Expodireto 2025 -- CropLife launches Conecta Platform to train 2,000 agrochemical applicators

During Expodireto 2025, CropLife Brasil (CLB) introduced the CropLife Conecta platform for distance learning. The training aims at different profiles of sector professionals, and the initial goal is to train two thousand agrochemical applicators.

According to CropLife, the purpose of Conecta is to offer updated content on new field technologies, efficient use of inputs, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques, proper disposal of packaging, and other practices that ensure greater productive efficiency and minimize environmental impacts. In addition to training, the platform aims to connect agents in the production chain to transform the sector through education.

The first training available on Conecta is the Aplicador Legal, focused on certifying pesticide applicators. The course covers topics such as usage, correct dosage, ideal application timing, environmental impact, and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The training complies with Ordinance 410/2022 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), which mandates the certification of all applicators in Brazil.

For Claudia Quaglierini, CLB's Sustainability and Best Practices Manager, continuous training is crucial for productivity in the field. "Low knowledge of new technologies can result in low efficiency, which affects producers' profitability. Conecta aims to offer this qualification so that farmers learn to use inputs efficiently, sustainably, and safely," she adds.

The manager also explains the importance of staying updated on new environmental and safety laws. "The agricultural sector is constantly evolving to adapt to new cultivation conditions, and many farmers do not have access to continuous training programs. Our course aims to meet this demand with an EaD offering, which students can access at any time, even without an internet connection," Quaglierini emphasizes.

For Eduardo Leão, President of CropLife Brasil (CLB), Conecta reinforces the sector's commitment to qualification and the promotion of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). "By providing quality educational content, the platform helps demystify the industry, showing, for example, that chemical and biological pesticides, when used correctly, are valuable tools for sustainable and safe agriculture," he explains.

In the coming months, Conecta is expected to offer new courses to make the platform a reference in training professionals for the agricultural sector. The plan includes training focused on the identification and traceability of illegal inputs, with a focus on risk mitigation. Part of the demand for such products stems from a lack of knowledge and, consequently, a lack of training for rural producers about the illicit market.

"Rural producers can and should be partners in the efficiency of new technologies, environmental preservation, and the mitigation of food insecurity, which are major challenges for the Brazilian productive sector. By acquiring and using legitimate and certified products, they contribute to the sector as a whole," emphasizes Nilto Mendes, CLB's Manager of Combating Illegal Products.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)