Bio Protector developed to benefit coffee quality

Research conducted at a bio factory in the Federal University of Lavras in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais has led to the development of “Bio Protector”—a product based on the fungi Cladosporium cladosporioides, with fungicide action and which benefits the quality of coffee.

 

“It produces an antibiotic and yet exerts action of parasitism against other,” explained one of the scientists involved in the study, a doctor in Plant Science called Sara Maria Chalfoun.

 

Chalfoun, a researcher for the Agricultural Research Company of Minas Gerais, began to study the Cladosporium cladosporioides in 1989, when she studied the role of micro-organisms in crop improvement. 

 

“There were reports already of this fungi in Brazil since 1957 in areas where coffee had poor quality. But its presence could only be concluded […] I saw that this fungi did not leave others, that it was harmful for growth. That is, it exerted an antagonist action against other fungi,” she said.

 
According to the scientist, some of these other fungi, which are popularly called mold, can produce toxins, but this is rare. The crops that are more exposed to malefic fungi are the ones located in very humid regions, as the ones situated near rivers, water glasses or even artificial dams.

 

The Bio Protector coming from the Cladosporium cladosporioides fungi with a green tone and a similar aspect to suede was developed to be inoculated on coffee. The biological product started to be manufactured in 2007, receiving financial support from the Federal University of Lavras, the Agricultural Research Company of Minas Gerais and the recently-created startup, Tbio that supports bureaucracy.

 

According to Chalfoun, it is a concentrated suspension of the fungus aggregated to a substance that can bring adherence. Without chemical additions, the formulation of Bio Protector can be liquid or powder. Yet, in the procedure for registration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the product is currently tested in some farms.