Essere Group promotes technical visit to its facilities in Olímpia

This week, the team at Cultivar Magazine arrived in Olímpia, in the State of São Paulo, on a technical visit to the facilities of the Essere Group industries: Kimberlit Agrociências, focused on nutrition, biostimulation and plant health; Bionat, which manufactures biological solutions for integrated pest and disease management; and Loyder, a maker of smart fertilizers. The delegation made up of 11 press professionals was the first to visit the three factories, although the holding already promotes visits to rural producers and other professionals in the field.

The initiative was part of the presentation actions for Bionat's new bacteria factory. The investment was R$30 million, and has the potential to treat approximately 10 million hectares with bacteria-based products. Its production capacity is 80 thousand kiloliters of products per month, or 880 thousand to 900 thousand kiloliters per year.

Differentiators of the new factory 

With completely modern operation and production, the new factory's distinguishing feature is the level of asepsis, comparable to that of an ICU. Furthermore, the new technology does not need a lot of space to be produced, like traditional factories. It is prepared to be doubled within two years, with an expected investment of around R$5 million.

The production of biologicals is one of the main bets of the Essere Group, which plans to expand in the segment. The new unit will produce inoculants, bionematicides and bioinsecticides. The inoculant is intended for soybean, corn, cotton and sugarcane crops. It stimulates the root system of plants and facilitates the absorption of nutrients, such as phosphorus. The bionematicide is used to combat nematodes in crops such as soybeans, corn, cotton and sugarcane. The bioinsecticide is intended to control caterpillars in soybeans, corn, cotton, rice, wheat and beans.

For next year, the Essere Group plans to invest between R$8 and 19 million in expanding Bionat's first factory, which operates in the same complex. It produces biofungicides and has been in operation since 2019.

Market expectations

Bionat's revenue, of R$45 million recorded in 2022, is expected to grow to R$75 million this year and the expectation is that in 2028 the company's revenue will reach R$500 million, representing 30% of the Essere Group's business. This growth projection is based on the fact that biological products have been adopted as a complementary strategy in the management of pests and diseases. In 2022, the Essere Group had revenues of R$445 million and expects revenues of around R$600 million in 2023.

Álefe Borges, responsible for research and development at the holding, also highlighted that this year the launch of a bionematicicide is planned as a result of research and development in partnership with Esalq-USP. The product is made up of two unique strains of bacteria. “The bionematicides market has already surpassed that of chemical nematicides and represents 75% of the segment’s revenue”, he celebrated. 

With a focus on innovation, Bionat is already a reference in biological solutions used in SIM - Integrated Management System, and was identified as one of those that obtained the most bioinput registrations in recent years.