Brazil develops innovative technology to test adjuvants in agrochemicals drift

The Agronomic Institute (IAC) Spray Adjuvants program has developed a ‘wind tunnel’ that accurately assesses the interference of adjuvants in the ‘drift’ of agrochemicals such as herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and acaricides.

The equipment, apparently simple, is capable of producing results similar to those obtained with the latest generation imported models that are worth over US$1 million. The Brazilian 'wind tunnel' has been attracting manufacturers of agricultural adjuvants in search of functionality certification for their products.

Drift refers to the amount of agrochemical that ‘escapes’ from the target of an application, in the act of spraying. Several factors cause this phenomenon, from the action of the wind to the addition of inappropriate adjuvants to the spraying solution of an agrochemical, according to the coordinator of the Spray Adjuvants program and researcher, Hamilton Ramos.

“Adjuvants add effects such as spreading, wetting and penetrating. Low-quality products and unproven functionality cause drift and bring environmental, agronomic and rural worker health problems, among others,” explained Ramos.

According to him, the program's wind tunnel represents an advance in knowledge linked to the relationship between adjuvants and drift. “Simplified in its engineering structure, the equipment enables highly reliable analysis at an affordable cost.”

According to Ramos, the main characteristics of the wind tunnel are its cylindrical shape - there are others in the country with a rectangular structure - a diameter of approximately 1 meter and a length of 8.40 m. Spray nozzles and a reservoir are attached to the equipment for storing the spray solution and adjuvant, and a mechanism for 'aspiration' of the products under study and the measurement of drift.

Legislation and seal

Ramos clarified that contrary to what happens in the agrochemical or pesticide industry, whose inputs are subject to rigorous testing and research stages for registration and inspection, agricultural adjuvants produced in Brazil do not pass through official regulation. “This legal loophole opens the door to incorrect and unsafe use of pesticides and also adjuvants.”

Ramos also emphasized that at the end of 2021, the Spray Adjuvants program launched the CEA-IAC seal, to certify the functionality of agricultural adjuvants informed on the labels of these products by the manufacturers. So far eight companies have obtained certification. Another five companies are in the registration phase.

The researcher also points out that the Spray Adjuvants program is a non-profit initiative, maintained with private resources at the Center for Engineering and Automation (CEA), of the Agronomic Institute (IAC), an agency of the Secretary of Agriculture and Supply of the State, de SP based for over 50 years in the city of Jundiaí.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)