AgBiTech teams up with drone companies to apply technology to caterpillar control and resistance management

The Brazil unit of Australian-American AgBiTech announces the hiring of three companies specialized in the application of biological pesticides by drones. With this measure, the company will benefit producers across the entire agricultural frontier by offering the delivery of technology called Chamariz already applied to crops, under the supervision of technical teams from AgBiTech itself and specialists in drones in agriculture.

AgBiTech's marketing director, Murilo Moreira, highlights that by adding the application service to the commercialization of Chamariz, AgBiTech transfers precision, better cost-benefit and also increases the results of caterpillar management through the recently launched product, conceptually described as an “attractant” for moths.

According to AgBiTech's research and development manager, agronomist Marcelo Lima, the new Chamariz is 100% natural and reduces over 95% of the moth population in cultivated areas.

According to him, the technology results from a mixture of plant extracts, is safe, effective and selective to insects, including bees. “The technology attracts moths and controls them through the action combined with an adulticidal insecticide, mixed in low proportions”, he explains. AgBiTech's recommendation is to start Decoy applications when there is an increase in the adult population peak. “Monitoring moths is essential when making treatment decisions,” notes Lima.

According to him, analyzes carried out so far indicate that, applied by drones, Chamariz registers effective performance on moths of Spodoptera frugiperda, Spodotera eridania, Spodoptera cosmioides, Anticarsia gemmatalis, Elasmopalpus lignosellus, Helicoverpa armigera, H. zea, Chloridea virescens and others .

Lima also highlights that in Australia the Chamariz technology gained support from 60% of producers, in the first year of launch, as a tool for managing insecticide resistance, having been recommended by regulatory bodies in that country. Large companies in the agrochemical sector also endorse the product for this purpose.