Crop Protection and Nutrition – Weekly Update Brazil & Latin America (04/24/25 – 04/30/25)

SDA/MAPA establishes a Working Group to support the regulation of the Bioinputs Law No. 15070, from December 23rd, 2024. (SDA/MAPA Ordinance No. 1270, of April 25th, 2025)

Containers of the illegal pesticide paraquat were seized during an inspection on a farm in Bagé, State of Rio Grande do Sul. Packages  of pesticides that had been disposed of in an inappropriate location, in violation with the law, were also found, as well as irregular storage. The operation was launched by agents of the Specialized Police for the Repression of Rural Crimes and Cattle Theft in Bagé. (Decrab)

The court in the city of Sinop published a summons to the creditors of Agrocampo Agropecuária, from Novo Horizonte do Norte, State of Mato Grosso, which is process of bankruptcy protection (similar to US’ Chapter 11). The company has accumulated debts totaling US$ 1.15 million. The protection was approved by judge Giovana Pasqual de Mello, from the 4th Civil Court of Sinop. (4th Civil Court of Sinop)

With the harvest coming to an end, Frísia Agroindustrial Cooperative recommends the purchase of inputs for the next season in advance. “Given the exchange rate fluctuations and variations in grain prices, planning avoids surprises and reduces risks”. (Frísia Agroindustrial Cooperative)

With a debt of US$ 115 million, Rifertil files for bankruptcy protection. The fertilizer company from the State of Goiás, which also has an unit in the State of Sergipe, attributes the financial crisis to the exchange rate, price devaluation and adverse market environment. (Rifertil)

According to the NGO Repórter Brasil, gallons of pesticides that fell into the Tocantins River in December, after the collapse of a bridge connecting the States of Maranhão and Tocantins, were found more than 300 km from the accident site. According to the environmental agency, some of the packages with pesticides were founded in Nova Ipixuna and Itupiranga, in the State of Pará. (Repórter Brasil; Ibama)

Pulp mill Suzano has adopted ladybugs as a natural solution for biological pest control in eucalyptus. The species is being used on a large scale in the States of São Paulo, Maranhão and Mato Grosso do Sul, covering 57 thousand hectares last year. According to the company, in 2024 around 17.1 thousand kg of pesticides were no longer used, generating savings of over US$ 530 thousand. (Suzano Papel e Celulose)

New nanotechnology solution can ensure savings of pesticides of up to 90% in tomatoes. “The nanoinsecticide has significant potential to control B. tabaci at reduced doses and can be considered safe for tomato plants. This work adds to a growing body of evidence demonstrating the potential of nanoscale carriers to significantly reduce the environmental burden associated with the use of agrochemicals,” says Leonardo Fracetto, coordinator of INCT NanoAgro. (INCT NanoAgro)

In compliance with the court decision, Anvisa approves toxicological evaluation of clethodim 240 + haloxyfop-P-methyl 123.6 g/L EC from Rainbow. (Anvisa)

The court of Mato Grosso State have not yet accepted the Safra Group’s bankruptcy protection request. Judge Giovana Pasqual de Mello, of the 4th Civil Court of Sinop, ordered a new round of clarifications and preliminary verification to assess the viability of the process. The debts are estimated at US$ 220 million. (4th Civil Court of Sinop)

The fertilizer market shows distinct behaviors among the main macronutrients. Nitrogenated fertilizers, such as urea, are currently priced at US$ 377.5/t in Brazilian ports, a lower level than recorded in recent months. (Itaú BBA)

Corn farmers in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul are facing rising costs for the next season. The cost of high-tech corn production for 2025/2026 was estimated at US$ 560 per hectare, up 1.05% when compared to February of 2025. The increase was driven by the higher prices of the main agricultural inputs: pesticides showed an average price increase of 2.75%, seed prices rose 1.08%, and macronutrient prices increased 0.64%. (IMEA)

AgroGalaxy released results for the 4Q24. Adjusted net loss was US$ 51.75 million, compared to a profit of US$ 10.09 million in the 4Q23. (Agrogalaxy)

Cargill has launched a rail transport operation between the Port of Santos, State of São Paulo, and the State of Mato Grosso. The initiative, carried out in partnership with Brado Logística, combines the shipment of agricultural inputs to the countryside with the return of containers loaded with cotton for export. The first shipment took place in March. The operation is expected to happen weekly and may increase in volume in the coming months. (Cargill)

Brazil recorded a record number of pesticide contamination cases in 2024, with 276, according to the annual report of the Pastoral Land Commission. In 2023, only 32 cases were recorded. (CPT)

The Mato Grosso Cotton Institute concluded the first edition of the Technical Field Round in April, an initiative that visited cotton fields in 14 cities in the State of Mato Grosso to provide guidance to farmers and technical teams on the control of pests, diseases, nematodes and weeds. The action benefited approximately 600 farm managers, agricultural technicians and agronomists. (IMAmt; AMPA)

Agribusiness continues to show a weak performance in February, with a 0.6% increase compared to the same month of 2024. Only three sectors are propelling growth: Agricultural Inputs (21.6%), Textile Products (4.8%) and Food of Animal Origin (1.1%). All other sectors recorded a contraction. (FGVAgro)

Marcelo Lessa, formerly at the World Bank and Bunge, has been appointed to the advisory board of Brazil Potash. (Brazil Potash)

GoGenetic Agro announced the development of exclusive primers (required for DNA synthesis) for application in bioinputs used in agriculture. “The growing demand for more effective, safe and traceable bioinputs is driving the use of molecular technologies in agriculture”. (GoGenetic Agro)

Amanda Búlgaro, federal regulatory manager at Aenda, is part of the panel “Adoption of Organics in Latin America: Driving Innovation and Investment” at the Agribusiness Global Latam seminar. (Aenda)

According to Jeferson Souza, an analyst at Agrinvest Commodities, the rise in phosphate prices may be related to structural changes in China. “In the case of DAP [diammonium phosphate], from January to March of2021, China exported 920 thousand tonnes. In 2025, it  fell to just 78 thousand tonnes. MAP exports, which exceeded 530 thousand tonnes in 1Q23, are now no more than 34 thousand tonnes. The market hopes China will resume exports from May of 2025 onwards”. (Agrinvest Commodities)

Ibama approved 1609 environmental evaluations of Formulated Chemical Products from 2019 to 2024. In 2024, there were 506 approvals, an increase of 36.39% when compared to 2023. Most of the approvals are for Concentrated Suspension, Dispersible Granules, Emulsifiable Concentrate and Soluble Concentrate formulations. (Ibama)

The State Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply of the State of Goiás announced the opening of a public consultation to update State laws that regulate the use of bioinputs and pesticides. The measure, formalized through Ordinance No. 69/2025, aims to adapt the State’s legislation to the new federal legal framework established by Law No. 15070/2024, which establishes national guidelines for the use of bioinputs in agriculture. (Seapa)