Treated areas with pesticides in Brazil increased by 10.5% in 2023

According to research commissioned by the National Union of Plant Protection Products Industry (Sindiveg) from Kynetec Brazil, the country expanded its pesticide-treated agricultural area by 10.5% last year. 

The study indicated that the increase in pesticide use was driven primarily by climatic conditions that contributed to the proliferation of pests and diseases in Brazilian agriculture in 2023. Additionally, the Kynetec research pointed out an expansion in the planted area of major crops.

In total volume, 1,424,588 tons of pesticides were applied throughout the year. Compared to the previous year’s total of 1,301,537 tons, this represented a 9.5% increase. Of the total, 47% were herbicides, 22% fungicides, 22% insecticides, 1% seed treatments, and 8% other types of pesticides. The total area treated amounted to 2.240 billion hectares, driven by the expansion of cultivated areas.

The research employed a methodology developed by Sindiveg, projecting market data for plant protection products in PAT (product per treated area). This concept highlighted the volume effectively used by the farmer and the number of pesticide applications in the cultivated area. The 2023 figures partially reflected the results of the last two harvests (2022/23 and 2023/24).

Thus, the PAT area divided by crops was led by soybeans, accounting for 55% of the area, followed by corn (18%), cotton (7%), pasture (6%), sugarcane (4%), wheat (3%), other crops (2%), and horticulture, coffee, citrus, beans, and rice (1%).

According to the survey, the market value for pesticide use increased by 1.9%, rising from US$20.322 billion in 2022 to $20.706 billion in 2023. The largest pesticide market remains soybeans (47%), followed by corn (17%), sugarcane (10%), cotton (7%), pasture (4%), wheat and horticulture (3%), citrus, beans, rice, and others (2%).

Throughout the year, different regions of the country experienced significant climatic changes. In the Central-West region, dry weather facilitated pest infestations. For example, in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, an above-average rainfall resulted in high fungal disease pressure.

In this scenario, which is expected to have similarities throughout 2024, the average investment by rural producers approached pre-pandemic levels, with prices for key agricultural pesticides falling, particularly non-selective herbicides (broad-spectrum action).

During the fight against COVID-19, input costs fluctuated due to increased freight rates, container availability, raw material costs, and import costs.

2023/24 Season Expectations

The Kynetec study also presented its expectations for the 2023/24 harvest, projecting a 12.6% decline compared to the 2022/23 harvest, dropping from $22 billion to $19 billion. The total is divided among soybeans (51%), corn (14%, down 28% compared to the previous year), sugarcane (10%), cotton (7%), pasture, horticulture, and wheat (3%), citrus, beans, rice, and others (2%).

However, in PAT, a 7.6% growth is expected, with 2.317 billion hectares, represented by soybean (56%), corn (16%), cotton (8%), pasture (6%), sugarcane (4%), wheat (3%), and others. The soybean cultivated area, for example, is expected to increase by 4%, exceeding 45 million hectares.

The main targets for pesticide-treated areas were linked to pest growth. An example is the Whitefly, which saw a 131.8% increase in incidence from the 2022/23 to 2023/24 harvests, followed by nematicides (14.3%) and stink bugs (12.6%). On the other hand, protective fungicide products stood out as the primary market front, with a growth of 23.8%.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)