Agricultural management and the future of pollinators

As children, at school, we already learned that pollinators are essential for maintaining diversity in the environment, food production and the continuity of life on this planet. That bees stand out among those mainly responsible for the reproduction process of plants and flowers, fundamentally contributing to the progress of agriculture and the maintenance of genetic variability.

Crops dependent on animal pollination, including bees, contribute 35% of the volume of global food production, representing 5% to 8% in value of global production. A very important role, both for the present, immediate moment, and also as our guarantee for the future.

Therefore, since 2014, through the Conviver Project, IHARA has become even more engaged in environmental issues related to the protection of pollinating insects, especially bees, which are so important for fauna, flora and our agriculture. One of the initiatives of this project is the construction of very special structures for these pollinators: Moradas Conviver. Open spaces, the gardens were carefully designed to guarantee the supply of pollen and nectar, with species that bloom all year round, as well as water sources and protection against sun and rain, in a harmonious and functional space.

In addition to the practical function of providing shelter and nutrition for these species, it has the major educational objective of drawing attention to the importance of preserving species of pollinating insects and showing that coexistence between agriculture and beekeeping is possible.

A notable fact is that all Moradas Conviver opened by the company are located within the units where IHARA promotes research and field trials with agricultural pesticides under development. Over the years of the project's operation, the results of continuous monitoring of these pollinator populations, and dozens of other environmental indicators - always very positive - are proof that, with technology, information and good practices, we are overcoming with great success the challenge of ensuring a balanced and safe coexistence between beekeeping and agriculture.

Increasingly, phytosanitary defense is essential for production in quantity and quality that meets the growing demand for food. Therefore, IHARA's commitment is to prioritize the development of environmentally safe products.

Research, technology, quality information and training will be, more than ever, indispensable allies in this process of converging efforts towards large-scale sustainable production, capable of feeding a growing world population and, at the same time, preserving natural resources and biodiversity that will continue to guarantee our productive potential for future generations.

Throughout our 57 years of history, IHARA has known how to grow and continually reinvent itself, moving along with the evolution of agriculture itself. Innovation has always been a strong and pulsating mark in our trajectory, guided by our mission of offering highly technological products for crop protection, and always supporting rural producers and the competitiveness of Brazilian agriculture.

Reiterating the company's commitment to the evolution of Brazilian agriculture, IHARA permanently invests in research and development, with the aim of launching new products capable of serving Brazilian tropical agriculture in a safe way and increasing its productivity. In the last three years alone, more than R$200 million were invested in research and development, structure and also in expanding the product line, with more than 30 new products for the agricultural market. Today, we have more than 80 solutions in our portfolio, including fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and special products, which contribute to the protection of more than 100 different types of crops.

We understand that to meet all the needs of the field we must not only research and develop innovative products, we need to bring sustainable solutions, guidance, good practices and quality information to the field. We always need to continue evolving.

By Gabriella Botelho, agronomist engineer, master in phytotechnics; IHARA stewardship consultant