Sugarcane biocontrol market in Brazil: The story of planting is changing

Brazil is by far the biggest sugarcane producer in the world. However, this status does not come easy. Sugarcane yields have been rigorously abridged by enormous number of insect pests and diseases. For a long period, chemical products were the most widespread control measure among Brazilian growers. This situation has been gradually changing with higher adoption of sustainable methods of control such as biocontrol.

Biocontrol comprises using living organisms or natural substances to prevent or reduce damage against unwanted organisms including pests and pathogens. Biocontrol technologies have different definitions, such as biopesticides for example. However, the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA) proposes the use of the term bioprotectants. Because bioprotectants have their origins in nature they have minimal impact in the environment and intend to cause no harm to humans. There are 4 categories of approaches to biological control based on the use of control agents such as:

• macrobials (beneficial insects, mites and nematodes that control other insects and mites);

• microbials (viruses, bacteria or fungi that outcompete or control pests and diseases);

• natural substances of mineral, plant or animal origin;

• semiochemicals (insect pheromones).

The major pests and diseases which affect the production of sugarcane.

According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) sugarcane is cultivated in around 10 million hectares in Brazil. It is cultivated extensively and in continuous areas in several regions. The crop cycle is also long, varying usually between 10 and 18 months. Due to these factors this agroecosystem becomes convenient to the attack of different pests and diseases. Some of them stand out because of the frequency in which they occur and also for the damages they cause.

The sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis, the rootshopper Mahanarva fimbriolata and the nematodes from the genera Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus, are long ago acknowledged as major problems. However, more recently with the mechanization of planting and harvesting systems other pests and diseases are gaining relevance. There was an increase in the market for insecticides due to the expansion of Sphenophorus levis, as well fungicides against soil borne and foliar diseases.  

Market overview of sugarcane biocontrol in Brazil, market value, trends

Brazilian sugarcane has one of the oldest biocontrol programs since the 1970s¹ with the use of the parasitoid Cotesia flavipes for the control of the sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis). What started as a modest market with sugarcane mills establishing their own laboratories for the production of parasitoids, is now a booming market with the presence of big multinational chemical companies, startups and medium size enterprises.

The Brazilian biopesticide market in sugarcane is estimated to be worth around R$ 264 millions² (USD 51,26 millions) in 2020 with continued very strong growth. Projections to 2021 indicate a market size of R$ 352 millions². The biocontrol share of the conventional crop protection market in sugarcane (thought to be around USD 1,4 billions³ in 2020) can still be considered low. However, there is currently no use of biological control in the herbicide sector, which is thought to be as much as 50% of the market in sugarcane. For this reason we will only discuss biological solutions for pests and diseases.

Current mainstream bio-solution in this crop

Macrobials

Macrobials such as mentioned C. flavipes and also Trichogramma galloi are employed at a high rate. Today, about 3.5 million hectares¹ are treated with C. flavipes (larval parasitoid) and about 2 million hectares¹ are treated with T. galloi (egg parasitoid), both agents for control of D. saccharalis. As a comparison, the combined area treated with these two parasitoids is larger than Belgium and Slovenia together. The production of such vast amounts of parasitoids is accomplished mainly by small private laboratories and sugarcane mills bio-factories.

In the last years, the release technology of C. flavipes and T. galloi changed a lot. The adoption of a new sampling methodology of the pest (Diatraea saccharalis) based on the use of sex-pheromone allowed a more precise decision of the release moment, resulting in greater efficiency in control. Further progress is expected to be made when synthetic pheromone becomes available instead of the use of the natural source of pheromone (virgin female months of the pest). Additionally, the use of Trichogramma and Cotesia parasitoids has significantly increased due to the improvement of the releasing technologies with the use of drones to the scattering of the parasitoids.

Microbials

Microbials products are the most valuable category in the Brazilian sugarcane biocontrol sector, with bioinsecticides and bionematicides taking most of the market. Bioinsecticides have a long history of use against the rootshopper, with the employment of entomopathogenic fungus, in particular Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae. Improved formulations of Bt products (Bacillus thuringiensis) are gaining momentum, becoming a useful tool for active substance rotation in the integrated pest management (IPM) of the sugarcane borer.

Bionematicides are growing fast from a low base but at a higher rate than bioinsecticides. The de-regulation of tradicional chemical nematicides seemed to be the trigger for the development of the bionematicides market.  Nowadays, growers have understood the advantages of adopting such products, with benefits not only on the control of nematodes but also in improving soil health, increasing the level of adoption. Bionematicides have also a higher potential of growth, since only 5% of the ratton is being treated with nematicides against 44% in the planting.

Market acceptance of biological products

Unlike Europe and USA where the main driver from biocontrol adoption is due to consumer demand, in the Brazilian sugarcane sector demand is mainly driven by the growers' needs.  Chemical control alone has not been enough to provide adequate level of control, demanding increased frequency of application. The intensive use of pesticides can result in further disequilibrium in the production system and rise of production costs.  As a result, growers are operating in tight profit margins. In this panorama, bioprotectants are an essential tool in the IPM program to enable cost-efficiency and sustainability.

The growth in the use of bioprotectants is also due to the increase in the number of suppliers and products as a result of investments by companies in research and development of new technologies, and from the granting of registrations to new products by regulatory bodies.

Challenges facing bioprotectants

There are still a lot of challenges and threats facing the adoption of biocontrol in the sugarcane sector, mainly at 3 different levels. First, at the industry level, the existence of non-regulated companies working in the segment. Poor quality microbial products (especially microbial biostimulants) are being sold in the market. This kind of product can result in poor level of control, and consequent discredit of the technique. Still at the industry level, there is no standardization for the manufacturer's label claims and quality control. Not all biologicals are the same and it can be complex to compare different products, especially for microbials.  

The efficacy of bioprotectants is more dependent on environmental factors and farming practices when compared to chemical control. The optimal use of biocontrol agents requires precise information and better decision rules. Sales representatives and distributors are often the key source of information for pest and disease control. In this case they need to be educated and trained to provide a decision support system for biocontrol.

At the farm level,  growers are not familiarized with bioprotectants and often associate it only with organic farming.  They are also accustomed to chemical pesticides with typically just one specific mode of action. In contrast, bioprotectants can have multiple modes of action. Farmers have to understand that the effect of biological products is not only restricted to control, can also influence plant growth and nutrient intake for example.


References

1. Postali Parra, J. R., & Coelho, A. (2019). Applied Biological Control in Brazil: From Laboratory Assays to Field Application. Journal of insect science (Online), 19(2), 5. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iey112

2. Crop Life Brasil – Blink, 2021.

3. Panel BIP 19/20 – Spark - Sugarcane