Seed sales increase 30% in the 2021 harvest, according to BIP Spark study

The current BIP – Business Intelligence Panel study, relating to second harvest corn (safrinha) in the 2021 cycle, by Spark Intelligence Strategic, points to a 30% increase in seed sales. Sales reached R$7,9 billion, compared to R$6 billion in 2020. Spark also found that the grain occupied 14,5 million hectares in the regions covered by the study, an increase of 11% compared to the previous period (13,1, 2022 million hectares). The BIP Milho XNUMX, according to the company, will be published next April.

According to Spark's market analyst, Raquel Ribeiro (photo), the increase in seed sales is mainly explained by producers' adherence to the most innovative cultivars, included in the so-called third generation of biotechnology. “The producer has invested in modern hybrids to control caterpillars. These technologies also present tolerance to herbicides and today constitute strategic tools for crop management”, summarizes the specialist.

In the areas evaluated by Spark, third-generation biotechnology occupied 63% of corn crops in the 2021 off-season (9,1 million hectares), compared to 23% in the 2019 cycle (2,9 million hectares). Second-generation biotechnology reached 30% of the planted area (4,4 million hectares), while first-generation biotechnology corresponded to just 1% (93 thousand hectares). In 7% of the areas or 973 thousand hectares there was no use of these technologies.

Still according to the expert, the robust movement of third generation biotechnologies is not directly related to the increase in the area planted in the off-season. “The research reveals that the performance of these seeds is due to the corn producer’s tendency to prioritize the pillars of quality genetics, cutting-edge biotechnology and seeds treated with insecticides and fungicides, in search of greater productivity and profitability.”

“Due to the accelerated advancement of biotechnology, BIP found that there was a significant drop in the applications of agricultural pesticides to control caterpillars in the off-season”, continues Raquel. As the Spark specialist compares, in 2021, 57% of cultivated areas had at least one application of pesticides, a rate above 70% two years ago.

The BIP Spark Corn 2020-21, which covers corn in the off-season, resulted from more than 3 interviews with farmers from the main producing regions. The study also shows that the largest areas planted in the off-season were found in the states of Mato Grosso, with 41% of the total, Paraná (17%), Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul, the last two with 15% each.

More information at: http://spark-ie.com.br/