“Agricultural research has increased soybean production with innovations in applied and basic science…”
Alexandre Nepomuceno is the general manager of Embrapa Soybean, with a degree in agronomy, a M.Sc. in plant physiology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and a Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas.
Alexandre Nepomuceno, general manager of Embrapa Soybean
AgriBrasilis – Soybeans have been in Brazil for 100 years. What were the stages of the tropicalization of this crop?
Alexandre Nepomuceno – Soybeans first entered Brazil about 100 years ago, with the initial introduction in the State of Rio Grande do Sul in the late 60’s, where it began to be planted on a larger scale for animal feed.
After the 70’s and 80’s, soybeans expanded to the South, Southeast and Central-West regions, mainly thanks to genetic improvement work. As a short-photoperiod plant, it requires a specific amount of darkness to bloom properly, which does not occur in low-latitude regions near the Equator, where they tend to have a shorter cycle and lower yields.
Brazilian science then, has developed varieties adapted to grow and reach an ideal size, introducing what we call a “juvenile period”. This work was complemented by improvements in soil fertility, correction of the acidity of tropical soils and the development of technologies for managing and controlling tropical pests, such as insects, fungi, bacteria and nematodes present in the country. This set of scientific advances allowed the expansion of soybeans throughout Brazil. Embrapa has played a fundamental role since the 80’s in developing varieties for these new regions, in partnership with the private sector.
“Genetic editing and transgenics are complementary technologies that will continue to coexist”
AgriBrasilis – What were the conclusions of the survey on the profile of soybean crops in the country carried out by Embrapa?
Alexandre Nepomuceno – The survey on the profile of soybean crops in Brazil, conducted in partnership with the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), showed that the country has 267,000 soybean farmers. More than 70% of these farmers are in the southern regions of Brazil, mainly in the States of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, where cooperatives are very strong.
Most of these farmers are small and work in cooperative systems, using sustainable practices, such as direct planting, biological nitrogen fixation and integrated pest management. This helps to demystify the idea that soybeans are dominated only by large landowners, showing that they support many families and generate direct and indirect jobs. Embrapa develops technologies that meet all farmers’ profiles.
The soybean production chain is of vital importance to the country’s economy, accounting for 6% of GDP in 2023, with 60% of the soybean grains produced last year destined for export.
AgriBrasilis – In what ways has research increased oilseed production?
Alexandre Nepomuceno – Agricultural research has increased soybean production with innovations in applied and basic science. Embrapa Soybean, for example, invested in the digital revolution, with the use of drones, satellite imaging and artificial intelligence, in addition to biotechnology that introduced herbicide-resistant plants, reducing the use of pesticides and facilitating direct planting. This advance was made possible by biotechnology and, more recently, by genetic editing, which uses the CRISPR technique to modify plant characteristics. This process allows the exploitation of mutations already present in the genetic diversity of soybeans.
Still on CRISPR, genetic manipulation can be done without introducing external genetic material, which makes genetic editing more accessible and less bureaucratic than transgenics, allowing the entry of small and medium-sized companies. For example, Brazil has already released the first edited tomato and potato, with improvements made from natural characteristics of the species itself, and which, therefore, are not considered transgenic.
AgriBrasilis – What is the importance of cooperativism as an agent for soybean development?
Alexandre Nepomuceno – Cooperativism is essential, especially in the southern regions of Brazil, where small farmers organize themselves to share costs and add value to their products. In the State of Paraná, for example, large cooperatives have thousands of members who produce soybeans in an integrated manner. Cooperatives reduce costs and add value by manufacturing products such as feed, margarine and soybean oil. This cooperative model allows small farmers to be competitive and strengthens local economies.
AgriBrasilis – How is it possible to add more value to the products in this chain, going beyond the export of commodities?
Alexandre Nepomuceno – Brazil already adds value to soybeans by keeping 40% of its production for the domestic market, mainly for the production of poultry and pork, which increases the value of soybeans within the production chain. Other industrial uses can be encouraged, such as biodiesel, asphalt, rubber and fashion products, such as sandals, following the example of the USA. This country, for example, uses soybean oil in tires and shoe soles, something that Brazil can explore further to reduce its dependence on soybean exports.
AgriBrasilis – Will genetic editing eliminate the need for GM varieties?
Alexandre Nepomuceno – Genetic editing and transgenics are complementary technologies that will continue to coexist. Genetic editing allows soybean characteristics to be modified based on mutations that already exist in the plant’s diversity. The CRISPR technique allows these mutations to be introduced precisely, without inserting DNA from other species. However, there are characteristics that still depend on transgenics, such as insect resistance, where the DNA of the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) is inserted into the plant to confer resistance to pests.
The BT bacterium, used safely since the 40’s, is an example of the importance of transgenics, which also enables resistance to nematodes and Asian rust in soybeans. Despite advances in genetic editing, transgenics will continue to be relevant for situations in which desired characteristics are not naturally present in soybeans. In addition, genetic editing is regulated in a simpler and less bureaucratic way.
AgriBrasilis – How can RNAi revolutionize pest control in crops?
Alexandre Nepomuceno – The RNA interference (RNAi) technique allows specific pest genes to be deactivated without affecting other organisms, thus reducing the use of chemical pesticides and environmental impact. With RNAi, it is possible to turn off only the gene of the target pest, leaving other organisms, such as soybean plants or beneficial insects, untouched. This represents a new pest control tool, with a more sustainable impact, and has the potential to transform integrated pest management in Brazilian agriculture.
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