Research commissioned by Sindiveg projects an expansion of 3,7% in the area treated with pesticides

The expansion of the soybean cultivated area, linked to more favorable climatic conditions in the south of the country during the 23/24 harvest, favored the proliferation of pests in Brazilian agriculture, promoting a 3,7% increase in the area treated with agricultural pesticides in Brazil in compared to the previous harvest. This is what research commissioned by the National Union of the Plant Defense Products Industry (Sindiveg) brought.

Regarding the total volume of agricultural pesticides used to control pests, diseases and weeds when considering the second half of 2023 (H2), a total of 811 thousand tons was recorded, considering the number of applications required per situation. Of this total, 49% refer to herbicides, 24% to fungicides, 18% to insecticides, 1% to seed treatments and 8% to others. The amount used corresponds to 1.25 billion hectares treated, driven by the expansion of the cultivated area.

The material takes into account the methodology developed by Sindiveg that projects data from the pesticide market in PAT (product per area treated). The concept considers the volume effectively used by the rural producer and the number of pesticide applications in the cultivated area.

According to the projection, the increase in the area controlled by nematodes in soybean crops should be 26,1% and stink bugs, 8,8%. Soybean cultivation represents 55% of the total area and should reflect an increase, with growth of 6,5% in the 23/24 harvest. In this case, the use of premium fungicides increased by 7,9%, while that of protective fungicides increased by 32%, both in a cultivated area of ​​45 million hectares, reflecting an expansion of 4% in relation to the previous harvest (22/23 ).

In some regions of the country, above-average rainfall was recorded, such as Rio Grande do Sul, where the pressure from fungal diseases was greater. In contrast, in the Central-West, with lower-than-expected rainfall, the water deficit made pest infestation possible.

“In different ways, climate problems generate uncertainty and increase the incidence of diseases that require the use of pesticides so that the farmer can guarantee good productivity”, emphasizes the president of Sindiveg, Julio Borges.

The rural producer's average investment in inputs, as the projection points out, should return to pre-pandemic levels, with the prices of the main products falling, especially non-selective herbicides – those with a broad spectrum of action. In previous harvests, the cost of inputs was affected by the pandemic, with an increase in freight costs, availability of containers and raw materials and import costs.

“Crop protection technologies are strong allies in guaranteeing productivity, helping farmers to safely expand their businesses and contributing to the delivery of increasingly safe food”, concludes Borges.