Research indicates a 3.7% increase in the Brazilian area treated with pesticides

The area treated with pesticides in Brazil for the 2023/2024 crop is expected to increase by 3.7% compared to the previous season, according to a study by Kynetec Brasil, commissioned by Sindiveg (National Union of the Plant Defense Industry).

According to the study, the expansion of the cultivated area for soybeans and the climatic conditions influenced by El Niño contributed to the increase in pests and diseases, thus explaining the rise in agrochemical applications.

Regarding the total volume of agricultural pesticides used for pest, disease, and weed control in the second half of 2023 (H2), a total of 811 thousand tons were recorded, considering the number of applications required per situation.

Of this total, 49% corresponds to herbicides, 24% to fungicides, 18% to insecticides, 1% to seed treatment, and 8% to others. The amount used corresponds to 1.25 billion treated hectares, driven by the expansion of cultivated areas.

The material takes into account the methodology developed by Kynetec, which projects data on the pesticide market in PAT (product per treated area). The concept considers the volume effectively used by the rural producer and the number of pesticide applications in the cultivated area.

According to the projection, the increase in the area controlled for nematodes in soybean cultivation should be 26.1%, and for bugs, 8.8%.

Soybean cultivation represents 55% of the total area and is expected to reflect an increase, with a growth of 6.5% in the 23/24 season.

In this case, the use of premium fungicides increased by 7.9%, while protective fungicides increased by 32%, both in a cultivated area of 45 million hectares, reflecting a 4% expansion compared to the previous season (22/23).

In some regions of Brazil, above-average rainfall was recorded, such as in the South, where the pressure of fungal diseases was higher.

In contrast, in the Midwest region, there was below-average rainfall, causing a water deficit that facilitated pest infestation.

Sindiveg's president, Julio Borges

"In different ways, climatic problems generate uncertainties and increase the incidence of diseases that require the use of pesticides to ensure good productivity," emphasizes Sindiveg's president, Julio Borges.

The average investment of the rural producer in inputs, as the projection indicates, is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels, with prices of key products falling, especially non-selective herbicides – those with a broad spectrum of action.

In previous harvests, input costs were influenced by the pandemic, with increased freight costs, container availability, and raw material and importation costs.

"Crop protection technologies are strong allies to ensure productivity, helping farmers safely expand their businesses and contributing to the delivery of increasingly secure food," concludes Borges.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)