Newsletter AgriBrasilis - November 26th
How Much Can Precision Agriculture Revolutionize Farming?
Renzo Negrini is a M.Sc. and Ph.D. student in precision agriculture at the University of Minnesota, specializing in on-farm experimentation and plant nutrition.
Negrini was awarded by the International Society for Precision Agriculture as one of the top 10 postgraduate researchers in the world.
AgriBrasilis – In what ways is it possible to predict the nutritional needs of corn and soybeans with Artificial Intelligence?
Renzo Negrini – Artificial Intelligence (AI) allows you to integrate data from genetics, management, environment, and remote sensing to estimate the nutritional needs of corn and soybeans. Vegetation indices derived from remote sensing images are a great way to get an initial idea of nutritional demand, as well as the responses of the corn and soybean plants to the nutrients applied during the season. Machine learning models identify historical patterns, calculating accurate nutrient recommendations that maximize yields and sustainability. AI can also show us the factors that are most impacting the plant’s response to the nutrients.
(Access the full article on the AgriBrasilis website)
Media Partner Event: Fenagra 2025 (May 13th to 15th, 2025 – São Paulo, SP)
“Fenagra is considered to be the sector's leading trade fair, with a record number of exhibitors, hours of programming, qualified attendance, volume of business generated and renewed participation by exhibitors.”
Overview by AgriBrasilis (11/16/24 - 11/22/24)
Farmers are worried about the lack of rainfall in the Puno region, Peru. Despite some rainfall, it is not enough for crops to grow properly. (Ministry of Agriculture)
During COP29, the Minister of Agriculture of uruguay, Fernando Mattos, stated the agricultural sector in Latin America is committed to environmental protection. According to Mattos, agriculture is a “victim” of climate change, not the cause of the problem. (Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura (IICA))
The Technological University of Uruguay is developing biofuels made from agro-industrial waste, such as cheese whey and effluents from beer manufacturing. The University seeks to transform waste into hydrogen and methane. (UTEC - Universidad Tecnológica)
Computers Can Detect and Recognize Plant Diseases
Jayme Barbedo is a researcher at Embrapa’s Digital Agriculture Unit, graduated in electrical engineering from the Federal University of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the State University of Campinas.
AgriBrasilis – What is Big Data, and how is it used in agriculture?
Jayme Barbedo – With the proliferation of different types of sensors in agriculture, a large amount of data is being created, a phenomenon commonly referred to as “Big Data.” This data often contains information that can greatly support farmers in decision-making. However, extracting valuable insights from this data is complex and usually requires sophisticated data processing techniques.
(Access the full article on the AgriBrasilis website)
Crop Protection and Nutrition – Weekly Update Brazil & Latin America (11/14/24 – 11/20/24)
Bayer’s Crop Protection Division reported a 3.6% drop in sales, which totaled US$ 4.2 billion. According to the company, the main factor behind the drop was the reduction in corn planted areas in Latin America, especially in Brazil and Argentina, in addition to the normalization of purchasing patterns for glyphosate-based herbicides. Herbicide sales fell 19.1%, also affected by price pressure with regard to off-patent products in the crop protection market.
For Argentina‘s 2024/25 wheat season, production costs have decreased, mainly driven by lower prices of fertilizers, seeds and pesticides. Total costs (direct and indirect, excluding income tax) were estimated at US$ 657/ha, compared to an average of US$ 716/ha in 2023. (Márgenes Agropecuarios; Expoagro Argentina)
Bioceres Crop Solutions, from Argentina, released its financial and operational results for the 3Q24, which ended on 09/30/2024. Total revenue for the quarter was US$ 93.3 million, a 20% drop compared to the same period last year. Performance was harmed mainly by adverse conditions in the Argentine market, where the start of the summer crop was marked by delayed rains, in addition to delays in input purchases by farmers. The company recorded a positive performance in the USA, Brazil and Mexico. Another highlight was the regulatory approval for the production of HB4 soybeans in Uruguay and Bolivia.
Joubert Miranda is the new credit director at the agricultural inputs company Lavoro Agro, in Brazil.
Luziane Sales and Everlon Rigobelo, researchers from the State University of São Paulo, have published a paper called “The Role of Bacillus sp. in Reducing Chemical Inputs for Sustainable Crop Production”. According to the researchers, many studies have demonstrated the “efficacy of Bacillus sp. in reducing various agricultural inputs, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers… This effect is a result of the combined ability of bacteria to fix atmospheric nitrogen, solubilize unavailable phosphorus in the soil, and enhance the efficiency of plants to explore the soil and uptake nutrients… However, the consumption of mineral fertilizers continues to increase annually”.
Indaziflam has a soil sorption rate between low and moderate, which is influenced by the addition of organic compounds to the substrate, according to Kassio Mendes, a researcher at the University of São Paulo. “This herbicide has a broad spectrum of control with high efficiency for annual grasses and several broad-leaved species”. Indaziflam acts as an inhibitor of cellulose biosynthesis in plants. “As there is little evidence of the evolution of weed resistance to herbicides that inhibit cellulose biosynthesis, these are important options as mechanisms of action available in the management of resistant weeds”.
(Access the full article on the AgriBrasilis website)