Mapa delivers Tricovab bioinput for commercial production

The Executive Committee of the Cocoa Farming Plan (Ceplac), of the Secretariat of Innovation, Sustainable Development, Irrigation and Cooperativism (SDI) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) delivered the Tricovab (Trichoderma stromaticum) bioinput for commercial production to company BioFungi. This was the first technology licensed by Ceplac to control cocoa witches' broom, a disease caused by the fungus moniliophthora perniciosa, responsible for serious damage to cocoa crops in Bahia and Espírito Santo.

When used correctly, Tricovab's efficiency can reach 87% in controlling this pest. The bioinput is the result of studies developed by the team from Ceplac's General Coordination of Research and Innovation, led by agronomist José Marques Pereira.

According to the director of Ceplac, Lucimara Chiari, the moment represents a lot for the producer, who will be able to count on a natural and effective fungicide to control a pest that has been ravaging cocoa plantations in different regions. “Tricovab leaves the research shelf to help thousands of cocoa farmers in this country”, she highlighted.

During the ceremony, they highlighted the role of the team that worked from discovery to the final product, and thanked, in memoriam, the precursors of research on biological control at Ceplac in the 70s and 80s, doctors João Maria de Figueiredo and Cleber Novais Bastos .

Conventional and organic cocoa

Although Tricovab was registered in 2012, it was obtained conventionally, and not based on reference specification No. 8, which prevents it from being automatically classified as a “phytosanitary product with approved use for organic agriculture”. However, with the changes produced by Decree No. 10.833/2021 in Decree No. 4.074/2002, there is the possibility of Mapa granting the use of this name, upon analysis of the company's request.

It is worth mentioning that, as the active ingredient in Tricovab is authorized for use in organic agriculture, it can be used in the production of both conventional and organic cocoa.