ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 11 AGRONOMY especially in soybeans, is well established, strong in some areas, and still expanding in others. She says Bradyrhizobium inoculation in soybeans, widely used to aid nitrogen fixation, is present in nearly 100 per cent of the crop and has been a foundation of the Brazilian production system for decades. Similarly, she says, the use of Azospirillum in co-inoculation, which stimulates root growth and improves nutrient use efficiency, has been growing consistently. They’re part of a key group that includes phosphorussolubilizing microorganisms, such as species of Pseudomonas and Bacillus, Trichoderma used for disease management and growth promotion, and bio-based products with biostimulant action, including amino acids, seaweed extracts, and organic compounds. Silva says the growth of biologicals in Brazil has been driven by a combination of factors, led by high pest and disease pressure associated with tropical conditions. High temperatures and humidity for much of the year create an ideal environment for rapid insect multiplication and plant pathogen proliferation. Multiple cropping cycles and vast cultivated areas add to Brazil’s production complexity. Other considerations are the search for greater inputuse efficiency, the need for more resilient production systems, and the increasing cost of fertilizers and crop protection products — similarities that Brazilian and Ontario farmers share. They also share the realization that research is the way forward. In the early 1970s, a Brazilian agricultural science entity called Embrapa was launched and went on to become one of the world’s largest agricultural research organizations. Among its many activities, it works with private companies such as Koppert, a global leader in biological products, to meet Brazilian farmers’ needs. There’s more. The São Paulo Advanced Research Center for Biological Control (SPARCBio) is one of the largest public‑private innovation hubs focused on biological solutions for tropical agriculture. It’s designed to accelerate the translation of fundamental science into applied, field‑ready technologies. Finally, long-standing partnerships with renowned institutions, such as ESALQ/USP (Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo), ensure product development is grounded in scientific rigour, robust experimental design, and a clear understanding of pest, plant, and environmental interactions — again, a trait shared with Ontario growers and their strong support for research. continued on page 12 CANADA AND BRAZIL: THE DRIVERS FOR CHANGE ARE ALIKE Can the success achieved in Brazil with biological products be replicated in Canadian agriculture? Yes, says Thiago Castro, research and development manager at Koppert Brazil — provided this approach is adapted, not directly replicated, and supported by the right institutional framework. Castro acknowledges that Canada operates under different climatic conditions and cropping systems. But, he says, the fundamental drivers are similar: the need to manage resistance, reduce environmental impact, improve sustainability, and protect farm profitability. Canada also benefits from strong scientific institutions, advanced agronomy and a highly professional farming sector, he says. However, Brazil’s experience clearly shows that technological readiness is not sufficient without a supportive regulatory environment and culture. “A critical enabler of Brazil’s rapid advancement in biological crop protection has been the existence of a regulatory environment capable of operating with speed, predictability, and scientific alignment, combined with laws explicitly designed to support innovation,” he says. “Clear regulatory pathways, differentiated treatment of biological products, and legal frameworks dedicated to bioinputs have significantly reduced uncertainty, accelerated product availability, and encouraged long-term investment in research and industrial capacity.” Castro believes that for similar success to occur here, regulatory systems must be rigorous, efficient, and innovation-friendly, and must recognize the specific nature of biological solutions and their role within IPM systems. He says regulations and public policies that actively support biological innovation, rather than applying frameworks originally designed for chemical products, are key to enabling faster adoption and scaling. “The Brazilian case demonstrates that when regulation, science, and industry evolve together, biologicals can move rapidly from niche solutions to mainstream agricultural technologies,” Castro says. “With appropriate regulatory agility, supportive legislation, and continued investment in science and extension, Canada is well positioned to follow a similar trajectory.”
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