Agrocete invests in integrated management and launches 3 new biological control products

Brazilian multinational Agrocete, which has a portfolio of more than 70 solutions in nutrition, plant physiology, adjuvants, application technology, and biologicals, has launched the GRAP Bees Line. 

This line demonstrates significant results in the field by combining profitability, environmental preservation, and high efficiency in pest and disease control.

With an investment of R$12 million, Agrocete operates in the areas of nutrition, plant physiology, biologicals, adjuvants, and application technology. It officially enters the biocontrol market by launching three new bioinputs—a bionematicide, a fungicide, and a bioinsecticide—intended for pest and disease management in various agricultural crops. After five years of planning, the products were developed to meet the growing demand for sustainable solutions in the field and provide greater productivity while ensuring environmental preservation.

Recent studies have shown impressive results with the new products in the GRAP Bees line. In three field trials, the biofungicide BeesTRIC increased soybean productivity by an average of 4.2 bags per hectare, an increase of 7.6% compared to the control. The bionematicide BIOSTAT reduced nematodes by up to 74% in the soil and 96% in the roots of different crops, resulting in an increase of up to 3.9 bags per hectare in soybeans compared to untreated areas and 3.3 bags more compared to another biological product. 

The bioinsecticide BeesECT contributed to an increase of 4.5 bags per hectare in soybean productivity. When combined with chemical insecticides, it improved caterpillar control by up to 45%, demonstrating synergy and helping to reduce the development of resistance in pests, one of the most significant challenges in modern agriculture. The new products underwent a lengthy testing and validation process within Agrocete’s Research and Development (R&D) department to offer farmers safety, quality, and consistent results. 

As a standard procedure within the company, any product that is launched must undergo a multifaceted process that involves a New Products Committee, several teams and departments, ongoing technical training with the team, and a series of external projects in partnership with producers, consultants, research institutions, and universities. According to Andrea de Figueiredo Giroldo, Agrocete’s Marketing and Development Director, entering the biocontrol market with the three products is part of the company’s strategy to offer more efficient and innovative solutions. 

″Our motivation was clear: we want to provide farmers with products that improve the management of their crops and bring greater profitability, always with an eye on sustainability. This new biocontrol portfolio represents an essential innovation for Brazilian agribusiness since biodefensives are capable of reducing dependence on chemical products and preventing the emergence of resistance,″ he stated.

GRAP Bees Line

The new biologicals launched by Agrocete stand out for their broad compatibility with biological inoculants, special fertilizers, other biodefensives, and a wide range of chemical products available on the market. The products act in the sustainable control of pests, such as caterpillars, nematodes, and soil diseases, promoting effective control with less dependence on chemical products. In addition to helping to preserve the efficiency of available chemical molecules for longer, the line contributes to the maintenance and increase of soil microbiota, resulting in environmental benefits and increased crop productivity.

BIOSTAT is an advanced bionematicide that combats nematodes, microscopic organisms that attack plant roots and significantly reduce productivity. The product is composed of the fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum, which parasitizes eggs, juveniles, and adults of nematodes, such as those of the species Meloidogyne spp. and Pratylenchus brachiurus. Tests carried out on crops such as soybeans, corn, sugarcane, carrots, and lettuce showed a reduction of up to 74% of nematodes in the soil and up to 96% in the roots. This effective control translates into a significant increase in productivity. In soybean crops, BIOSTAT provided an increase of up to 3.9 bags per hectare, and in corn, of up to 7.2 bags per hectare, compared to untreated areas.

GRAP BeesTRIC is a biofungicide based on the fungus Trichoderma harzianum, known for its effectiveness in combating soil diseases, such as Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Macrophomina phaseolina. This biofungicide also acts on the nematode Pratylenchus zeae, being a versatile solution for different crops. The product has stood out for its high efficiency and compatibility with other biological agents, allowing its joint application with inoculants and other biodefensives. 

In field tests, BeesTRIC demonstrated the ability to increase soybean productivity by more than four bags per hectare compared to the control. In addition, it allowed an increase in the number of plants per linear meter, positively influencing the plant stand per hectare, with a 7.8% increase in the population. This was undoubtedly the result of the suppression of soil diseases that, in everyday situations, reduced the population and, consequently, productivity.

Finally, GRAP BeesECT is a state-of-the-art bioinsecticide composed of three different strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). It is one of the only TRIPLE Bts available on the market, and the formulation clearly declares the strains and their concentrations. This product offers a broad spectrum of control, being effective against pests such as the False Looper, Helicoverpa, and Armyworm, among others, in addition to suppressing nematodes of the species Pratylenchus zeae. 

BeesECT's unique feature is its ability to prolong the residual effect, allowing for longer intervals between applications. Field studies conducted on soybean plantations have shown that the product can increase soybean productivity by more than four bags per hectare, in addition to demonstrating an increase of up to 45% in pest control at the end of the cycle when used in combination with chemical insecticides, demonstrating the efficiency of the synergy between biological and chemical products. In addition, this combination helps to reduce pest resistance, an increasingly frequent problem in crops.

Constructing Productivity and Sustainability

With the launch of the GRAP BEES line, Agrocete reaffirms its commitment to sustainability and efficiency in the field, aligning itself with the company's Concept of Building Productivity. This concept considers that productivity is the result of a series of integrated management decisions, from land preparation to harvesting, and that no practice should be adopted in isolation.

Therefore, GRAP BEES products' broad compatibility with biological agents, special fertilizers, adjuvants, and chemicals is an important differentiator. This allows producers to apply fewer products in the field and optimizes time and resources. 

″The synergy between chemicals and biologicals has surprised many farmers, providing not only greater efficiency in pest control but also a significant reduction in the emergence of pest and disease resistance in crops,″ continued Agrocete’s Marketing and Development Director. This integrated approach reinforces the objective of the Productivity Concept, promoting more complete and sustainable management with environmental and productive gains.

″These biological products contribute to more balanced and safe management, both for the environment and for the applicator, preserving the soil microbiota while ensuring increased productivity and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, they join Agrocete’s range of solutions, which today has a complete and proven portfolio. ″Our portfolio integrates diverse technologies, such as nutrition, plant physiology, biological nitrogen fixation, application technology, and biological control, with high compatibility and synergy between them. This sets us apart from most of our competitors in Brazil, offering producers integrated and effective solutions that meet the demands of modern agriculture,″ Andrea Giroldo added.

Agrocete also follows strict sustainability standards, being certified by ISO 14001 and the Paraná Climate Seal, with recognition for meeting 7 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This reaffirms the company's commitment to responsible agricultural practices with low environmental impact that are aligned with global preservation and production efficiency goals.

About Agrocete

Founded in 1980, Agrocete is a Brazilian multinational company headquartered in Ponta Grossa (PR) and with units in the United States, Mexico, and Paraguay, with international reference in the area of adjuvants, physiological, biological, and nutrition products.

Agrocete is the largest and most advanced biological inoculant manufacturing plant in the world. It is certified by ISO 9001 for management and quality and ISO 14001 for environmental management. The Together also recognizes it for Sustainability Seal, a global initiative that certifies companies with a safe chemical industry that is committed to the environment.

The company is a pioneer in the production of special fertilizers and inoculants in Brazil and stands out for its innovation and technological modernity, from its laboratories to its procedures. Proof of this is the implementation of a unit for the development, validation, and testing of innovative products, such as bioinputs and biofertilizers, and the Agrocete University. This project provides training and development for the company's employees.