Grasses are a new focus for biological inoculants

After transforming soybean cultivation in Brazil, bioinputs, especially inoculants, are now turning to a new horizon: grasses, such as corn, sugarcane, rice, wheat and pastures. According to the Ministry of Agriculture (Mapa), the country already has 37 inoculants aimed at these crops, with an average efficiency of between 25% and 30%, in addition to 40 patents under development. The adoption of these bioinputs in grasses could represent savings of up to 5,1 billion dollars for the country, in addition to avoiding the emission of approximately 18,5 million tons of CO₂ equivalent per year — reinforcing the strategic role of organic farming in building a more sustainable agribusiness. 

Among the highlights is the use of microorganisms such as azospirillum, widely recognized for its contribution to biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). In addition to this microorganism, other biological solutions involve growth-promoting and nutrient-solubilizing bacteria, such as those of the genera Bacillus e Pseudomonas. Now the fungus Trichoderma spp., although traditionally used in the biological control of pests and diseases, is also part of this set of innovative technologies aimed at increasing the agronomic efficiency of grasses. 

According to the National Fertilizer Plan 2050, diversifying the use of bioinputs in different crops is an essential strategy in a global scenario of transition to more sustainable agricultural practices, in addition to being one of the greatest opportunities to expand BNF beyond soybeans, reducing Brazil's external dependence on nitrogen fertilizers. These findings are gathered in the study “Bioinputs as an alternative to chemical fertilizers in grasses: an analysis of the innovation aspects of the sector”, carried out by Mapa in partnership with entities such as the Senai Institute of Innovation in Biosynthetics and Fibers (ISI) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

According to the National Association for the Promotion and Innovation of the Biological Industry (Anpii Bio), which represents companies with a strong presence in the inoculant market, including in the development of solutions aimed at grasses, the sector has been showing significant growth. Each year, associated companies sell more than 40 million doses of products based on microorganisms such as azospirillum. The survey also shows that, although soybeans still lead the consumption of inoculants, with 75% of the market share, corn already represents 16% of the market, followed by sugarcane with 4%. When considering the use of inoculants in all crops, the associated companies delivered 205,6 million doses to the market in the last harvest, with sales totaling R$ 527,5 million and an expected growth of 12,4% in 2025. The trajectory is solid, with average annual growth of over 16% in recent years. Technologies have also been evolving rapidly: in 2024, products based on Bradyrhizobium accounted for 57% of sales (or 77% in number of doses), maintaining the leadership. Inoculations with azospirillum e Pseudomonas represented, respectively, 29% and 4% of sales, reflecting the advance in the diversification of the use of microorganisms in the field.

Given this scenario, the topic was at the center of discussions at the event. Executive Dinner, held by Anpii Bio last month in Brasília. The event was attended by executive authorities, members of parliament, representatives from Mapa and Anvisa, entities representing the production sector, such as the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA), Abrapa and Aprosoja, as well as members of foreign embassies and leaders of the bioinput chain. During his speech, Alessandro Cruvinel, director of the Department of Support for Agricultural Innovation at the Ministry of Agriculture and former president of the Strategic Council of the National Bioinput Program, highlighted the importance of expanding the use of bioinputs for crops other than soybeans, with a focus on grasses. “We managed to eliminate the use of nitrogen in soybeans with inoculants. The question now is: can this happen with other crops?”, he asked.   

For Guilherme de Figueiredo (pictured), president of Anpii Bio, “eliminating nitrogen fertilization” means completely replacing the use of chemical nitrogen fertilizers with the use of biological inoculants, which promote biological nitrogen fixation, nourishing the plant naturally and efficiently. “This model, consolidated in soybeans, is a major technical challenge for other crops. The goal now is to accelerate the development and adoption of these technologies,” he said. 

In line with this objective, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) has also been actively contributing to the advancement of bioinputs. Clênio Pilon, the institution’s Director of Research and Development, highlighted during the event that Embrapa has developed active ingredients based on phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria, as well as microorganisms capable of promoting plant development even under water stress. “We are committed to the biological revolution, which is the third major wave of agriculture,” he emphasized.

The so-called "Biological Revolution", as pointed out by Clênio, has been gaining momentum at a time when agribusiness is seeking more sustainable and efficient solutions. In this context, the environmental and economic impacts of adopting inoculants have been increasingly highlighted by experts. According to a survey conducted by Anpii Bio in partnership with Embrapa researcher Mariangela Hungria da Cunha, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in soybeans prevents the emission of approximately 5,4 tons of CO₂ per hectare. Considering the 44 million hectares cultivated in the country, this represents 236 million tons of CO₂ not emitted. With the advancement of technology in corn, Brazil could reach the mark of 240 million tons of avoided emissions.

In addition to environmental gains, the data also reveal significant economic benefits. Reducing the use of chemical fertilizers through BNF generates savings of US$27,4 billion — and in the case of corn, replacing just 25% of nitrogen fertilization with inoculation can reduce production costs by up to R$119,19 per hectare, representing a national savings of over US$0,5 billion.

Legal framework accelerates the advancement of bioinputs 

Approved in December 2024, the Bioinputs Law (Law No. 15.070/2024), which regulates the production and use of these products in the country, is essential for Brazil to increasingly accelerate the development and registration of these technologies, which include, in addition to inoculants, products such as biofertilizers, biodefensives, biological growth regulators and other products based on metabolites of microorganisms - essential for a more sustainable agriculture that is less dependent on chemical inputs.

“The recently approved regulatory framework is a game changer. With greater legal certainty, the sector can attract investment, foster research and bring sustainable technologies to more producers,” continued the president of Anpii Bio. From this, Brazil is expected to stand out even more on the world stage: currently, the country already represents 11,3% of global consumption of bioinputs, generating R$5,7 billion per year. The sector is expected to grow 60% by 2030, reaching R$9 billion in sales. 

However, for the new law to be fully regulated, all the different links in the bioinput chain — government, industries, researchers and farmers — need to discuss collaboratively to achieve a balance between innovation, safety and the effective implementation of best practices in the sector. Observing this need, Anpii Bio, which was born as a representative of inoculant producers and importers, but is now one of the main entities in the bioinput sector in the country, always seeks to dialogue with all parties involved, promoting periodic events, such as the Executive Dinner, where the main protagonists of this transformation were gathered. “We are working on public policies, modern regulations and market expansion, including for livestock and animal production”, continued the president of the entity during his speech.

Júlia Emanuela de Souza, director of institutional relations at Anpii Bio, reiterated that this progress was only possible thanks to the union of everyone involved in the bioinputs sector. “If it weren’t for this, Brazil would never be at the forefront. This moment is not an achievement for the sector, but for all of Brazilian agriculture,” she stated during the event.

She also highlighted that these products are a response to the central question of modern agriculture: how can we increase food production without depleting natural resources? “We are talking about natural products, with high efficiency, low environmental impact and great compatibility with other technologies. Bioinputs are not an alternative, but rather a solution for the future, which generates jobs, stimulates innovation and preserves our greatest asset, the Earth. We are not building a sector, we are building a legacy.”