ADAMA launches biological product for sugarcane in Brazil

ADAMA participated in the 10th Tecnobio CANA, a major event focused on the biological control of pests, diseases and weeds, in addition to other related practices. The meeting took place in Ribeirão Preto (SP) on August 17, bringing together around 350 participants, including pesticide and biological product companies, farmers and mill owners.

According to market intelligence consultancy Spark, of the crops with the highest adoption of biological products, with around 50% of the cultivated area being treated with bio-defensives, sugarcane stands out in this segment and has been growing year after year. According to the most recent data collected by Spark in November 2021, the total market for bioinputs was valued at BRL1.7 billion in the 2020/2021 season, a growth of 37% compared to the 2019/2020 cycle, when it was BRL1.235 billion.

ADAMA believes in combining chemical and biological products for better crop management and, therefore, has been investing more and significantly and consistently in its biosolutions portfolio. This year, the company launched Protege, a microbiological fungicide and nematicide focused mainly for soybean and sugarcane crops. ″At the event, we will show the benefits of using this biosolution in the cultivation of sugarcane. Protege has an innovative formulation, delivering vigor to cane fields and ensuring plant health and profitability,″ said Vinicius Boleta (Product Manager at ADAMA).

With losses that reach 35 billion reais per year in Brazilian crops (including soybeans and other crops), according to the Brazilian Society of Nematology (SBN), the impact of nematodes on sugarcane alone can reach 12 billion reais per year and they are, therefore, considered a major threat to agricultural production in Brazil, and require special attention from producers. Due to its triple combination of bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis  + Bacillus velezensis  + Bacillus amyloliquefaciens), Protege offers different modes of action on nematodes, controlling these parasites and protecting sugarcane productivity. The biosolution is also practical to use and is compatible with other pesticides.

During Tecnobio CANA, ADAMA also showcased the already consolidated solution to the ExpertGrow market, a technology aimed at plant biostimulation and a reference in the sugarcane culture. The biosolution increases plant resistance to abiotic stresses, such as extreme temperatures and water deficit, as well as biotic stresses against pests and diseases. The main benefits are increased photosynthetic rate and greater efficiency in utilizing nutrients, as well as the better development of leaves and stems, resulting in increased productivity (+TCH).

Bom de Cana - Since 2020, ADAMA has been working with the #BomDeCana campaign on the technical strengthening and valorization of sugarcane plantations and the entire sugar-energy chain. Brazil is the world's largest producer of sugarcane and, in the 2020/21 harvest, produced 654.5 million tons destined for the manufacturing of 41.2 million tons of sugar and 29.7 billion liters of ethanol, according to the Institute of Agricultural Economics (IEA).