Jacto, Koppert sign partnership to popularize application of macrobiological biopesticides via drones in Brazil

By Leonardo Gottems, Reporter for AgroPages

The Brazilian Company of Agricultural Machinery and Solutions (Jacto) signed an unprecedented partnership with Koppert Biological Systems aimed at popularizing the application of macrobiological biopesticides using drones.

The new distribution project will enable producers who utilize Jacto's services to use biopesticides manufactured by Koppert, through offering personalized services and guaranteed application quality.

According to the companies, the project is aimed at both grain and fiber crops starting in the 2021/22 harvest, and will involve the application of macrobiological inputs on an area of 250,000 hectares throughout Brazil.

According to Gustavo Herrmann (Commercial Director of Koppert), the objective is to create an integrated services provider with adequate training and qualifications to ensure the best application in the field. “In this way, we were able to verticalize operations, with the objective of confirming the performance of our products in the field, including our after-sales work,” he explained.

Fernando Gonçalves (President of Jacto) said “farmers and rural properties need solutions that will simplify the adoption of integrated pest management and biological controls, as well as ensure the quality and digital traceability of operations. Therefore, by combining Jacto's expertise in application technologies with Koppert's knowledge of the production and sale of biological inputs, we enable producers to demonstrate both performance and sustainability in practice.”

Koppert’s portfolio includes two macrobiological insecticides for targeted crops. The first is the Podisibug (Telenomus podisi) for controlling different types of bed bugs. The second is the Pretiobug (Trichogramma pretiosum) for countering caterpillars and moths.

For Jacto, the partnership follows the proposal to be an integrated services provider with the capacity to supply 100% of the chain of Jacto Next, a new business area responsible for the commercialization and delivery of specialized services within the market.

“Through the EKOS operations management module present in the Jacto Connect digital ecosystem, we offer solutions for the complete digitization of farms with technologies such as internet coverage, the instrumentation and connection of multi-brand machines, meteorological stations, electronic traps, images of satellites and software for monitoring and managing operations,” explained Felippe Antonelle F. Gonçalves (Business Manager at Jacto Next).

These integrated services include special operations with drones, which include the release of macrobiological products from Koopert, as well as “the producer can monitor the entire operation by cell phone, through the Jacto Connect application.”

Herrmann also pointed out Koppert has created an application called Natutec, which integrates customers, sales teams, logistics and industry, together with the Jacto Next team, with information from the entire process, from production to after-sales.

“In real time, everyone involved will know the quantity of products leaving the factory and the transportation time to customers, guiding Jacto Next’s release teams in ensuring customers have the best experience with our products,” he added.

According to Herrmann, Natutec provides information to customers regarding necessary care and the storage of products in terms of temperature and humidity, to ensure quality and discover the probable date of birth of the parasitoid, which are important for the time of release. It also aims to discover the major chemical molecules that cannot be applied by producers during the withdrawal periods, to guarantee the survival and effectiveness of the macro-organisms in the field.