Spraying, technology and the environment

Throughout 2020, amid the chaotic situation generated by the Covid-19 pandemic, we also observed the role of Brazilian agribusiness being called into question in the news. Some aspects linked to the country's agricultural activity have generated distrust, especially among the urban population. One of them is the use of pesticides in food cultivation.

The foundation of this type of opinion is essentially based on misinformation. Consequences of a divided country and in the midst of a fierce dispute over narratives, the distortion, or lack of accurate information about Brazilian agribusiness, ends up unfairly harming a production chain that feeds and employs millions of people.

Initially, it is worth explaining the agronomic rationale behind all this. The type of disease and the level of infestation in the crop are decisive in choosing the type of pesticide to be used. Furthermore, production on larger scales requires control and assertive decision-making to conduct a culture seeking to achieve the best productivity with quality and maximum control over cost reduction, which directly impacts the production value and final cost of the product. product.

Another point that deserves to be highlighted when it comes to the use of agricultural pesticides is the technology used in this stage of cultivation. In recent years, sprayers have incorporated a series of tools that are effective in controlling application, increasing efficiency, reducing waste and minimizing environmental impact, thus configuring a major revolution in agriculture.

With climate monitoring and developments in application technology, the pest, disease and weed control stage becomes more assertive and sustainable. The result of this is a significant improvement both in profitability, with savings generated by the controlled use of inputs, and in the environmental impacts of agricultural production.

The much-discussed agriculture 4.0 has been responsible for the total integration of machines and digital agronomic solutions, in this and other stages of the production cycle in the field. In this sense, specialized companies in the sector, especially those producing machines, have worked to develop products focused on efficiency, connectivity and data generation. Valtra, for example, renewed 100% of its portfolio in the last four years to enable this type of integration.

The brand's self-propelled sprayers have unique characteristics in terms of application efficiency and can be customized according to the farmer's needs. Furthermore, there are models for different producer profiles, such as the BS3330H, which has a specific version for sugarcane processing, or the new BS2225H, which offers cutting-edge technology for small and medium-sized properties.

All of these machines integrate with the Farm Solutions program, an end-to-end digital agronomic solutions service, developed by specialized partners and offered at Valtra's dealer network throughout Brazil. Old problems, such as soil drift and compaction, are mitigated by advances such as real-time meteorological monitoring and machine traffic control, offered in the program.

It is clear that there are a series of challenges to be overcome. But this is not exclusive to Brazilian agribusiness and we have been working increasingly to preserve the pace of activities with as little environmental impact as possible. With the understanding of the strategic importance of agribusiness for Brazil, the visibility of the various sustainability actions employed by the sector in the country and the end of misinformation about the entire production chain, we will be able to put an end to the stigma that still affects the image of Brazilian agribusiness and our takes away from the best conditions before the international community.

Fabricio Müller, Senior Product Manager and Strategic Marketing for Planting and Spraying at AGCO South America