Syngenta launches microbiological fungicide Arvatico in Brazil

Syngenta Crop Protection announced the launch of ARVATICO^®, an exclusive microbiological fungicide and nematicide composed of organisms that increase its spectrum of action.

The product is recommended for the control of nematodes and diseases in all crops that suffer from these problems, especially in soy, corn and cotton.

With its innovative composition, ARVATICO^® reduces the penetration of nematodes and the attack of fungi, favoring the protection of the root system of the plants, which, consequently, will grow healthier. According to the 6th Grain Crop Survey, released by the National Supply Company (CONAB), grain production in Brazil during the 2022/2023 harvest could reach around 309.9 million tons. Practically half of this volume comes from soybean crops, which shows the market potential of this launch.

″ARVATICO^® has Bacillus velezensis as an active ingredient, which protects the roots from the time of emission until the end of the crop cycle through biofilm and metabolites that attack nematodes and fungi, in addition to the effect of promoting growth,″ explained Carlos Tonet, Seedcare Marketing Manager at Syngenta Crop Protection.

The product, which expands Syngenta's Seedcare portfolio, was registered by MAPA (Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento) to control nematodes such as Cyst Nematode (Heterodera glycines), Lesser Nematode (Pratylenchus brachyurus) and galls (Meloidogyne incognita) and control of diseases such as Fusariosis (Fusarium solani), gray stem rot (Macrophomina phaseolina) and Black scab (Rhizoctonia solani). Its action protects the root system of plants, improving productivity while contributing to the sustainable evolution of crops.

With its innovative composition, ARVATICO^® reduces the penetration of nematodes.

ARVATICO^® acts with two mechanisms of action: nematicidal and fungicidal, providing antibiosis through the production of specific metabolites, thus interrupting the life cycle of nematodes and fungi, and forming a biofilm that provides a physical-chemical barrier against penetration of nematodes and fungal structures. The robust research focused on the development of this innovation began ten years ago and can be applied both in seed treatment and in planting furrows.

"The product arrives to support farmers in the control of nematodes and diseases that grow with each harvest in Brazil, reinforcing Syngenta's pioneering spirit in investing in research and development of biological formulations, further expanding its winning portfolio", said Tonet in conclusion.

Nematodes: Hidden enemies in the soil

An unprecedented survey on nematodes was carried out in 2022 by Syngenta, together with the consultancy Agroconsult and the SBN (Brazilian Society of Nematology). It showed in numbers the damage and losses caused in Brazilian crops. According to the study, a loss of BRL65 billion is estimated due to these "hidden" enemies – as they are invisible to the naked eye – in various cultures.

In soybean, this loss is estimated at R$27.7 billion. This means that, every ten harvests, an entire crop is lost to nematodes in soybeans. In addition, if the problem is not tackled efficiently, the expectation is that Brazilian producers will potentially lose more than R$870 billion in ten years.