Study shows use of alternatives to 2,4-D could cost Brazil R$1.6 billion more per year

A survey that maps the biological and economic aspects of the use of 2,4-D-based herbicides in agriculture in Brazil indicates that replacing them with other alternatives would represent an additional average cost of R$1.6 billion per year to crops. 

This value is equivalent to 417.76% more than the amount used with the pesticide for the management and control of weeds in crops such as soybean, sugar cane, corn, wheat, rice and coffee. The study was conducted by agronomists and researchers Robinson Osipe and Jethro Barros Osipe, with an emphasis on this theme.  

2,4-D is registered in Brazil for soybean, sugarcane, corn, wheat, rice, coffee, oats, sorghum and pasture crops, in addition to the type of management under no-tillage and the eradication of eucalyptus. "The product is used in several crops in the country, but it stands out in the case of soybeans, which represents 65.4% of the cultivated area," Osipe revealed. 

He further explained that in this crop, the herbicide is applied in the management operation in no-tillage, that is, in the pre-sowing desiccation, often combined with a full-action herbicide.

The product is also important for animal activity, especially for cattle raising. According to the researchers, the herbicide is one of the main weed controllers in pastures. "It is estimated that it will be used in about 17.8 million hectares of pastures in the country, considering products based on 2,4-D formulated in isolation and others in which there is a combination in the ready formulation," Osipe said.

For the researcher, one of the reasons for 2,4-D to be one of the most used herbicides in Brazil is due to its economy. The study analyzed the average cost per hectare in seven main crops registered in the country. The variation was R$10.79 for rice cultivation that occupied an area of 29.74%, to R$27.84 for the coffee that covered an area of 12.62%. For soybeans, which had the highest territorial expressiveness, 65.4%, the cost was R$13.22 for every 10,000 m².

The survey compared the cost of using 2,4-D with alternative herbicides available in the market for crops such as soybeans, sugarcane, corn, wheat, rice and coffee. When replacing the pesticide, the farmer would need to invest more in all the crops analyzed. The percentages ranged from 344.89%, which was equivalent to around R$1 billion for soybeans, to 452.54%, for coffee, the additional cost of which would be approximately R$18.7 million with the exchange of defensive. 

The average additional cost between crops verified for agriculture in the country would be R$1.6 billion, corresponding to 417.76% more than the amount used with the herbicide 2,4-D, for the management of weeds in those cultures. "The withdrawal of 2,4-D from the Brazilian agricultural market would directly cause a significant average annual increase in the cost of weed control," Osipe noted.

The professor added further that other factors can bring financial impacts to the producer. The amine-based formulation, the only one sold with the 2,4-D product in the country, is not volatile. Therefore, situations with drift in which the product, when applied, does not hit the target in sensitive crops, is a consequence of applications made in unfavorable climatic conditions or equipment in inappropriate conditions of use. 

He stated that, currently, there is a joint effort of public initiatives, such as universities, research institutions and technical assistance companies, and private sector, such as companies, cooperatives, resellers and consultants, to train and educate the producer about the importance of correct use of technologies that guarantee the quality of herbicide application. "The proper use of application technologies and the precaution to avoid drift are essential to guarantee the effectiveness and environmental safety in the use of these products," he said in conclusion.