Groundwork BioAg: Expanding across key LATAM growing regions, concentrating specifically on Rootella’s key benefits

Editor’s Note: The biological market in Latin America is one of the fastest developing sectors in the agricultural input industry. Brazil is the largest market for biologicals in Latin America, with more than 500 biological products having been registered.

Farmers in Latin America are actively seeking biological solutions for pest and disease management, nutrient supplementation, and soil health improvement. Additionally, governments in Latin America are implementing incentive programs and regulatory changes to encourage the adoption of biological inputs in agriculture. These initiatives provide valuable support and incentives for farmers, leading to market growth and greater acceptance of agricultural biologicals.

Considerable development potential is attracting the attention of all biological product manufacturers and distributors worldwide, who are accelerating the business layout of new technologies, new products and new applications related to biologicals.

Accordingly, AgroPages recently invited some key players in this field to share their views. In this article, Hanan Dor, Groundwork BioAg’s Chief Commercial Officer shared his views over the market landscape of the biological market in Latin America, the layout, application, regulation of biologicals, opportunities and challenges for biologicals, as well as the plans to launch new biologicals in Latin America and more.

Could you describe the market landscape of the biological market in Latin America? What are the drivers, challenges and trends of the development of biologicals in this region?

Hanan Dor: In Latin America, growers are ahead of the global curve in integrating biologicals as an important part of a more complete integrated crop treatment for pests, disease and nutrition. Many of the largest growers have adopted more sustainable farming practices using biologicals, making Brazil, in particular, an attractive market for biological companies. While LATAM growers now have many choices, they are looking for proven products with specific, high-value benefits, including helping to reduce their dependance on chemical fertilizers.

Since 2018, Groundwork BioAg and its partner NovaTero BioAg, led by Bernad Arnaud, chairman, and Ricardo Stolf, chief executive officer, have been helping growers cost-effectively and sustainably improve yield by adding Rootella^® BR mycorrhizal inoculant as the foundation of their fertility program.

Could you talk about the regulatory landscape of biologicals in Latin America? What impact do these regulations have on your company’s business?

Hanan Dor: Public policies that have encouraged alternatives to agrochemicals with less regulatory barriers to international companies have fostered a strong market environment for the LATAM biologicals sector, especially for products focused on soil health benefits. In particular, Brazil has been a positive environment for Groundwork BioAg’s global growth opportunities with Rootella^® now on over 100,000 Brazilian hectares. LATAM’s focus on sustainable farming practices and environmental outcomes has helped to encourage a vibrant marketplace and rapid adoption for soil health-focused biologicals.

Could you give us an overview of your company's biologicals and their special features, application situation in Latin America? Could you share some novel approaches to production and formulation of biologicals?

Hanan Dor: Groundwork BioAg, together with NovaTero BioAg, received the first definitive commercial registration for mycorrhizal inoculants in Brazil, with the Rootella^® BR product line developed specifically for Brazilian corn and soybean growers. In addition, the company has commercial operations in Mexico and Argentina, and plans additional expansions in key LATAM growing regions.
 
At present, biologicals are a growing part of a more complete integrated plant and soil health program. In this way, Rootella, which is based on a specific family of mycorrhizas, will become a key part of plant integrated treatments, applied in furrow applications and seed treatments for soybean, corn and other cereals. In addition, Rootella also contributes to support farmers in reducing carbon emissions on their plantations by creating carbon additionality in the soil, to help farmers create innovative ways to contribute to environmental benefits.

Groundwork BioAg’s Rootella mycorrhizal inoculants form a symbiotic relationship with plants, improving soil health while increasing a plants’ ability to access water and nutrients, especially phosphorus, which is often deficient in LATAM soils. Rootella BR ULTRA is the highest concentrated mycorrhizal inoculant in the market, with an application rate as low as 15 grams per hectare ensuring a reliably high ROI to growers.

What are the considerations for farmers/growers to use biologicals? How does your company educate growers and farmers on the use of biologicals?

Hanan Dor: LATAM growers aren’t interested in a Swiss army knife approach to value, they want to know exactly what benefits a biological provides and at what ROI. At Groundwork BioAg we have conducted multiple LATAM-located efficacy trials in varied climatic conditions and on numerous soil types, returning an average increased yield of 11% in corn and soybeans, with even higher yield increases seen under conditions with reduced phosphorus rates. Our LATAM growers have successfully used Rootella to reinvigorate degraded land and significantly reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers, sometimes entirely.

What and where are the biggest opportunities and challenges for biologicals in Latin America?

Hanan Dor: The biggest opportunity, and challenge, currently facing Latin American biologicals is the potential. We already know that an emphasis on soil health has contributed to skyrocketing yield increases in Brazilian-grown soybeans and now corn. Double and even triple cropping rotations give LATAM growers a distinct yield advantage on the global agricultural stage. However, as LATAM production intensifies, growers risk degrading their soil health and exacerbating other issues, like diseases and pests. To help LATAM growers meet their potential, we need biologicals that solve grower’s biggest problems, have clearly defined benefits and return a high ROI. This is exactly what mycorrhizal inoculants like Rootella are designed to do.

What are the plans to launch new biologicals in Latin America? Highlight the development plan in Latin America.

Hanan Dor: Through our distributor partners, including NovaTero BioAg in Brazil and Ahern Seeds in Mexico, and with recent approval for commercial registration in Argentina, GroundWork BioAg is expanding across key LATAM growing regions, concentrating specifically on Rootella’s key benefits including helping LATAM farmers restore their soils for better productivity and carbon capture.

If you'd like to share your company's story and products/solutions. Please contact Grace Yuan via: grace@agropages.com