Crop Protection and Nutrition – Weekly Update Brazil & Latin America (01/23/24 – 01/29/25)

In compliance with the court decision, Anvisa approves the toxicological evaluation of Flubendiamide Technical pesticide from Rainbow.

Anvisa approves toxicological assessment of New Microbiological Product – active ingredient not yet registered in the country, Trichoderma asperelloides, isolate MMBF 94/17, from Total Biotecnologia. (Anvisa)

Douglas Fabiano Gomes is the new director of research and innovation at Biotrop. (Biotrop Biological Solutions)

Pre-harvest desiccation is an essential practice for soybean farmers who seek to standardize crops for harvest. Spraying herbicides, it is possible to control weeds and bring forward the harvest by up to five days, allowing efficient planning for the planting of off-season corn. According to Rodrigo Rombaldi, technical supervisor at Cocari, “desiccation promotes standardization of the batch and anticipation of harvest. Studies show that the correct management of plants that are difficult to control at this stage brings significant benefits to the next crop… We must ensure that the plant is at the ideal stage for desiccation. Choosing the product requires technical guidance”, reinforces Rombaldi. (Cocari; Ocepar System)

Fertilizer prices are on a recovery curve. In 2024, prices reached the level seen during the pandemic, according to Talita Arcaro, vice-president of marketing for Latin America at Canadian Potash Exporters – Canpotex. The growth of national economies, such as India, increases the demand for food in volume and quality, favoring the consumption of fertilizers. Arcaro highlighted a positive outlook for the sector. In Brazil, soybean areas require significant amounts of potassium and phosphate, with potassium being undervalued in relation to phosphate. “We see potassium consumption growing. We believe this could help crops”. (Canpotex)

Federal Police seized 273 thousand kg of irregular pesticides in Brazil from 2019 to 2024. The highest percentage happened in 2022, with 153 thousand kg. Most of the actions are carried out in cooperation with Ibama and the Ministry of Agriculture. (Federal Police)

PHC Brasil has started 2025 announcing its team growth. Lucas Siqueira is now the company’s head of New Business Development. Ferdinando Silva is in charge of R&D. João Renato Rodrigues has joined the company’s commercial team. (Plant Health Care Brasil)

Brazilian Association of Plant Nutrition Technology Industries – Abisolo announced the III Symposium on Biofertilizers, which will happen on October 22^nd and 23^rd, 2025 at Expo Dom Pedro, in Campinas, State of São Paulo. The event will bring together experts, researchers, and professionals of the plant nutrition market. (Abisolo)

Epagri has made available an app called “SigBanana” for free download. It was developed to assist in the control of the Yellow Sigatoka disease (caused by the fungus Mycosphaerella musicola), based on climatic variables. The disease is prevalent in the south of the State of Santa Catarina, and, if not controlled, it can significantly reduce the productivity of banana, as well as the quality of the fruits. (Epagri)

Since October of 2024, the Federal Public Ministry has sought to negotiate an agreement with the Ministry of Health to reduce impacts of pesticide consumption by the population living close to the Dourados River basin, in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. Of the products found in the river, clomazone was identified in all water samples. (MPF)

Pesticide cargo that fell along with the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira bridge, between the States of Tocantins and Maranhão, should not be removed from the Tocantins River before the end of April 2025. The accident happened on December 22^nd, 2024. According to Ibama, the companies responsible for the products hired companies specialized in chemical emergencies to remove the material. Until January 9^th, 29 drums containing 20 L of pesticides each were removed. As of January 10^th, work was suspended due to the increase in water flow at the local hydroelectric plant. (Ibama)

Officials from the State Department of Finance seized, on January 24^th, 40 tonnes of fertilizers without an invoice. The seizure of the cargo, valued US$ 34.86 thousand, happened in Dom Eliseu, State of Paraná. A Seizure and Deposit Term was issued in the amount of US$ 7.54 thousand, referring to the tax and to a fine, which is awaiting payment. (SEFA)

Famasul – Federation of Agriculture and Livestock of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul argues that the case of soybean contamination, detected at the customs in China, will not affect the sector’s economy. In the beginning of last week, pesticide residues and quarantine pests were detected in shipments from five Brazilian companies, three of which operate in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. (Famasul)

The main importers of Russian fertilizers in 2024 were Brazil, India and China, with total imports reaching US$ 6.16 billion. Brazil was the main importer of mineral fertilizers from Russia from January to November of 2024, reaching US$ 3.38 billion. (Comtrade/UN)

The fertilizer company Cibra announced the constitution of US$ 33.9 million in its first Fiagro (Agroindustrial Chain Investment Fund), with exclusive coordination by BV bank. With the resources, the company will expand credit to farmers, boost sales and consolidate its expansion plan. The company has announced US$ 254 million in investments by 2026. (Cibra Fertilizantes)

BASF Soluções para Agricultura raised US$ 135.6 million in its third issuance of a Credit Rights Investment Fund (FIDC) to promote the sale of agricultural inputs. The operation was carried out through FIDC Opea Agro Insumos, managed by the company Opea, which also acts as a collection agent. (BASF)

According to an article from researchers Flávia de Mello, Sandra Mathioni, Stephane de Jesus, Eric Hirata, and Douglas Marques, the Sugarcane Wilt Syndrome has emerged in recent years as a significant challenge for the sugar and ethanol industry in Brazil. The impacts of the disease involve a reduction of yields that can surpass 25%, a reduction in the Theoretical Recoverable Sugar content, a change in the approximate amount of sugar in sugarcane, etc. What makes the problem worse is that it is occurring in an emerging and widespread way for many sugarcane varieties. (Syngenta)

Traps installed in the citrus belt of the State of São Paulo and southwest of the State of Minas Gerais recorded a significant drop of 41% in the capturing of psyllids (“Diaphorina citri”) in 2024, compared to 2023. According to the system, the average capture in 2023 was 2.23 psyllids per trap, while in 2024 this number dropped to 1.32. The results also surpassed those of 2022, when the average was 1.68 psyllids per trap. (Fundecitrus)

The board of the Securities and Exchange Commission accepted the proposal for a Term of Commitment with directors of the company Fertilizantes Heringer, in judicial recovery, in which they undertake to pay the municipality a total of US$ 203 thousand in fines. The proposal was presented by Lieven Cooreman and Julio Enrique Varela Gubitosi, vice-president of the board of directors and director of investor relations at Fertilizantes Heringer, respectively. (Fertilizers Heringer S.A.)

UPL and Future Climate Group announced an agreement to boost regenerative agriculture and the development of environmental services. The agreement aims to strengthen sustainable initiatives in agricultural value chains and explore the economic and socio-environmental potential of the sector in Brazil. According to Rogerio Castro, CEO of UPL Brasil, the partnership reaffirms the company’s commitment to sustainability. (UPL Brasil)

Yara fertilizer company started distributing fertilizers in the State of Maranhão with trucks powered by Liquefied Natural Gas. The initiative is carried out in partnership with VirtuGNL and is part of the company’s sustainability strategy, focused on operational efficiency and reducing emissions. The use of LNG-powered trucks could result in more competitive transportation rates, according to the company. (Yara Fertilizantes)

The agricultural cooperative Cocari’s Technological Center, in Mandaguari, State of Paraná, received Embrapa’s researchers Cláudia Godoy and Maurício Meyer to evaluate tests on stem breakage in soybeans. Two trials led by the Center stand out: one on fungicide management in the “Fibra” cultivar and another that evaluated 10 cultivars on their genetic resistance to breaking. “Even in adverse conditions, usually the central stem is not affected, which allows the grains to fill”, said João Batallini, consultant at the cooperative. (Cocari; Embrapa)

After 11 years of prohibition, the Federal Court approved the aerial spraying of glyphosate in the State of Maranhão. It was suspended in 2013 at the request of the Federal Public Ministry – MPF, which claimed the State was unable to monitor the use of the substance. In a new decision, federal judge Paulo César Moy Anaisse considered that the MPF was unable to prove irregularities with regard to the practice of aerial spraying, “limiting itself to allegations that do not translate into proven risks”, according to him. “Although the precautionary principle, which governs Environmental Law, authorizes the adoption of preventive measures to protect the environment, it is necessary for the author to present at least minimal evidence”. (8^th Federal Environmental and Agrarian Court of SJMA)

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) presence on soybean farms in 2024/25 increased when compared to the previous season, with losses of up to 25 bags/ha in the State of São Paulo. The pest also threatens the second season of beans, potentially causing losses of up to 100% due to the transmission of viruses like the golden mosaic. (Fundação MT; Embrapa Arroz e Feijão)

Study involving 304 farmers from 22 municipalities in the State of Espírito Santo revealed that 72% of workers exposed to pesticides had an increase in cardiovascular, renal, hypertension and neurological disorders. (Ufes)

The Agricultural Defense Institute of the State of Mato Grosso has changed the rules regarding the use of pesticides in the State. Among the changes, the buyer’s signature for the prescription is no longer required. Furthermore, digital prescriptions are now accepted. The new rule establishes that the recommendation must be specific to each crop or biological target. Under the previous rule, the recommendation could only have one crop and one biological target, making tank mixing recommendations unfeasible. ‘These changes show that the State Government is responsive to the demands of the productive sector, seeking to modernize and reduce bureaucracy while ensuring traceability and compliance in the use of inputs,’ said the technical director Renan Tomazele.

More than 70% of microbiological products manufactured in Brazil use strains developed by Instituto Biológico (Biological Institute). “The IBCB 425 strain is widely used in biological control, covering approximately 2 million hectares of sugarcane for the control of the root leafhopper and approximately 1 million hectares for the control of the pasture leafhopper”, said José Eduardo Marcondes de Almeida, director of the Biological Institute’s Biological Control Reference Laboratory Unit.