Oxitec and Suzano celebrate partnership to control one of the main pests of eucalyptus

Oxitec, a specialist in the development of biological solutions based on insects to control pests that transmit diseases, destroy crops and harm livestock, today announced a new partnership with Suzano, a global cellulose producer and a global reference in the manufacture of bioproducts from eucalyptus. The collaboration marks the first step towards developing a new solution to control the shell psyllid (Glycaspis brimblecombei), one of the most destructive pests of eucalyptus plantations. The insect, of Australian origin, is well adapted to Brazilian climatic conditions and damages several species of eucalyptus trees.

Since its arrival in the São Paulo region in 2003, the shell psyllid has represented a devastating threat to the planted forest sector, requiring control strategies that have proven to be ineffective and costly. The psyllid lays its eggs on eucalyptus leaves, and its offspring (nymphs) cause more damage to plants by feeding on the phloem. Damage caused by this insect includes leaf discoloration, defoliation and the dieback of leaf tips, ultimately impacting timber production.

Faced with the limited number of insecticides registered to control this pest and their effectiveness limitations, Oxitec and Suzano are exploring the development of an innovative and sustainable solution to combat this threat. The project will focus on understanding the biology of the pest and current management tools, as well as understanding how Tecnologia do Bem can be applied to face this major challenge.

Tecnologia do Bem offers a targeted, non-toxic and environmentally sustainable solution for controlling pests that transmit diseases, threaten food production or harm ecosystems. Male insects from Bem carry the self-limiting characteristic, developed by Oxitec, which, when transferred to the next generation, prevents female descendants from reaching adulthood. With the number of offspring reduced, and maintaining regular releases of male insects from Bem, there is a decrease in the population of the insect pest that is the target of treatment.

“This partnership represents Oxitec and Suzano’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and the development of innovative solutions to face the sector’s challenges. We are excited to work together to create safe, effective and sustainable options for the sector, offering not only environmental and productivity benefits, but also boosting the country's economic growth”, highlights Natalia Ferreira (in the photo), General Director of Oxitec do Brasil.

“At Suzano, we believe that it is only good for us if it is good for the world. Innovability, the search for sustainability through innovation, guides our development of more sustainable solutions, technologies and partnerships that promote a better future. Partners with aligned objectives strengthen our ability to generate value for the business, for the forestry sector and, in this case, develop harmful pest management strategies for a sector so fundamental to the country”, highlights Edival Zauza (in the photo), Forest Research Manager at Suzano.

Forestry plays an important role in the Brazilian economy, being fundamental for the production of materials such as cellulose, which is the raw material for various products such as printing and writing paper, packaging paper, paper cups and straws, toilet paper and several other applications. Brazil is the largest cellulose exporter in the world, generating revenue of R$260 billion in the country in 2022, according to Ibá (Brazilian Tree Industry). Furthermore, the sector is responsible for managing 9,94 million hectares of trees planted for industrial purposes and for conserving another 6,7 million hectares of native forests in Brazilian territory.

The partnership between Suzano and Oxitec aims not only to explore new solutions to protect eucalyptus plantations from damage caused by shell psyllids, but also to promote sustainable and efficient forest management, further boosting the sector's growth.