Biological control and new plant varieties contribute to combating sugarcane pests

To reduce the use of chemical-based agricultural pesticides, BP Bunge Bioenergia has invested in research, development and the acquisition of alternatives for the use of biological pest control or sugarcane varieties resistant to threats to vegetable crops.

This is the case of the Cotesia Flavipes wasp, used in sugarcane fields for the biological control of the sugarcane borer, a species of moth larvae that causes major productivity losses in sugarcane cultivation. In fact, the cotesia larvae, which fight the pest by feeding on the sugarcane borer, are deposited in containers and launched into the sugarcane field by drones, based on georeferenced planning for better location efficiency, ensuring results suitable for biological management. .

To combat leafhoppers, an insect that sucks the sap from sugarcane roots, injecting a toxin that reduces the plant's productivity, the company uses the fungus Metarhizium Anisopliae.

Another major challenge is combating Sphenophorus levis, or sugarcane weevil. To combat this pest, BP Bunge is a pioneer in the use of entomopathogenic nematode technology (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora), with promising results.

"Whenever possible, we prioritize biological alternatives to combat pests that cause losses to sugarcane crops. The evolution of research has expanded the range of alternatives to traditional agricultural pesticides, which is good for the sector and better for the environment", says Rogério Bremm, Agricultural Director at BP Bunge Bioenergia.

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The fight against the giant borer has been studied and BP Bunge, together with other partners, is at the forefront of this research. One of the lines of study uses entomopathogenic nematodes, a type of soil worm, to combat the giant borer, as they feed on the borer's larvae, interrupting their development cycle.

Another alternative that has been tested by the company to control the giant borer is the use of sugarcane varieties developed by the CTC - Sugarcane Technology Center, adopted in this testing phase at the Pedro Afonso Unit (TO).

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Another alternative to reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases in your sugarcane fields, with less use of chemical-based pesticides, is in planting management, through the use of Pre-Sprouted Seedlings (MPB) from varieties developed specifically for each of the 11 company units, according to the geographic, geological and climatic characteristics of each region.

To this end, BP Bunge has the MPB Production Center at the Moema unit, in Orindiúva (SP), which produces around 3,4 million sugarcane seedlings per year.

The development of new varieties of seedlings is carried out by the company's partners, such as IAC (Campinas Agronomic Institute), CTC (Cane Technology Center) and Ridesa (Interuniversity Network for the Development of the Sugar-Energy Sector), using breeding techniques genetic, which also considers resistance to pests.

This in-house production has numerous advantages to guarantee: the health of the plant, which was produced in a controlled environment; the traceability and reliability of the origin of the material and quality production based on tests carried out in the nursery; and the tendency for faster growth, since, if the MPB seedling is planted in an adequate rainfall regime, the evolution is up to 20% greater compared to other planting methods.

"Currently, it is still not possible to dispense with the use of traditional agricultural pesticides, as we face, in some cases, very aggressive pests, with potential damage and which are not completely eliminated by biological agents. But we remain dedicated to scientific research that has advanced very quickly, they are dynamic and tend to evolve very quickly, bringing new, more efficient alternatives", says Bremm.

On its own land, the company also promotes management and rotation with other vegetable crops, such as sunn hemp, soybeans, peanuts, etc., in addition to other mechanical practices to eliminate soil pests, which contributes to combating pests and renewing of the soil for replanting sugar cane.