Crop Protection and Nutrition – Weekly Update Brazil & Latin America (12/26/24 – 01/01/25)

9 tonnes of 2,4-D fell into the Tocantins River due to the collapse of the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge, between the municipalities of Aguiarnópolis (State of Tocantins) and Estreito (State of Maranhão). In total, 25 thousand L of pesticides, including acetamiprid and picloram; and 76 tonnes of sulfuric acid were dropped into the river. Analyses and monitoring of the water are being carried out every 2 hours and indicate there was no chemical leak and that the toxicity level for human consumption is low. The companies responsible for the loaded trucks were notified to organize the removal of the vehicles from the water. (ANA; SEMA/MA; Ibama)

According to a study elaborated by the Pesticide Residue Analysis Program in Food (PARA), pineapple and orange are the fruits with the highest amount of pesticide residues. The samples showed high levels of toxicity and substances with the potential to cause acute damage were identified in 22 of them. Approximately 3,294 samples of 14 plant-based foods were analyzed, such as lettuce, garlic, rice, tomatoes and beets, and 26.1% showed irregularities. It was  noticed the use of prohibited or unauthorized pesticides, such as carbofuran, found in 18 samples, and prochloraz, present in two. (Anvisa)

Inedita Bio, a biotechnology company specializing in genome editing, and Shull Seeds, a company specializing in corn and sorghum seeds, have announced an R&D partnership to create corn hybrids that require less nitrogen fertilizer management, acting in a similar way to Rhizobium bacterial inoculants, reducing costs. The first hybrids are expected to hit the market in 3 to 4 years. (Inedita Bio; Shull Seeds)

Pesticide spill in Rio Vermelho, in the State of Goiás, caused by an accident on GO-164 on December 17th resulted in fish contamination and the detection of highly toxic substances. The cargo, from stolen origin, did not have environmental licensing. (Semad; Ibama)

Ministry of Agriculture launched the e-Phyto Sanitary Certification System, which will come into effect on January 13th, 2025. The system will enable the digital issuance of phytosanitary certificates for the export of plant products, eliminating paper documents. (MAPA)

São Paulo State University and State University of Maringá, in partnership with National Institute of Science and Technology in Nanotechnology for Agriculture, have developed and patented a bioinsecticide that uses the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis to combat the corn earworm. The technology allows the bioinsecticide to target the pest in its embryonic stage, before it causes damage to crops. (UNESP; UEM; INCT Nano Agro)

Rainbow has launched Rainbow Bio in Brazil, with four biofertilizers already registered at the Ministry of Agriculture and with the intention to register five more products in early 2025. The objective is to become one of the top 5 largest companies in biological and chemical segments in the country within ten years. (Rainbow)

Brazilian Development Bank has approved financing of US$ 24.73 million from the BNDES Emergency Program, for investment and reconstruction aimed at implementing a Josapar fertilizer factory in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The financing corresponds to 75.8% of the total investment planned for the implementation, which will total US$ 32.62 million. (BNDES)

A cargo containing approximately 1,130 kg of pesticides, valued at US$ 22,617.49, originating from China was seized in Santa Vitória do Palmar, State of Rio Grande do Sul. The product was transported illegally through Uruguay. (Patram)

Soybean sowing in the State of Goiás of the 2024/25 season must be carried out by January 2nd of 2025. After this, soybean planting is prohibited in the state, including in irrigated system. “This could require a greater need for fungicide applications, even causing the loss of efficiency of these products in controlling Asian rust”, said Daniela Rézio, Plant Health Manager at Agrodefesa. (Agrodefesa; Government of the State of Goiás)

Approximately 200,000 plants were eradicated in the northwest of the State of Paraná, the main producing region in the State, because they were infected with greening. A total of 180 properties in 8 municipalities were inspected, with 22 properties containing infected plants. “These plants are infected with the disease and are a constant source of inoculum for the bacteria and the vector, the so-called citrus psyllid, making control within the orchards very difficult”, said Renato Blood, head of the Plant Health Department at Adapar. (Adapar; Government of the State of Paraná)

Anvisa has updated guides for pesticide toxicological evaluation. These updates take into account contributions from the public consultation and technical adjustments, as well as the recent pesticide Law No. 14785, from December 27th of 2023. (Anvisa)

Ibama has banned microbial species from families such as Xanthomonadaceae and Pseudomonadaceae in biological products’ formulation and requests molecular identification to prove their absence. Registration requests with these microorganisms will be rejected. (Ibama)

German researchers performed a technical mission in the State of Amapá to assess the new cassava witches’ broom disease caused by the fungus Ceratobasidium theobromae. The disease was identified and recorded in five municipalities in the state for the first time this year. The purpose of the expedition was to evaluate the spread of the fungus and align control actions with other affected areas. (Embrapa Amapá)