IMA reveals increased insecticide use in Viptera biotechnology

Entomologist Jacob Crosariol Netto revealed to AgroPages that there have been recurring incidents of caterpillars in Syngenta's 'Viptera' biotechnology in cotton and corn. 

Jacob Crosariol Netto - IMA

"It occurred in Bahia with Spodoptera frugiperda and in the last season in Mato Grosso. This year, with the start of 'VIP' corn planting, we have already noticed a large percentage of areas affected by the problem," noted the researcher from the Mato Grosso Institute of Cotton (IMA).

According to Crosariol Netto, this scenario immediately impacts producers' costs unfavorably. "They already pay the seed royalty, and depending on the infestation and the area affected, they now tend to make two to three insecticide applications for caterpillar control. As corn prices fluctuate greatly, this scenario is concerning," the researcher added.

Crosariol Netto noted the need to apply insecticides in biotechnologies that until recently controlled prominent caterpillars, such as Helicoverpa and Spodoptera frugiperda, will represent an additional cost per hectare for corn and cotton producers.

Recently released figures from consultancy Kynetec reinforce the magnitude of the problem reported by the researcher. According to the company, a reference in agricultural defensives research, in the 2023-2024 season, Viptera corn cultivation covered 78% of the area in Mato Grosso, or approximately 6.9 million hectares.

At this moment, the IMA researcher emphasized the importance of monitoring to producers. "It is the main recommendation to identify the initial infestation and monitor if the damage is progressing. Upon reaching the control level, insecticide application will be necessary," Crosariol Netto added. 

He also highlighted that controlling caterpillars resistant to Viptera technology has proven more effective through applications of chemical and biological insecticides, including baculoviruses.

"Nowadays, when thinking about caterpillars, we understand that baculoviruses should be the most used biological tool," he stated. 

There are also products on the market, such as food attractants. "They can be applied in strips with insecticide mixtures. They attract moths and reduce this population, consequently preventing the emergence of new caterpillars in the field. Food attractants work as a complementary management."

Potential Losses

According to Crosariol Netto, from March to April, there is little to no rain in the central producing regions, a scenario that enhances the emergence of caterpillars. The researcher noted that he observed the breakdown of Viptera corn's resistance to caterpillars, particularly Spodoptera, in nearly all producing regions of Mato Grosso.

"The resistance of caterpillars to Viptera technology is a reality," emphasized the researcher. He also warned that Spodoptera has the potential to cause significant damage. "It is a pest whose damage to corn evolves very quickly." 

According to Crosariol Netto, if not controlled, the caterpillar can devastate a crop in terms of productivity. "It can cause losses of 80% to 100%."

Furthermore, Crosariol Netto noted that a new biotechnology capable of effectively controlling caterpillars in cotton and corn is expected to reach the market only around 2030. In the meantime, he observed that producers should adhere to available management measures, ideally rotating chemical and biological insecticides.

Based in Primavera do Leste, Mato Grosso, the IMA has become one of the reference institutes in agribusiness. From the state, the non-profit entity operates in key agricultural frontier areas and maintains departments of Phytopathology, Entomology, Plant Protection and Weeds, Seeds, and Production Systems.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)