Bioinputs emit 69% to 91% fewer greenhouse gases, reports ABINBIO

Bioinputs produce between 69% to 91% less carbon dioxide (CO₂) during their manufacturing compared to conventional agrochemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers, according to a study by the University of California (UC-Davis), in collaboration with Marrone Bio, released by ABINBIO (Brazilian Association of Bioinput Industries). 

When present in high concentrations, CO₂, also known as carbon dioxide, significantly contributes to global warming and climate change.

This has led to ongoing concerns across the entire agribusiness sector and industry stakeholders to seek solutions that combine productivity with sustainability. In this context, biological inputs play a crucial role: in addition to the benefits of replacing agrochemicals, bio inputs also have a significantly lower environmental impact.

″To produce one kiloliter of a biological product, I emit three to five kilograms of CO₂ per kiloliter,″ stated Fernando Sousa, Director of Sustainability at ABINBIO. He noted that completely replacing chemical pesticides with biological alternatives could reduce up to 90% of CO₂ emissions from agriculture.

″It’s important to remember that Brazil is one of the largest markets for plant protection products. This is because we operate in a tropical agricultural environment. Here, pest cycles do not end with seasonal climates like snow. Pests continue to thrive, making Brazil one of the world's biggest markets for plant protection. However, we cannot stop producing, as Brazil plays a vital role in global food supply,″ said Sousa, who also serves as the Biologicals Manager at Vitales.

Sousa emphasized that Brazil uses 1.4 million tons of chemical pesticides annually. ″If we calculate the emissions required to produce this amount, we arrive at approximately 20 to 24 million tons of CO₂ emitted to produce these pesticides.″

He explained that agriculture is responsible for about 200 million tons of CO₂ emitted each year: ″This is largely due to agricultural practices, such as nitrogen usage, which contributes significantly to nitrous oxide emissions—a potent greenhouse gas, potentially far more impactful than CO₂, beyond agricultural practices.″

″Among agricultural practices, we need to consider the role of biological inputs. For perspective, one liter of a chemical pesticide in agriculture generates around 20 to 25 kilograms of CO₂. This is because those emissions are accounted for when producing these products. Depending on the product category—herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides—each can produce 20 to 25 kilograms of CO₂ per kilogram produced,″ the ABINBIO Sustainability Director highlighted.

Furthermore, Fernando Sousa pointed out that traditional chemical inputs ″disrupt and destabilize biodiversity. Often, there is a level of soil contamination, and if not used properly, these residues can be transferred to food, contaminating animals and humans.″

″Biological inputs have a different footprint; they do not leave residues in the soil or on food and are highly selective. This means they do not reduce biodiversity like traditional chemical pesticides. For me, sustainability is about meeting the current generation's needs without compromising future generations' resources. This encompasses social, environmental, and economic dimensions,″ he said in conclusion.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)