Combating the boll weevil is highlighted at the 14th Brazilian Cotton Congress

The cotton boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) continues to be one of the biggest challenges for cotton producers in Brazil. During the 14th Brazilian Cotton Congress (CBA), a special panel discussed the main strategies for combating the pest. Six experts presented solutions for controlling the insect, including the use of monitoring tools, integrated management and results from study networks. The event was coordinated by Lucia Vivan, from the Mato Grosso Foundation for Agricultural Research Support.

Agro-environmental consultant Walter Jorge opened the panel with a historical overview of the pest in Brazil. The weevil was identified 40 years ago, initially in the regions of Campinas, Paraíba and Pernambuco, and spread throughout the country through the movement of seeds and grains. According to Jorge, the insect came from the United States and arrived in Brazil via Viracopos airport. Over the years, several measures were taken to contain the infestation, but the weevil continued to spread, infecting all producing regions in the 1990s. Today, the pest is considered chronic.

With the expansion of cotton farming into the Cerrado, the adoption of new management practices, such as crop rotation and the use of insecticides, became essential. The boll weevil has been described as a “game changer” for cotton production, leading to the development of tools such as bait strips and pheromone traps. Jorge stressed the importance of greater awareness of integrated management, considering the specific climate conditions of each region.

Marcio Souza, from the Mato Grosso Cotton Institute (IMAmt), highlighted that continuous monitoring is essential for effective pest control. He emphasized the need for an integrated approach, which includes everything from trap control and pre-planting monitoring to inspection of trucks transporting cotton, preventing the spread of the pest.

Consultant Paulo Degrande presented the main strategies of the Rede Bicudo Brasil project, which involve a protocol of 18 actions to combat the pest. These measures include the use of insecticides from the first flower bud, rigorous monitoring, elimination of volunteer plants and compliance with the sanitary gap. Degrande pointed out that reducing the boll weevil population at the end of the harvest and rapid harvesting are essential for successful control.

In the second part of the panel, researcher Julio Bogiani, from Embrapa Territorial, discussed the digital tools used in the Monitora Oeste project, in the Bahian Cerrado. He highlighted the role of digital transformation in agriculture, with the use of interconnected sensors and real-time analysis of field data. The goal is to optimize boll weevil control and reduce production costs. Bogiani emphasized the potential of emerging technologies, such as drones, artificial intelligence and robotics, to improve crop efficiency.

Researcher Edson Andrade, from IMAmt, discussed the management of ratoons and volunteer plants, which are also hosts of the boll weevil. He presented recent advances in the mechanical and chemical destruction of these plants, as well as the use of biotechnology to improve the efficiency of products available on the market.

To close the panel, Licio Pena, executive director of AMIPA, presented Catolaccus Amipa, a biological agent for controlling the boll weevil. Developed by the institution's biofactory, Catolaccus is the first biological product registered in Brazil for combating the pest. The agent showed a mortality rate of 94,5% of boll weevils, attacking six to eight larvae per day and reducing resistance to chemicals in crops. This biological approach is aligned with the Better Cotton project, which seeks more sustainable practices in cotton production.