The Bioinsecticide Boom: Brazil's Answer to Corn Pest Challenges

The significance of corn extends beyond human consumption, playing a crucial role as a vital component in livestock feed and ethanol production.

Corn is the second most important crop in Brazil’s agricultural production. The country is the world's third-largest corn producer, behind the United States and China, and is the second-largest exporter, behind the United States. Brazil supplies corn to several countries during the off-season in the United States. This crop plays a crucial role in Brazilian agribusiness and global food security.

Despite the excellent yield, corn production in Brazil has challenges. Pest problems are a significant concern for farmers, with various pests threatening crop yields and quality. 

For instance, the bollworm Helicoverpa armigera is worrying farmers across Brazil, leading them to overuse insecticides to control its outbreaks. Its incursion has resulted in over US$800 million in losses and control costs since 2012 (Arnemann JA et al., 2019).

Corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis, first identified in Parana in 2017, has become a vital corn pest in Brazil. It causes damage directly by sucking nutrients from plants, transmitting pathogens that stunt plant growth, and excreting a sugary substance that attracts other insects and boosts mold growth.

In response to pest challenges and the demand for sustainable farming, the Brazilian agricultural sector has witnessed a notable shift towards integrated pest management (IPM), particularly in relation to biopesticides. The corn bioinsecticide market in Brazil has experienced remarkable growth over the past three years. According to Kynetec, the market of bioinsecticides (growers’ consumption) applied on winter corn increased from US$11.27 million in 2021 to US$119.46 million in 2023, and that on summer corn increased from US$5.04 million in 2021 to US$19.5 million in 2023 in Brazil. This growth reflects a trend towards sustainable agriculture.

Despite the progress, challenges remain. Certain pests still prove difficult to control with current biopesticide options. This gap in the market presents opportunities for innovation, with researchers and companies working to develop new formulations and strategies to address these persistent threats.

In this interview, Fernando Hercos Valicente, Researcher at Embrapa Maize and Sorghum, will share with us his views on the biopesticides and Brazilian bioinsecticide market for corn and Embrapa’s strategy to introduce new biocontrol tools.

Fernando Hercos Valicente, Researcher at Embrapa Maize and Sorghum

The Brazilian corn bioinsecticide market has experienced significant growth over the past three years. What are the reasons behind this tremendous growth?

The bioinsecticide market in Brazil grew by about 15% in the 2023/2024 harvest, and agricultural biological products sold for about R$5 billion (CropLife). Many factors have contributed to the massive growth of biological pesticides in Brazil, and their constant use grew after Helicoverpa armigera came to Brazil in 2012/2013. At this point, farmers realized that they could use an integrated pest management system, including chemical pesticides and biological products, and they got positive results. At the same time, the Brazilian biopesticides industry continued to expand and professionalize in terms of large-scale production systems. Farmers started to adopt these technologies more quickly because of new formulations and technologies. Today, the tendency is to use multiple microorganisms in the same product for different targets and/or functions.

What is your view on the cost-effectiveness of corn biopesticides in Brazil?

Embrapa Maize and Sorghum has developed and signed contracts with different private companies that have registered 11 biopesticides. Most of these products are on the market generating clones with different companies. In some cases, the production and purchase of biopesticides can initially be more expensive than conventional chemical pesticides. This is due to the specialized nature of biopesticides, which are labor-intensive and often involve complex development and production systems processes. It also depends on the target insect and the microorganism to be used in the industry. Although the initial costs might be higher than the chemicals, biopesticides can offer savings over time. They are often less likely to cause pest resistance and do not pollute rivers, creeks, and the final product to be consumed, reducing the need for frequent application and decreasing overall long-term costs. Additionally, biopesticides can improve soil health and biodiversity, lowering costs for soil amendments and improving crop yields.

What kind of biopesticides are Brazilian corn growers demanding that are currently unavailable in the market?

There are many biopesticides on the market; however, they cannot efficiently control specific insect pests such as Dalbulus maidis, soil insects, and sucking bugs. These insects have different mouthparts and habits than the caterpillar, affecting the efficiency of the biological pesticides. The option is to have different formulations, such as powders, granules, or baits, that can be used in various environments before they reach the plant.

What innovative and differentiated biopesticides does Embrapa provide for corn production? Does Embrapa plan to introduce new biocontrol tools in the near future?

Embrapa does provide different formulations and different microorganisms for different purposes. In the near future, these microorganisms and formulations should be adapted to most environments and different insect pests. The future is the gene editing of insects and microorganisms. Another strategy is to combine these microorganisms into one formulation. 

This interview will be published in AgroPages magazine 2024 Latin America Focus.