Rapid technological advances in agrochemicals in Latin America

The year 2021 was characterized by rapid technological advances in agrochemicals in Latin America, said José Perdomo, president of CropLife Latin America.

Among the technologies that gained more space in the market are the application of agrochemicals using drones, advances in biotechnology and gene editing, and the adoption of tools for advancing precision agriculture.

“All these developments contribute directly to progress towards agricultural sustainability and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,” Perdomo said.

According to him, the challenges are continuing, and for new technologies to be available to farmers, it is necessary to insist on modern regulatory frameworks with evaluations based on scientific criteria.

“In 2021, there were several initiatives that aimed, without scientific basis, to prohibit and/or restrict the use of molecules. The quick action of CropLife Latin America and its associates, their technical support, and the verification of data presented allowed these initiatives to be archived for the benefit of farmers who require these technologies for their crops,” he added.

Perdomo also saw the “growing interest of authorities in the negative effects of the illegal trade in agrochemicals, which is increasing and needs to be fought with more determination while, at the same time, fostering a culture of legality in the region.”

“In 2021, our contribution to the region's circular economy took place, through the CampoLimpioSM program, with the recovery of more than 78,000 tons of plastic, of which 50% were recycled while the rest were used for energy recovery. In addition, more than 230,000 farmers, agricultural technicians, agronomists were trained in Good Agricultural Practices under the CuidAgroSM program,” he stressed.

“In addition to these efforts, our management have actively participated in promoting free trade and increasing Latin America's export potential. With this objective, we follow the European policy, the ‘Green Pact, the Convention on Biological Diversity,’ and create spaces for joint work between agricultural producers, authorities and diplomatic missions, to create a better understanding of the needs and particularities of agriculture, in many cases in tropical Latin America,” he said.

CropLife Latin America is a non-profit organization made up of six companies and a network of 26 associations in 18 Latin American countries, being one of the six regional affiliates of CropLife International, the Global Federation of Crop Science Industry. It also represents Bayer CropScience, FMC, Syngenta, BASF, Sumitomo Chemical and Corteva Agriscience.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)