AgroPages-Bb-Protec: Leading the fight against coffee berry borer in Brazil-Agricultural news

Coffee growers in Brazil are facing a growing challenge managing the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), one of the most destructive pests in coffee production. With bans on certain chemical insecticides, growers have searched for effective alternatives.

The team at Andermatt Brazil leveraged the expertise of the Andermatt Group and identified Bb-Protec^®, a biological insecticide based on the beneficial fungus Beauveria bassiana, as a potential solution. This success story showcases the research and positive trial results, which now benefit local growers.

Coffee production in Brazil:

Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producing country, with a cultivated area covering around 2.2 million hectares. In 2023, production was approximately 62.6 million 60-kg bags (CONAB, 2023), consisting mainly of two varieties: arabica coffee (70% of production) and conilon coffee (accounting for the remaining 30%).

In terms of exports, Brazil also leads the global market. In 2023, the country exported around 39.4 million coffee bags (approximately 2.2 million tons). The main destinations for Brazilian exports include the United States, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Japan, generating significant foreign exchange income for Brazil of close to US$7.22 billion (CONAB, 2023).

The challenge:

Coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) is one of the most destructive pests impacting Brazilian coffee growers. Originally from Africa, coffee berry borer was introduced to Latin America at the beginning of the 20th century spreading quickly to the main coffee-growing regions, including Brazil.

The insect is capable of causing significant damage to coffee grains, resulting in losses of up to 20% in production. In addition to the quantitative damage, it also harms the quality of the beans, which directly impacts the quality of the drink.

The Research and the results:

In Brazil, Beauveria bassiana is naturally found infecting the coffee berry borer, encouraging its use in Integrated Pest Management (IPM). However, growers traditionally rely on on-farm production of this fungus, achieving inconsistent quality which results in erratic efficacy.

To address this, Andermatt Brasil conducted three replicated field trials to evaluate the efficacy of Bb-Protec^® against coffee berry borer. After just two applications, Bb-Protec^® reduced the number of attacked coffee berries by over 60% (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Efficacy trial results showing the number of attacked berries 30 days after two applications. The performance of Bb-Protec^® was compared to an untreated control and a competitor Beauveria bassiana product.

An additional trial carried out by Dr Alyson Araújo, Market Developer (MD) at Andermatt Brasil observed dead Coffee Berry Borer insects colonized by Beauveria bassiana strain R444 (Bb-Protec), seven days after Bb-Protec was applied (Figure 2).

Together, these findings led to the product’s registration for Coffee Berry Borer control in Brazil in 2023.

Figure 2: Colonized coffee berry borer after application of Bb Protec (R) (Photo: Dr. Alyson Araújo

A commitment to future research and development

In collaboration with the Federal Institute of Southern Minas Gerais (IFSULDEMINAS), Andermatt Brazil is continuing research on sustainable solutions for coffee production.

This partnership strengthens the company’s commitment to delivering innovative, environmentally friendly products that enhance the global competitiveness of Brazilian coffee.

In conclusion:

Bb-Protec^® offers coffee growers in Brazil an effective, environmentally safe alternative to chemical insecticides. It can be used in organic production or as part of an IPM program. As a residue-free solution, it protects the crops and the environment, ensuring Brazilian coffee growers can continue producing high-quality coffee while managing pest outbreaks sustainably.

Bb-Protec^®, featuring Beauveria bassiana strain R444 as its active ingredient, is a versatile biological insecticide with a broad target range.

Registered in South Africa since 2011 under the name Eco-Bb, it has effectively controlled pests like red spider mite, whitefly, mealybug, and false coddling moth. Recently, Bb-Protec has expanded its reach, with its first registration for combating coffee berry borer in Brazil in 2023, demonstrating its potential against various agricultural pests.