South America: AI-assisted international press reviewPress review

Biotechnologies: Brazil Approves New Transgenic Sugarcane with Dual Resistance

The CTNBio (National Technical Commission on Biosafety of Brazil) has approved a transgenic sugarcane developed by CTC (a Brazilian research company specializing in sugarcane), which incorporates resistance to borers and herbicides like glyphosate. This technological advancement, set for commercialization across 14 varieties by 2026/27, aims to enhance productivity and sustainability in the Brazilian sugar sector while reducing economic losses from infestations and weed management costs, estimated at 14 billion BRL annually.

Brazilian Researchers Develop 'Smart' Nitrogen Fertilizer with Controlled Release Using Nanomaterials

Brazil: Biological Solutions Could Account for 50% of Brazilian Crop Protection Market by 2050

At BioSummit 2026, Wagner Bettiol from Embrapa announced that biological protection technologies could represent half of the Brazilian market by 2050. The rapid adoption of these solutions, driven by the growing demand for residue-free food and regulatory challenges, could transform the agricultural landscape. In 2025, the use of biological products increased by 12%, while the chemical pesticide market continues to grow slowly.

Brazil: National Development Bank Accelerates Bio-input Deployment through Family Farming Financing Program

Brazil: Valorizing Pig Farming Waste Opens New Paths for Phosphate Fertilizer Autonomy

Researchers from Embrapa Agrobiology are exploring the use of struvite, a slow-release fertilizer derived from pig farming, as a solution to reduce Brazil's dependence on imported phosphate fertilizers. Preliminary results indicate that this fertilizer can meet 50% of the phosphorus needs for soybean crops while maintaining competitive yields and promoting a circular economy.

EY Strengthens Its Presence in Brazilian Agriculture with MB Agro Acquisition

The acquisition of consulting firm MB Agro, active since the 1970s, by EY Brazil marks a strategic step to enhance its agribusiness consulting and evaluation capabilities. By integrating a team of experts and sector intelligence products, EY Brazil aims to provide in-depth analyses and precise diagnostics to support critical decisions in a rapidly evolving agricultural sector.

Brazil: GeoIA Launches Precision Agriculture Platform Reducing Pesticide Use by 82%

At Agrishow 2026, GeoIA unveiled a precision agriculture platform that leverages artificial intelligence to cut pesticide usage by up to 82.29%. Developed by the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, this technology combines high-resolution aerial imagery with deep learning models to map crops. It enables targeted pesticide application, replacing uniform spraying with a precision spraying system.

Brazil: Biojet Partners with AGCO to Exclusively Deploy Localized Biological Input Injection Systems

Brazilian company Biojet has signed a strategic agreement with AGCO (an American group specializing in agricultural machinery), granting it exclusivity for the supply of in-furrow spraying systems for biological inputs. This partnership, announced at Agrishow 2026, aims to meet the growing demand for sustainable nutrition solutions while expanding Biojet's operational scale through the approval of its BJ 1000L sprayer on the Momentum platform and opening distribution channels for other innovative technologies.

Input Distribution in Brazil: The Great Illusion of Agricultural Distributor Consolidation

The agricultural input distribution sector in Brazil faces challenges similar to those in the food retail sector, with integration errors and a dominance of regional players who have deep knowledge of their customers. The lessons learned emphasize the importance of local knowledge, cultural integration, and revenue diversification to succeed in a changing market.

Brazil: Dispute Over Barter Agreement Between FMC and Belagrícola Leads to Grain Seizure

FMC Corporation has secured a preliminary injunction to seize grains valued at 112 million reais from Belagrícola, a Brazilian agricultural inputs distributor. This development further complicates Belagrícola's situation as it seeks to restructure 1.8 billion reais in debt. The dispute, centered on a barter agreement (Belagrícola was to deliver 1.4 million bags of soybeans in exchange for crop protection products) and the classification of rural product certificates, raises questions about the viability of barter-based financing in the Brazilian agricultural sector.