BASF and Embrapa release data on harmonious coexistence between bees and soybeans

BASF's Agricultural Solutions Division and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) publish the first results of a study on the harmonious coexistence between soybean farming and beekeeping in Brazil. With data collected from crops in the municipalities of São Gabriel (RS), Maringá (PR) and Dourados (MS), the partnership began in the 2022/23 harvest. 

Based on the validation of the Good Agricultural, Beekeeping and Communication Practices protocol - which guided actions and practices between soybean farmers and beekeepers - the study proved that harmonious coexistence between the two activities is possible, and with mutual benefits. “Coexistence is advantageous for soybean farmers and beekeepers, as long as good agricultural practices are respected, as well as there is a permanent dialogue to understand the production processes of both activities”, highlights Décio Gazzoni, researcher at Embrapa Soja (PR).

The Protocol validated in the field has as a guideline the adoption of Integrated Soy Pest Management (MIP-Soja), a method composed of a set of control tactics with the objective of reducing insect pests, without affecting the presence of natural enemies. “The basis of IPM is the monitoring and sampling of pests in the field to indicate the need for control and the best time for application, for example,” he says. “When there is a need for pest control, we advise the use of more selective products (which only attack the pest and keep other insects away) or even bio-inputs, which are biological control agents”, he argues.

The Good Agricultural Practices protocol brings together a series of guidelines such as, for example, paying attention to the application time (so that it is not the same as bee visits), avoiding drift outside the crop, avoiding applications during soybean flowering, between others. “Coexistence is advantageous for soybean farmers and beekeepers, as long as good agricultural practices are respected and there is a permanent dialogue to understand the production processes of both activities”, highlights Gazzoni.

Gains in profitability and sustainability

Previous research, conducted by Embrapa, had already demonstrated the gain in productivity resulting from the interaction between soybeans and bees. According to Gazzoni, the soybean flower contains quality nectar, with substances that bees need for their development. When bees collect nectar, they act as pollinators, depositing many grains of pollen on flowers.

Studies show that the presence of an adequate population of bees near soybean crops increases productivity by 13%, on average over several years of research. At harvest, more pods with three grains were observed, some with four, and there were practically no pods with one grain. Previous studies have also shown that grain weight has increased, and this combination means net income for the farmer.

At the same time, beekeepers also benefit. It was observed that beekeepers who place their apiaries close to crops harvest up to 50 kg of honey per hive during soybean flowering, which represents more than double the Brazilian average, which is 19 kg of honey, per box, per year.

In addition, beekeepers have other benefits when apiaries are close to soybean crops: flowering occurs when spring flowering is over and, when there is a low supply of flowers, producers need to provide artificial food for the bees. In other words, in addition to not producing honey during the period, there is still a cost to keeping the colonies strong and active. This cost does not exist when bees “forage” in soybeans.

Another benefit is a longer honey harvest period, with production occurring for up to 11 months per year. “Pollination in soybeans has a great advantage for us, and the profit afterwards, combined with soybeans and beekeeping, is an extra income for us. We harvest honey two to three times a year”, says Rodrigo Casado, a soybean and honey producer from Maringá (PR) who participated in the studies.

It is not just beekeepers and soybean farmers who benefit from this harmonious coexistence, but all of nature. “This is because, by increasing soybean productivity, there is also an equivalent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, benefiting the entire environment”, highlights Gazzoni.

The Stewardship and Sustainability Manager of BASF's Agricultural Solutions Division, Maurício do Carmo Fernandes, reinforces the importance of research for biodiversity. “It is essential that we find effective ways to conserve pollinators, such as bees, not only to guarantee agricultural productivity, but also to maintain the balance of our natural ecosystems. It’s a win-win interaction,” he says.

The union between BASF and Embrapa is another relevant factor in the process. “We aim to promote good agricultural practices. Partnerships like this allow us to advance in research and development of solutions, increasingly ensuring food security with sustainability and economic development. Much of the legacy of Brazilian agriculture that has been built to date has Embrapa's work involved”, concludes the manager.

Web series episodes about the project are available

The partnership between BASF and Embrapa also resulted in a web series with videos on various topics related to the topic, such as the union between soybean farmers and beekeepers, quality of “soybean” honey, the cultivation calendar in detail, input application technology , among other topics. All videos are available to the public on Fazenda BASF, BASF's agribusiness content hub. When accessing, you must enter an email and enter the Auditorium's virtual space by clicking on the screen on the right.