BIP Spark data shows AgBiTech's position in the cotton biolizardicide market

Faced with a 30% decline in sales of insecticides for cotton bollworms in the 2020-21 harvest, to US$ 101 million, against US$ 144 million in the 2019-20 cycle, the Australian-American company AgBiTech expanded its lead in the plume biolizardicide market. AgBiTech's share jumped from 47% to 78% of the segment, compared to a retraction also observed in the biological market in general, of around 60%. The data comes from BIP – Business Intelligence Panel -, from Spark Inteligencia Estratégica.

As the consultancy's numbers demonstrate, AgBiTech had already been the leader in the cotton biolizardicide segment since the 2019-20 harvest, when it had grown by more than 600%, compared to the 2018-19 harvest. The BIP Soja and Bip Milho studies, both released by Spark last month, also brought the Australian-American company to the forefront in its segment.

In oilseeds, the company's market share jumped from 17%, in the 2019-20 harvest, to 37%. In corn, the participation measured was 31%, with an increase of more than eight times, in treated area, in relation to the previous cycle. “We reached 3,5 million hectares treated with our products, in the main agribusiness crops, after three commercial harvests”, highlights the agronomist and marketing director of AgBiTech Brasil, Murilo Moreira.

According to Moreira, Spark's research also places AgBiTech among the seven main sellers of insecticides for cotton bollworms, alongside chemical pesticide companies. “This is a relevant result, especially when considering that there was a 17% reduction in the plume cultivated area, in addition to 11% fewer product applications, compared to the 2019-20 cycle”, reveals Moreira.

According to the executive, AgBiTech's continued growth in the cotton biolizardicide market is associated with sales of the Cartugen brand product. Made from baculovirus, says Moreira, the bioinput has been well evaluated and gained increasing acceptance as a strategic tool for producers in the management of Spodotera frugiperda. Also known as fall armyworm, adds the agronomist, this pest, which is difficult to control, is today considered the main phytosanitary obstacle to plume productivity.

“Although pressure from Spodoptera frugiperda was lower in the 2020-21 harvest, the caterpillar is aggressive. It causes damage directly to the apple plant, with a strong negative impact on production. We understand that the growth of Cartugen is mainly due to the protective action that the product transfers to the reproductive structures of the cotton plant”, concludes Murilo Moreira.