How to face climate challenges and increase grain productivity with the use of inoculants

Brazilian rural producers face several climatic challenges throughout the harvest. Having a plantation prepared to face long periods of water scarcity, for example, can reduce impacts on production.  

Microbial solutions improve nutrient uptake in crops and also make them more resilient against stress-generating factors, such as periods of drought and heat. These solutions generate an increase in income and offer several environmental benefits, since, today, in addition to productivity and profit, rural producers must also seek more sustainable means for their production. For example, soybean lines are available that are capable of producing twice the national average, reaching 6.000 kg/ha. Technology and new ways of farming have notably increased productivity.

An example of a technology that is becoming increasingly robust in Brazil is the use of inoculants. According to the latest survey by ANPII – National Association of Inoculant Producers and Importers, Brazil produces at least more than 50 million doses of inoculants per year, a world record, with significant growth in recent years. This means the full adoption of technology by Brazilian farmers, always attentive to techniques that bring greater profitability to their crops.

Inoculants are composed of bacteria that help fix nitrogen in the roots. The products are applied to the seeds. For a good inoculation to occur, around 50 bacteria need to “stick” to each seed. When applying liquid inoculants, it is important that the producer checks that the entire seed is covered with the product. As they are living beings, they require some care in handling and storage, but they are worth it when we consider the cost-benefit obtained. In addition to reducing costs and increasing productivity, inoculants minimize the impact on the environment.

A study published in the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, one of the most prestigious scientific publications in the world, presented the environmental benefits of Optimize PRO, one of the most used inoculants in the world. A 6% increase in productivity was found, in addition to a reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions that could reach 4% per ton in soybean production.

If Optimize PRO and JumpStart, another technology analyzed in the study, were used on all soybeans and corn in Argentina and Brazil, it would be possible to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 38 million tons, which is equivalent to the annual emissions of 16 million cars.

It is possible to change the way traditional agriculture is done today, providing more profitability and sustainability. The adoption of inoculants in grain production can contribute to a more sustainable world and, of course, to your pocket, the producer. It's a path of no return, and one that you must be ready to follow.