States can encourage production, use of bio-inputs: Brazilian ag minister

Tereza Cristina, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply of Brazil, stated that state initiatives to promote bio-inputs are essential to increasing the supply of such products in Brazil, during her participation in the live event, “Technology for Sustainability,” promoted by the “Faeg” system.

She commented on the example of Goiás, which has already presented a proposal to establish a state program for expanding the local use of biological inputs and developing alternatives for economically viable and ecologically sustainable agricultural and livestock production.

“We have come a long way, but we can go further through the efforts of the states by following the example of Goiás. I am happy to see a bold pioneering proposal, a regulation and guide that will promote professional monitoring with protocols for production, qualification and training, increasing efficiency, quality, safety and sustainability in the use of bio-inputs,” Cristina said.

Ronaldo Caiado, Governor of Goiás, stated that bio-inputs can be alternatives and complement the tools already used in Brazilian agriculture. “Given our volume of production, bio-inputs are important, so that we must work with this technology for the sake of sustainability in an increasingly demanding market. Here in Goiás, we are already dedicated to expanding this technique and promoting more sustainable production within our state, and we will certainly be followed by other states,” he said.

Antônio Carlos de Souza Lima Neto, Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply of Goiás, explained that the proposal for a state program, forwarded to the state Legislative Assembly, is based on the National Bioinsumption Program launched by the Mapa in 2020.

The use of bio-inputs is growing globally at a rate of 15% per year. In Brazil, the national market already shows rates of growth of 28% in terms of bio-inputs in the plant protection segment. In 2020, 95 registered bio-based phytosanitary products were registered. “With that, we already have more than 400 low-impact biological products available to farmers,” said the minister.