know how difficult it is to ensure legal compliance in processes where decisions must be taken together by three public administration bodies… Law No. 7802/89, currently repealed by Law No. 14785, already determined that the reevaluation process (the reanalysis of products) should be carried out jointly by the three agencies. It was already necessary that an assessment be made on the impacts of a regulatory decision to withdraw products from the market… the rejection of the vetoes [by the President of the Republic] that dealt with the powers of the registering agencies over the reanalysis process represents progress and good common sense”. (CCAS)
Renato Saleme is the new B2B director at ICL Group, leaving his position as B2B commercial director at Mosaic in Brazil. (ICL Group)
Research on effects of insecticides against the corn leafhopper (Dalbulus maidis) performed by researchers Perkovsi Machado, Vieira Souza, Silva Dias, Gerate Sacilotto and Omoto, indicates a greater susceptibility for active ingredients belonging to the chemical group of carbamates and organophosphates. “Regardless of the chemical group, susceptibility is a local/regional characteristic, therefore there are differences depending on the geographic regions and this information must be considered when making decisions”, according to Eduardo Perkovsi Machado, researcher at FMC. The work was an initiative by IRAC Brasil, together with CropLife Brasil. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/mrx5duze. (FMC; CropLife; IRAC Brasil)
“While the long-term prospects [in Brazil] remain attractive, short-term market challenges have required an adaptation of our strategy. We are working on a margin improvement plan designed to provide better consistency for earnings”, said Ken Seitz, global CEO of Nutrien, about the company’s operations in Brazil. He stated that the short-term marginal cost of the potash supply operations in Brazil is increasing due to inflation and higher logistics costs. Capital costs have also risen, further increasing the estimated long-term marginal costs of supply. (Nutrien Ag Solutions)
According to Rodrigo Santana, director of operations at Atlas Agro in Brazil, the company plans to complete its factory for nitrogen fertilizer made from green hydrogen in Uberaba, State of Minas Gerais, in just 3.5 years. “The expectation is to complete construction in three and a half years and begin operating the plant in 2028”. The estimated investment is US$ 790 million. (Atlas Agro)
Leandro Sauthier is the new BU South director at UPL, leaving his position as sales head for Brazil and Paraguay at Syngenta Seeds. (UPL)
The Superior Labor Court of Brazil approved on June 12th an agreement that allows for the reactivation of the Araucária Nitrogenados nitrogen fertilizer factory, a subsidiary of Petrobras in the State of Paraná. Petrobras’ Board of Directors had approved reactivation of the unit on June 6th, but it still depended on the resolution of the action in the Labor Court. (TST; Petrobras)
Legis Consultoria, CropLife Brasil, Fundepag and Instituto Biológico published “Quality Manual: Agricultural Bioinputs” and “Quality Management – Pesticides, Environmental Control Products and Related Chemical Products”. The manuals include current regulatory standards for the pesticide market. They are available at: https://tinyurl.com/yaepmhsh. “The Quality Management Manual is a contribution from CropLife Brasil to the ongoing discussions about regulation of the Self-Control Law No. 14515/22, the new Pesticides Law No. 14785/23 and the Ordinance that should be published by MAPA on Rework, Revalidation and Reprocessing of products”, said the director of chemical pesticides at CropLife, Roberto Araújo. (CropLife Brasil)
Potássio do Brasil has obtained an Installation License – LI for its potassium processing plant in Autazes, State of Amazonas. According to the company, they now have 12 Installation Licenses and Authorizations issued by the Institute of Environmental Protection of Amazonas. In this way, work is now allowed to begin. (Potássio do Brasil)
Erick Cancian is Bayer’s new asset manager – insecticides. (Bayer)
Federal Supreme Court of Brazil decided, on June 13th, to suspend the judgment on the constitutionality of tax reductions and exemptions granted to pesticides. Minister Edson Fachin, rapporteur of the case, argued that the trial should take place only after a public hearing. This is the second time that this issue has been postponed. (STF)
Agroadvance Brasil published a technical report on the role of boron in plant nutrition: functions, deficiency, toxicity and fertilization management. “Boron deficiency is one of the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies and the most widespread globally”. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/53rv98x9. (Agroadvance Brasil)
Latin America
Alexandre Frateschi is the new Plant Health business director for Latin America at FMC, and Leonardo Antolini is the new Plant Health regional strategic marketing manager for Brazil. FMC announced that it is establishing an organization dedicated to biological products in Brazil. “The establishment of a biologics organization in Brazil highlights the country’s importance for our global strategy”, said Bénédicte Flambard, vice president of Plant Health Global. (FMC Corporation)
Demand for fertilizers is soaring among Argentine wheat farmers, but there is a shortage of some products, such as phosphates. Armando Allinghi, executive director of the Argentine Chamber of Fertilizers and Agrochemicals Industry, said that “the increased intention to sow wheat compared to the previous month has created shortages until supply goes back to normal”. (Ciafa)
María Agustina Veiga is the new president of the Argentine Chamber of Agricultural Health and Fertilizers, the first woman to preside over the institution. “Argentina is the 3rd largest food exporter in the world. Maintaining the global competitiveness of the Argentine agri-food sector is essential to the economic sustainability of our country”, said Veiga. (Casafe)
Paraguay will increase the purchase of urea from Bolivia, according to the country’s president, Santiago Peña. “Paraguay already buys fertilizers from Bolivia, but we believe that, if we adjust the logistics, this can be expanded”. (Government of Paraguay)
Coffee and Cocoa Committee of the Peruvian Exporters Association wants a ban on the import of technical products containing chlorpyrifos. Use and import of the formulated product is already prohibited in the country. “Chlorpyrifos continues to be used here, opening up the possibility of our product being rejected by international buyers. This makes it difficult to export organic food due to the risk of cross-contamination”, stated the president of the Committee, José Mejía. (ADEX)
Biotechnology company Kimitec announced the registration of Mexico’s first “natural acaricide”. Product is based on a combination of botanical extracts. “We plan to expand over the next two years to other markets, including Brazil, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and the USA,” said Alberto González, the company’s executive vice president and commercial director. (Kimitec)
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