Mapa reaches the mark of 50 reference specifications for the registration of biological pesticides

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) published, this Wednesday (21/07), two new Reference Specifications (ER) for the registration of so-called “phytosanitary products with approved use for organic agriculture”, which can be used in any cultivation system. With today's publication, Mapa reaches the historic mark of 50 ER and creates more opportunities for interested companies to make new products available to the market in a short time through a simplified registration process. 

“Brazil continues to advance in the use of biological control for the management of agricultural and forestry pests. This is an agricultural model that combines efficiency and sustainability”, highlights the general coordinator of Agrochemicals and Related Products, Bruno Breitenbach.  

The two new active ingredients are biological control agents Trichospilus diatraeae (ER 49) and Palmistichus elaeisis (ER 50), which act on a biological target also new to ER, the Thyrinteina arnobia, known as the brown-colored caterpillar. This species feeds on eucalyptus leaves and is considered one of the main pests of these crops in Brazil due to the intense defoliation it causes, which can affect up to 100% of the plantation. 

Products registered based on ER 49 and 50 may be used not only on eucalyptus, but on any crop with occurrence of Thyrinteina arnobia. In the case of ER 49, the products can also be used to control Diatraea saccharalis, a borer that is considered the most important in sugarcane and also attacks crops such as rice and corn. 

New targets and formulation 

Thyrinteina arnobia was not the only new biological target in the Ordinance No. 363. In the republication of ER 21, of the biological agent Chrysoperla externa, there was a 130% increase in the number of targets, which jumped from three to seven. In addition to Bemisia tabaci biotype B (whitefly), Myzus persicae (light green aphid) and Schizaphis graminum (green cereal aphid), which already appeared in the original publication, four more were added, all new in ER: Macrosiphum euphorbiae (solanaceae aphid), Macrosiphum (purple rose aphid), Rhodobium porosum (yellow rose aphid) and Aphis gossypii (cotton aphid). 

“With some requests already under analysis, Chrysoperla externa should inaugurate the use, in the country, of products registered with predatory insects for the biological control of all seven targets of the new ER 21, which until now had not been covered by this category of control agents (predatory insects)”, highlights Breitenbach. 

Another ER republished was number 19, from the fungus Trichoderma asperellum, isolate URM-5911. The main changes were due to the inclusion of a new deposit collection (Bahia Collection of Microorganism Cultures – CCMB, isolate CCMB605P) and more substances in the list of authorized “other ingredients”. In this case, the biological targets remained the same as in the previous version, but the new substances paved the way for the registration of a type of formulation that had not yet appeared in ER: “Powder for dry seed treatment (DS)”. 

Applied science 

The Joint Normative Instruction SDA/SDC/Ibama/Anvisa nº 1, of May 24, 2011, which established the procedures for the registration of phytosanitary products with approved use for organic agriculture, brought the possibility of using the so-called “available knowledge” in the preparation of reference specifications. In improving ER 21 (Chrysoperla externa), for example, the Reference Specifications Service (SEER) used “available knowledge” in more than 120 scientific productions including articles, book chapters, master's dissertations and doctoral theses, the majority published in Brazil. 

In reviewing the indication for use of ER 21, the participation of Professor Brígida Souza, from the Department of Entomology (DEN) at the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), was also essential. In a joint and voluntary effort with SEER, the professor and researcher put to use her experience of almost 30 years of working with insects from the lacewing group, contributing to the considerable increase in the number of biological targets observed in the new ER 21. It deserves highlight the aphid Rhodobium porosum, included at the suggestion of the researcher, who does not yet have any product registered for its control in Brazil. 

“In a country that is on its way to becoming a global leader in the use of bio-inputs in the coming years, it is significant that we have reached the historic mark of 50 reference specifications for the registration of phytosanitary products for organic agriculture”, celebrates Breitenbach. 

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is one of the forest species most used in the formation of planted forests. In addition to capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, which helps reduce the effects of global warming (since CO2 is a greenhouse gas), planted forests provide wood for various purposes such as cellulose, paper, charcoal, civil construction, furniture and others, relieving pressure on native forests.

Forestry products and the sugar and alcohol complex (especially sugar) were among the five main sectors in agribusiness exports, which registered a record of US$ 14 billion in May 2021, with Brazil occupying 1st position in the ranking of cellulose exporting countries.