Brazil stands at the forefront of agricultural innovation, particularly in the adoption of biological crop solutions. Its regulatory framework has garnered international acclaim for enabling the rapid deployment of such products to farmers. However, the journey of developing these biological solutions within Brazil presents challenges, as highlighted by Fernando Sousa, marketing and biologicals manager at Uby Agro subsidiary Vitales. While he acknowledges the advancement of the biological segment in Brazil, he points out that the nation’s research capabilities remain relatively modest, primarily concentrated in medium to small-scale operations.
Sousa’s recent trip to Sacramento to meet with Ginkgo Bioworks, a biotech company renowned for expediting the market entry of biological products, revealed a stark contrast in research capabilities. Ginkgo’s integrated approach, which combines expertise in fermentation and formulation under one roof, significantly accelerates the development of economically viable product concepts. This partnership aims to fast-track the creation and launch of two new biocontrol products specifically targeting soybean diseases prevalent in Brazil, a critical crop for the country.
The Brazilian agricultural landscape is experiencing a surge in biocontrol products, with growth rates averaging 35% annually over the past five seasons, according to research firm Kynetic. These products now represent 4.2% of the total crop protection market. This growth is largely driven by Brazilian producers who are increasingly engaged in utilizing biologicals, motivated by the region’s favorable climate. The absence of winter snow and the warm temperatures allow for continuous pest cycles, creating a pressing need for effective crop protection solutions. Sousa notes that Brazilian producers consume approximately 1.4 million tons of crop protection products annually, accounting for about 20% of the global market. However, he also acknowledges a troubling trend: the decreasing efficacy of many conventional products.
With 60% of Brazilian producers already employing biological solutions, Sousa anticipates that within the next decade, at least 10% of the total crop potential market will shift towards biological control products. This growing demand, coupled with Brazil’s progressive regulatory environment, underscores the urgency for companies like Vitales to enhance their product development capabilities. Sousa emphasizes that traditional partnerships between companies and universities in Brazil can be lengthy and unpredictable, necessitating a more efficient approach to product development.
Ginkgo Bioworks offers a solution to this challenge through its advanced capabilities in microbial discovery and screening. Sousa describes the conventional method in Brazil as labor-intensive, involving extensive manual screening of microorganisms in petri dishes. In contrast, Ginkgo utilizes sophisticated automated systems capable of screening over 1,000 different microorganisms simultaneously, significantly reducing the time and resources required for product development. The partnership will specifically address soybean diseases such as Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome and target spot, caused by the pathogens Fusarium virguliforme and Corynespora cassiicola.
Brennan Duty, senior director of business development at Ginkgo, highlights the strategic fit between the two companies. Ginkgo’s extensive strain bank, which includes over 375,000 screened strains, provides a wealth of validated leads that can be rapidly developed into market-ready products. This collaboration allows Vitales to leverage Ginkgo’s expertise without the substantial investment typically associated with establishing in-house research facilities.
As Brazil continues to embrace biological crop solutions, the partnership between Vitales and Ginkgo Bioworks exemplifies a promising strategy to overcome existing research limitations. By combining their strengths, they aim to not only enhance the efficiency of product development but also address critical agricultural challenges faced by Brazilian producers. This collaboration could serve as a model for future endeavors in the biocontrol sector, propelling Brazil further into the global spotlight as a leader in agricultural innovation.