Adjuvantes da Pulverização program delivers cutting-edge research to agribusiness in Brazil

With investments in the development and scientific validation of a booth, specific to simulating pesticide applications under different rainfall conditions, the Adjuvantes da Pulverização program is now developing, in its Jundiaí laboratory, the analysis of yet another product functionality adjuvant.

According to information released by researcher Hamilton Ramos, this is the so-called 'adhesive effect' of the inputs in the agricultural spraying process.

According to Ramos, who is also the program coordinator, CEA-IAC fully developed the new research technique anchored in the spray booth and rainfall simulation. Until it came into practical operation, it required two years of studies, he pointed out.

Ramos explained that adjuvants are chemical products used to prepare pesticide spray before being sprayed on crops. From an agronomic point of view, the researcher emphasized, adjuvants interfere with the effectiveness of spraying by adding adhesive, spreading, moisturizing or penetrating effects to agricultural pesticides.

“An adjuvant with questionable functionality, associated with a good quality pesticide, puts the investment in pest, disease and weed control at risk,” the researcher summarized.

According to Ramos, the program has existed for more than ten years. It is the result of a partnership between the private sector and the Engineering and Automation Center (CEA) of the Agronomic Institute (IAC), an agency of the State Department of Agriculture and Supply from Sao Paulo.

The researcher stated that last October, the program delivered the first certifications to six companies for the newly created Functionality Quality Seal for Agricultural Adjuvants, after investments in the CEA-IAC laboratory. Agrocete, Apex Agro, Equilex Chemicals, Momentive Performance Materials, Thera Química and Vittia received recognition.

Ramos recalled that agricultural adjuvants don’t require to be registered with regulatory bodies, unlike agricultural pesticides. "Since there is no regulatory control, the market needs to seek mechanisms to ensure the quality of adjuvants marketed in Brazil, hence the emergence of this set of research that gave rise to the seal, now issued by CEA-IAC." Ramos also added that at least ten companies in the adjuvant sector, in addition to the six that have already received the seal, are submitting products for analysis to receive a certification of functionality.

"The seal transfers the seal of quality to the manufacturer and also provides security to the rural producer when choosing the adjuvants he will use in the harvest, in treatments against pests, diseases and weeds, which require significant investments in the properties," Ramos said in conclusion.