Coffee Farmers’ Fertilizer Purchasing Power Improved in 2025 in Brazil
Ministry of Agriculture issued Ordinance SDA/MAPA No. 1429, of October 23rd, 2025, authorizing accredited laboratories within the National Network of Agricultural Laboratories to conduct pest identification analyses regardless of their accreditation scope. The measure aims to mitigate risks of quarantine pest introduction and spread and to meet the phytosanitary requirements of importing countries. (Official Gazette of Brazil; Ordinance SDA/MAPA No. 1429, from 10/23/25; Ministry of Agriculture)
In compliance with court decisions, Anvisa approves toxicological evaluations of metribuzin technical (Hemani), indoxacarb technical (AllierBrasil); amicarbazone technical (Tecnomyl); and mesotrione + atrazine + S-metolachlor (Zhongshan). (Official Gazette of Brazil, Res. No. 4092, 4093, 4225, 4226, 4227, 4235 from 10/23/2025, Anvisa)
CropLife launched CropData, a platform that compiles information on the agricultural input industry. The portal offers updated data, analytical reports and a technical glossary. During the launch press conference, CropLife’s president, Eduardo Leão, executive manager Renato Gomides and economic affairs manager Maria Pinheiro presented the initiative, which aims to promote transparency and evidence-based decision-making. (CropLife Brasil)
Ministry of Agriculture published Ordinance SDA/MAPA No. 1428, of October 23rd, 2025, amending Ordinance No. 1415/2025 and updating guidelines for submitting cooperation proposals aimed at emergency actions to prevent and combat pests such as Moniliophthora roreri, Bactrocera carambolae and Rhizoctonia theobromae. The measure strengthens federal and state support for surveillance, control and eradication of phytosanitary emergencies. (Official Gazette of Brazil; Ordinance SDA/MAPA No. 1428, from 10/23/25; Ministry of Agriculture)
Corn leafhopper (Dalbulus maidis) has become one of the main threats to corn farming in Brazil, now present in almost all producing regions during main and second cropping seasons. Yield reductions can exceed 90% in susceptible hybrids, mainly due to the transmission of maize stunting disease, Maize red stunt disease and Maize streak disease. Effective control requires integrated, regional management and strict adoption of Good Agricultural Practices, including volunteer plant elimination, planting synchronization and responsible pesticide use. (CropLife Brasil)
Agrotools and Syngenta have joined forces in the REVERTE program, one of the world’s largest regenerative agriculture initiatives, aiming to recover 1 million hectares of degraded pastures by 2030. Supported by Itaú BBA, the project already monitors over 360 farms and 260 thousand hectares in real time, using Agrotools technology to ensure socio-environmental compliance and efficiency in land conversion. The partnership fosters productivity, sustainability and resilience in Brazilian agribusiness. (Agrotools)
Advances in sugarcane weevil borer (Sphenophorus levis) management research will be highlighted at the 3rd Sugarcane Phytosanitary Symposium, to be held on November 5th to 6th, in Jaboticabal, State of São Paulo. The event will bring together experts to discuss new technologies such as RNAi and protease inhibitors, along with ecological studies and field management strategies for this major sugarcane pest. (Funep; Cepenfito)
According to researcher Cristina Tordin from Embrapa, the use of bioprotectors in agriculture is growing rapidly and already covers over 58 million hectares in Brazil. Biological agents such as Trichoderma spp., Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Bacillus thuringiensis strengthen plants’ natural defenses and reduce environmental impacts. Although they represent only 4% of crop protection products used in Brazil, bioprotectors are considered a cornerstone of sustainable management and a key trend in agribusiness. (Embrapa; Kynetec)
At the 6th Sugarcane Agronomic Group Meeting, held on October 21st at the Agronomic Institute of Campinas’ Sugarcane Center in Ribeirão Preto, State of São Paulo, researcher Leila Luci Dinardo-Miranda emphasized that reducing Sphenophorus levis populations depends on pre-planting measures rather than ratoon management. She highlighted that mechanical destruction of ratoons during the dry season and a long fallow period are key to effective control. (IAC)
Welberth Rezende, mayor of the city of Macaé, in the State of Rio de Janeiro, announced plans to invest part of the city’s oil royalties in a nitrogen fertilizer project to boost local agriculture. The municipality, Rio de Janeiro’s largest grain producer, is negotiating with Petrobras for natural gas supply to the future plant, which is included in the National Fertilizer Council’s strategic portfolio and supported by the federal government. (City Hall of Macaé; Confert)
The startup Symbiomics Microbiome Solutions, from Florianópolis, State of Santa Catarina, was one of the winners of the Southern Regional stage of the 2025 FINEP Innovation Award, in the Sustainable Agribusiness Chains category. The company created a synthetic microbial community that enhances soil phosphorus availability and reduces chemical fertilizer use by up to 25%, boosting crop productivity and agricultural sustainability. (Fiesc)
During a hearing in Brazil’s Lower House of Congress, experts stated that resuming domestic fertilizer production is a matter of national security. Ticiana Alvares, director at the Institute for Strategic Studies on Oil, Gas and Biofuels, noted that Brazil’s dependency on nitrogen fertilizers rose from 75% in 2015 to 96% in 2025. Petrobras announced it will restart plants in the States of Bahia, Sergipe, Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul, which together will meet around 35% of national demand. (Agência Câmara de Notícias)
The Fertilizer Industry Union of the State of Paraná warned that electronic enforcement of Brazil’s Minimum Freight Law (Law No. 13703/2018) via MDF-e [a digital document that gathers all electronic invoice and documents for a shipment, replacing paper forms and valid nationwide in Brazil] could raise transportation costs for the fertilizer sector by over 35%. The group calls for revision of the National Land Transport Agency – ANTT – freight table, suspension of electronic fines and modernization of the law to reflect current logistics. The issue will be discussed at the Sindiadubos NPK Symposium 2025 in Curitiba, State of Paraná, with industry and congressional representatives. (Sindiadubos)
Pesticide Container Collection Program, created by Brazilian tobacco associations, marks 25 years as one of Brazil’s first reverse logistics initiatives in agribusiness. The program serves 108 thousand farmers and 1.8 thousand mobile collection points across southern Brazil, ensuring the proper disposal and recycling of 100% of rigid containers in collaboration with inpEV and the Campo Limpo System. Campo Limpo, in turn, has invested over US$ 3.7 million to expand its facility in Ribeirão Preto, State of São Paulo, increasing its recycling capacity for pesticide packages to 25 thousand tonnes per year. (SindiTabaco; Afubra; Campo Limpo)
The Civil Police of the State of Paraná arrested seven people suspected of participating in a criminal organization involved in fertilizer theft and adulteration. The operation, carried out in the States of Paraná and São Paulo, also blocked bank accounts and seized assets. The group mixed limestone and dyes with original fertilizers, reducing their effectiveness to only 5%. The scheme moved around US$ 740 thousand in two months, directly harming agricultural productivity. (Government of Paraná; Civil Police of Paraná)
Coffee farmers’ fertilizer purchasing power improved in 2025. In the State of São Paulo, 1.16 bags of arabica are now needed to buy one tonne of formulated fertilizer, compared to 1.44 bags in 2024 and 2.6 on the historical average. With arabica priced at US$ 428.35 and robusta at US$ 265.12, the scenario favors fertilization in coffee fields, boosted by the return of rains in producing regions. (Cepea/Esalq)
Military Police arrested three men in Araguaína, in the State of Tocantins, caught transporting stolen agricultural pesticides worth US$ 74,490. Authorities say the suspects are part of a specialized criminal group using a truck and a support car. The cargo, stolen in the State of Maranhão and destined for the State of Minas Gerais, included around 800 liters of insecticide and 3 thousand liters of fungicide. The operation was carried out with support from the State of Maranhão’s police and the Federal Highway Police. (Military Police of the State of Tocantins)
Guilherme Terribili has taken over as Commercial and Operations Director for the Cerrado Biome Region at EuroChem Brasil. (EuroChem Brasil)
RNA technology emerges as a new frontier in pest management, enabling the targeted silencing of specific genes in insects and pathogens through RNA interference (RNAi). The technique offers high precision and low environmental impact, as RNA is a natural and biodegradable molecule. GreenLight Biosciences is a pioneer in the commercial use of this technology and sees strong potential for RNAi in Brazil, driven by rapid innovation adoption and the growth of the bioinput market. (GreenLight Biosciences)
Rovensa Next has appointed Victor Sonzogno as Head of Brazil. (Rovensa Next)
Cropman and EarthOptics have partnered to offer an integrated soil diagnosis solution in Brazil that combines Cropman Agronomic Zoning and Trubio, a technology based on metagenomics – study of genetic materialism – and artificial intelligence. The partnership enables physical, chemical, biological soil analysis, helping farmers identify productivity limitations and adopt more precise and sustainable management practices. The tool is now available to farmers, consultants, cooperatives, with initial projects in soybean, corn, sugarcane, cotton and coffee crops. (Cropman; EarthOptics)
Latin America
Researchers from the National Institute of Agricultural Technology and the Faculty of Agronomy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, are studying the use of insectivorous birds as natural pest controllers. The project installed wooden nest boxes to attract species such as the striped thrush and great kiskadee, which already compete for shelter and help reduce insect populations, such as the sawfly, reducing the need for agrochemicals. (INTA)
Startup Unibaio, in Argentina, has developed technology that uses shrimp shells to create a biological additive that reduces the need for agrochemicals, improving its effectiveness and promoting more sustainable practices. The project, awarded “Innovation of the Year 2025” by the FAO and the World Food Forum, has completed the experimental phase and is negotiating agreements for commercialization in 2026, with registrations under review by National Service for Food Safety and Quality, from Argentina. (FAO; Unibaio)
Students in Los Cerrillos, Argentina, planted more than 700 native trees to create a natural barrier against winds that carry pesticide residues and reduce environmental impacts. This is part of a project launched in 2023 to protect local schools and communities by promoting environmental awareness and sustainable practices. (Zapam Zucum; Fork Forest)
According to a study conducted in October of 2025, peaches sold in the Lima and Callao regions of Peru exceeded the maximum limits for pesticide residues. The fungicide isoprothiolane exceeded the legal limit by 45 times, while azocyclotin and cyhexatin exceeded the limit by 20 times. (Mérieux Nutrisciences)
Researchers from the University of Florida, USA and EARTH University, Costa Rica, have found that the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus can help control key strawberry pests, such as the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) and the chili thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood). (University of Florida; EARTH University)
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