​Brazilian safety programs for agrochemicals are highlighted at event

Scientific researcher Hamilton Ramos recently made a presentation in Santiago de Chile about relevant projects developed in Brazil in the area of ​​safety in the application of agrochemicals. The Aplique Bem, IAC-Quepia Protective Equipment in Agriculture and Reference Unit programs, held at the Engineering and Automation Center of the Agronomic Institute (CEA-IAC), in Jundiaí (SP), were highlights of an event organized by the entity Crop Life Latin America.

According to Ramos, Crop Life Latin America brings together companies and entities linked to the Plant Science sector. The Santiago event, as reported by the researcher, will debate until tomorrow (2/10) the improvement of safety standards involving agricultural pesticides in Latin America.

In his presentation, Ramos highlighted that the Aplique Bem program, with 12 years of existence, has already benefited 68 thousand people in Brazil and seven other countries. Aplique Bem trains farmers and rural workers to correctly use agrochemicals.

The IAC-Quepia program, which completed 13 years in 2019, Ramos noted, allowed the average rate of failures in the quality of personal protective equipment for agriculture sold in Brazil to be reduced from 80% to 20%.

The researcher also emphasized the importance of the recently created Reference Unit for Technology and Safety in the Application of Agricultural Pesticides (UR) for agribusiness. The entity, which provides courses for agronomists and companies in the agricultural market, said Ramos, brings together the conditions to reduce in Brazil the deficit of labor specialized in the application of agrochemicals, which brings annual losses of around R$2 billion to agricultural companies. .

The Aplique Bem, IAC-Quepia and Reference Unit programs result from the association between the private sector and the Department of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São Paulo.