Albaugh develops new tebuthiuron based herbicide - Interview with José Santos (Director of Marketing and Product Development at Albaugh Brasil)

By Leonardo Gottems, Reporter for AgroPages

In this exclusive interview for AgroPages, the Director of Marketing and Product Development for Albaugh Brazil, José Geraldo Martins dos Santos, talked about a new launch the company is preparing, which is based on tebuthiuron, the most used herbicide on sugarcane. He also talked about Albaugh's plans in the country and how he tackled the problems arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures for enforcing social isolation. What is the importance of the active ingredient, tebuthiuron, to sugarcane cultivation?

Santos: This is another relevant item in the Albaugh portfolio for the cultivation of sugarcane, since, in terms of treated area, tebuthiuronis the most widely used herbicide on sugarcane. This compound has a broad spectrum pre-emergent and selective action, with a long residual effect and flexibility of use throughout the year.

Albaugh, which has been present in Brazil for three years, has been targeting representative investments in the sugarcane production chain, and we have further proof of that. Currently, we have highly effective products for invasive control, such as selective herbicides with initial pre-emergent and pre-emergent actions. They are essential products for cultures, recommended for use during the wet and semi-wet periods of sugarcane crops. With the addition of tebuthiuron to our portfolio, Albaugh is expanding its offerings for weed control. Today, we are providing the sugar and energy sector with a line of high-quality and efficient post-patent agrochemicals, making us one of the industry's leading companies.

How is Albaugh preparing to launch this product in the second semester?

Santos: The launch will be announced in due course. In terms of our business strategy, we will not comment on this further. We emphasize, however, that Albaugh's expectation is to continuously expand its portfolio and product offerings for the sugarcane production chain. In relation to other key crops in Brazilian agribusiness, such as soybean, corn, cotton and others, we are following the same long-term strategy. From a general viewpoint, Albaugh expects to launch over 20 new products for Brazilian agriculture over the next five years.

What is the strategic importance of sugarcane for Albaugh in Brazil?

Santos: The sugarcane production chain is one of the leading parts of Brazilian agribusiness, while the pesticide sector is one of the most important markets. The sugar-energy sector innovates, reinvents itself, remodels itself, and maintains its reputation for leadership and quality both inside and outside Brazil. The sector produces sugar, ethanol and biomass energy, and invariably does so in a sustainable way. Albaugh wants to be side-by-side with the production units of the sugar-energy sector, as well as with sugarcane suppliers and opinion-makers in the area. We have a portfolio of specific post-patent technologies to promote the quality improvement of sugarcane raw materials, as well as to increase profitability and achieve an excellent cost-benefit ratio.

What other launches in the country is the company planning this year?

Santos: We reiterate that the company’s goal is to launch at least 20 products in the next five years related to different cultures. These projects are under development in the advanced laboratory that Albaugh maintains in its production unit in Resende (RJ), one of the most modern in Latin America in the area of post-patent products. Specifically in the area of sugarcane, it is important to mention that in addition to expanding our product portfolio for cultures, Albaugh invests heavily in building a robust market service model. Last year, we launched Albaugh's Regional Cana-de-Açucar, which covers the major agricultural frontier of the sugar-energy sector, including the regions of Piracicaba, Ribeirão Preto and São José do Rio Preto, in the interior of São Paulo. The sugar-energy sector is strategic for Albaugh's growth. We are moving towards being a player in the supply of post-patent products to the sugarcane production chain.

Has Albaugh encountered problems arising from the pandemic and social distancing measures?

Santos: Albaugh is united with Brazil and Brazilians in fighting the pandemic. We are strictly following the guidelines of government authorities and taking all measures to protect our people in facing the current situation, including enabling them to work in their home offices and ensuring preventative care during industrial production. Regarding business performance, up to the present time, we have not registered any abnormalities. Sales are continuing to take place, product deliveries remain normal, and we have been dealing with the agribusiness production chain in different ways. We promote “lives,” distance training and virtual business meetings, for example. Agriculture will be the major driver of post-pandemic economic recovery, and the countryside cannot do without the use of technologies to ensure the sustainable growth of agribusiness in Brazil.

How have you performed and how has your project performed this year?

Santos: We will not release figures at this time, but the expectation is that Albaugh will maintain its continuous growth in the country. Since we started operating three years ago, we have registered robust yearly performance numbers. We implemented an investment program valued at R$100 million in Brazil for the coming years, which will not be changed or reduced. Our business performance is maintaining growth and we are committed to establishing a promising growth cycle in Brazil.