IAC body promotes programs to provide safety in the use of pesticides

A reference in Latin America in the development of application and safety technology in pesticide operations, the Engineering and Automation Center (CEA), of the Agronomic Institute (IAC), an entity of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply of the State of SP, presents at Agrishow four relevant projects. The initiatives have regional, national and international reach. 

SP Drones Program 

The IAC Engineering and Automation Center recently entered into a partnership with Coopercitrus. The cooperative and the agency join forces to bring the technology for applying agricultural pesticides via drones to small and medium-sized properties. 

Coopercitrus provided equipment and training to CEA-IAC, located in the city of Jundiaí. A specialized team is now starting trials with producers. The project will begin in the Circuito das Frutas and will then reach properties of Coopercitrus members in the soybean, corn, citrus and sugar cane crops.

Spraying Adjuvants Program  

A sector not regulated by official bodies, the agricultural adjuvants industry continually adheres to the program that today brings together almost 50 companies that are signatories to the IAC Seal of functionality. 

“This loophole in the legislation leaves room for the circulation of poor-quality adjuvants, at the same time that it requires good companies in the sector to search for mechanisms that attest to the quality of their products. Good adjuvants promote productivity; Bad products cause harm”, summarizes Hamilton Ramos. Currently, more than 100 adjuvant products from around 50 companies are undergoing reevaluation processes in the CEA-IAC laboratory.

IAC-Quepia and worker exposure to pesticides 

With the entry into force of Ordinance 4389, from the Ministry of Labor, the industry that manufactures PPE – personal protective equipment –, or agricultural protective clothing, will have to submit its products to intermediate quality assessments every 20 months. 

The information comes from scientific researcher Hamilton Ramos, coordinator of the IAC-Quepia program. Created 28 years ago, IAC-Quepia brings together the private sector and CEA-IAC. Agricultural PPE or agricultural protective clothing constitutes safety equipment required for rural workers, in most operations involving the application of pesticides or agricultural pesticides.

Apply Well, 17 years old  

With almost 85 thousand farmers benefiting in Brazil alone, in addition to 7 other countries, over 1 municipalities covered (000 million km covered), almost 1 thousand training sessions and an investment of R$5 million annually, the program aims to qualify small and medium producers to the safe management of agrochemicals. Central pillars are the protection of crops, the environment and rural workers. 

At no cost to the farmer, it operates a team of agronomists and a fleet of mobile laboratories. The actions take place directly on rural properties.