Experts highlight growth in bioinput registrations in the country

Embrapa participated in the webinar “Bioinputs: alternative for food production” coordinated by the Environmental Parliamentary Front. The event was opened by federal deputy Rodrigo Agostinho (PSB/SP), president of the front, and included representatives from Mapa, Embrapa, Croplife Brasil, Aprosoja and the Thematic Chamber of organic agriculture.

“Bio-inputs are growing around the world as an alternative form of production”, stated the deputy. “Crops in Brazil are already using bioinputs with a high level of success, which is why we are debating the topic, including the participation of different agricultural segments. The idea is to expand this debate,” he stated. The parliamentarian opened the webinar defending the popularization of technology and investment in research. The event was mediated by Mário Mantovani, director of the NGO SOS Mata Atlântica, .

Researcher Rose Monnerat, from Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, participated as a representative of Embrapa. The Biological Inputs Portfolio brings together more than 700 researchers and analysts around the topic and aims to stimulate, direct and support projects that aim to offer research solutions for the development of biological inputs and, as a consequence, improve productivity and the sustainability of agribusiness.

There are 745 members involved in the biological control of plants and 573 members in the area of ​​growth promotion, distributed across 38 Embrapa Units.

Inputs include insects, mites, nematodes, pheromones (which attract pests), bacteria, fungi and viruses, in addition to growth promoters such as inoculants, biofertilizers, biostimulants, plant or algae extracts, organic substances, in addition to products for veterinary use. . These were some examples of inputs presented by Embrapa during the virtual meeting. In the last two years, 305 biological products were registered and made available on the market, according to data from Croplife in Brazil. 

For the Embrapa researcher, who has worked in the area for 30 years, one of the challenges is simplifying the process of registering new bio-inputs with the competent bodies. “When a company registers its product, it must first have an operating authorization, which varies from state to state. Many of them, after being ready, take more than a year to obtain operating authorization. After the company is authorized to operate, it takes approximately two years to register, which is quite expensive,” she explained. 

On the other hand, according to her, there are currently 43 reference specifications registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa), therefore, if the company registers a product that has one of the reference specifications, the product approval time drops considerably. .

The researcher points out a great advantage in Brazil for the production of bioinputs: biodiversity. “Two other advantages are efficacy and specificity,” she explained, highlighting that a biological product can attack the problem without interfering with the environment, as they are non-toxic or low-toxic to animals. “But it is necessary to bear in mind the necessary care when storing and applying under specific conditions”, she added. For the scientist, bioinputs are important tools for integrated pest management, viable even for extensive crops, but they require specific legislation, agility in registration and an increase in the number of organisms available for reference specifications.

The president of the organic agriculture thematic chamber, Luiz Carlos Demattê Filho, referred to the National Input Program to highlight the importance of expanding investments in research. He highlighted the importance of reference specifications to facilitate the registration of bio-input-based products by companies, however, according to him, there is still the challenge of developing reference specifications for animal production, as there are currently only phytosanitary specifications. For him, bioinputs have great potential to reduce costs and generate savings for producers and the country. 

Still within the scope of the National Bioinput Program, organic agriculture and agroecology were fundamental to its formation, according to Alessandro Cruvinel, coordinator of Mapa's National Bioinput Program. 

According to the Mapa representative, in the biological control segment there was a movement, in 2020, of 5 billion dollars in the global market and could reach 10 billion dollars in 2025, a growth of around 10 to 15 percent per year, considering all regions of the world. In Brazil, the scenario is even more relevant. The sector has grown and reached 55% growth between 2018 and 2019, and 28% between 2019 and 2020, with emphasis on bionematicides. The share of bioinputs in the total of agricultural pesticides went from 1,5% in 2017 to 2,6 currently. 

Rogério Vian, rural producer and director of Aprosoja in Goiás, spoke about his experience with organic soy. On his property, there are 990 hectares of soybean cultivation, 400 of which are dedicated to organic cultivation, with the use of bio-inputs. “It is possible to produce using bio-inputs on a large scale, but it is important that it is done well, with criteria and using the appropriate technological solutions”, he considered.

Cristian Lohbauer, representative of Croplife Brazil, recalled that of the institution's 42 members, 26 produce organic products. He highlighted that, although the universe of biological products is still small (between 2,5% and 3,5% of the Brazilian plant defense market is organic), the market is growing at high rates. Worldwide, growth is 10 percent. “And this year, the year of the pandemic, our largest biological product company will grow 20 percent”, he added.

According to the executive, biological products are as important as traditional products and have been growing at unprecedented rates. However, more research is needed to understand the effectiveness of the products. “The production of biodefensive products must be carried out using quality equipment and stable products. Therefore, there is still a lot of technology to be developed so that the product takes up more space in the market,” he said.

Watch Video here o webinar catalogue