Coopavel and Embrapa launch Azoscoop inoculant in Brazil

Coopavel Cooperative, in partnership with Embrapa Soybean, has launched the new Azoscoop inoculant for corn cultivation at Show Rural 2025 in the Brazilian state of Paraná with AgroPages coverage. 

The new bioinput is formulated with plant growth-promoting bacteria strains Azospirillum brasilense CNPSo 2083 (Ab-V5) and CNPSo 2084 (Ab-V6).

According to manufacturers, Azoscoop demonstrated "superior agronomic efficiency in field evaluation tests with increased plant production potential and reduced use of nitrogen top-dressing fertilization." The inoculant is the first product from Biocoop biofactory, part of Coopavel Cooperative, which is the first biological products industry within a cooperative in Brazil.

Rogério Rizzardi, coordinator of Show Rural Coopavel, stated that the launch is "an unprecedented advance in the pursuit of more sustainable agriculture. Our initiative utilizes natural resources for plant nutrition and efficient pest and disease control, strengthening the cooperative's sustainable production that goes beyond grains and also impacts animal proteins, such as poultry and pork."

"The main advantage of this bioinput is increasing corn's productive potential while offering the possibility of reducing chemical nitrogen use in top-dressing. The registration of an inoculant with improved formulation and robust field results allows for the expansion of this bioinput's use, providing benefits to Brazilian agriculture, with increased yield associated with lower use of chemical nitrogen fertilizers," explained researchers from Embrapa Soybean, Mariangela Hungria, and Marco Antonio Nogueira.

According to the researchers, the inoculant with the new formulation, called Azoscoop, was evaluated in seven field trials with corn crops over four seasons in four regions of Paraná. Compared to treatment that received 100% N without inoculation, the inoculation allowed for a 25% reduction in N while maintaining the exact grain yield.

Furthermore, when comparing treatments that received 75% N, inoculation with Azoscoop resulted in a 12.4% increase in grain yield. "These results prove the benefits of the developed inoculant and confirm its field efficiency," they stated.

According to researchers, inoculants containing plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have been increasingly used to enhance chemical fertilizer efficiency. The Azospirillum brasilense strains CNPSo 2083 (Ab-V5) and CNPSo 2084 (Ab-V6) have been used as commercial inoculants since 2009/2010 and currently represent a market of over 20 million doses annually.

Nogueira explained that the main benefits of strains CNPSo 2083 (Ab-V5) and CNPSo 2084 (Ab-V6) have been attributed to their ability to synthesize phytohormones (especially indolic compounds), in addition to their modest biological nitrogen fixation capacity. "The phytohormones promote significant improvement in root growth and architecture, increasing water and nutrient absorption capacity, thus enhancing the efficiency of N-fertilizer use by plants," he indicated.

Mariangela emphasized that better utilization of nitrogen from fertilizer, mainly through root growth promotion, brings various benefits. "This results in positive economic impacts for corn cultivation because the producer will have lower costs with nitrogen fertilization, and there will also be environmental benefits with the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions," she said.

The researcher warned of the need to increase chemical fertilizer use efficiency for grain production and points to nitrogen (N) as a high-priority nutrient, as plants require it in larger quantities. "Inoculants with plant growth-promoting bacteria totally or partially replace chemical fertilizers, reduce environmental impacts, and increase crop yields," she explained.

From Coopavel's perspective, one of the project's differentials is the partnership with Embrapa, a global reference in field research and innovation. "The partnership with Embrapa ensures greater safety and efficiency for the product reaching the market as a viable alternative to reduce chemical use without compromising productivity," Rizzardi stated. "The use of biologicals tends to grow due to their effectiveness and lower cost, benefiting producers and meeting society's demand for healthier food and environmentally friendly agricultural practices," he added.

Coopavel plans to begin commercializing Azoscoop in February, serving the second-crop corn planting that occurs throughout its area of operation. "And this is just Biocoop's first step because, still in 2025, new products will be launched aimed at helping rural producers control important pests and diseases that affect crops developed in our region," emphasized Leandro Rudolf Belter, Biocoop's Biodefensives Manager.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)