Experts debate sustainable strategies for controlling pests and diseases in sugarcane fields

The 2nd CanaMS Seminar brought together experts from the sugar-energy sector to discuss advanced pest management strategies in sugarcane cultivation. The event took place at Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste, Dourados, MS, and was attended by renowned professionals and researchers who addressed topics related to pests and diseases in sugarcane fields.

The program began at 8 am, with a welcome moment, followed by a series of talks and panels throughout the day. Embrapa Agroenergia researcher, Rossano Gambetta, presented a lecture entitled “Agro and biofuels: from ethanol to green hydrogen”. 

Marianne Araújo Soares, researcher at Embrapa Agroenergia, presented BT technology for pest management in sugarcane. His expertise on the subject contributed to the participants' understanding of the applications of this technology in efficient pest control.

Rose Monnerat, representative of Solubio, addressed the topic of bioinputs in sugarcane cultivation. Her lecture brought updated information about the use of these inputs as a sustainable alternative for controlling pests and diseases in crops.

With the topic of new technologies available for biological pest management, Samir Oliveira Kassab, from the biological sciences area, spoke about the advantages and disadvantages that need to be analyzed. Among the disadvantages, he listed the spectrum of action of biological control products, which is slower, and storage which, depending on the product, especially on farm, has a shorter shelf life. Among the advantages, he pointed out that biological control products are extremely specific and selective, easy to multiply, produce and disperse and have a greater residual effect.

The phytotechnics manager of a plant, Thiago de Paula e Silva, spoke about sustainable strategies for pest control: operational quality, plant protection, variety management, physiological nutrition and maturation; and water management.

Diego Marsão, agronomist at Union Agro, spoke about special nutrition to mitigate the actions of pests and diseases in sugarcane fields. According to Marsão, for sugarcane, there is little work on healthy nutrition, but “it is very important for the plant to develop at full strength. Thus, it responds faster to attacks by fungi, pathogens, insects, having a better response to overcoming the disease.