Iapar, Fapeagro develop less toxic nematicides for environment

Researcher Andressa Zamboni Machado, of the Laboratory of Nematology of the Agronomic Institute of Paraná (Iapar) in Brazil, coordinated a project to develop three new nematicides with lower impact on the environment. Two of these are biological products and one is a chemical (less toxic) product. These nematicides would arrive in the market by 2017.

The bionematicides are used for seed treatment, while the synthetic can be sprayed. However, both “have less effect on the environment,” guaranteed the researcher of the initiative, which is managed by the Foundation of Research Support for the Development of Farm Business (Fapeagro).

The analysis of the new products lasted nearly three years. “We are spraying different doses on plants to evaluate the toxicity of the products,” he said. The nematicides will be focused on crops like soybeans, but can also be used for sugarcane, coffee, citrus, potato and cotton.

The researcher said that after the products are analyzed, the reports would be forwarded to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, which is the agency that initiates the procedures of evaluation and release of the nematicides for sale.