Brazilian inoculant sector sold 141 million doses in 2023

Approximately 141 million doses of inoculants were sold in 2023, according to data from ANPII (National Association of Inoculant Producers and Importers). 

Nearly 85% of soybean producers and 22.4% of corn producers apply this category of products. According to the industries that produce inoculants, this market continues to grow as a trend in Brazilian agriculture.

In light of the sector's evolution, representatives from Brazil recently gathered to discuss, in-depth, the advancements and results of research on microbiological inoculants, and debate the planning of research and the transfer of technologies to the industry.

ANPII Founding Advisor, Solon Cordeiro Araújo, highlighted the sector’s continuous growth over the past four years, with an average annual growth rate of 14.7%, with soybeans being the crop that most adopts this technology. 

″The evolution of the use of inoculants is remarkable. We have moved from 35% use in soybean cultivation in the 1980s to 85% currently. We have also advanced from a single type of inoculant to various classes and forms of use,″ he said. 

Araújo said, there has been a ″significant advance in terms of regulation, inspection, and technical training, with companies now having highly qualified teams.″

Since 1952, when only Rhizobium inoculants were used, the sector expanded to include, in 2009, Azospirillum inoculants, and in 2022, products for phosphorus solubilization and resilience to water stress. Various microorganisms such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Methylobacterium are also now being used. According to ANPII data, soybeans lead inoculant sales with 77% of the total value, corn with 16%, and sugarcane with 2.5%.

Inoculants based on Bradyrhizobium bacteria represent 72.7% of the doses used in the field, while Azospirillum and Pseudomonas account for 26.7%.

″Brazil is capable of meeting the demands of domestic and international markets in terms of quality and technical capacity. Its industrial sector is prepared to respond to increased demand, reinforcing the potential for expansion and the environmental and economic benefits for agricultural production,″ Araújo said. 

According to him, ANPII plays a ″fundamental role in promoting and developing the inoculant sector, driving the adoption of new technologies and the standardization of quality biological products.″

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)