ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 12 AGRONOMY continued from page 11 Thiago Castro, research and development manager at Koppert Brazil, says the success of biological crop protection there stems from a unique convergence. It includes agronomic necessity, research, coordinated industry action, progressive regulation, and reliable biological technologies developed specifically for large-scale tropical agriculture. “This reality has historically required solutions capable of delivering consistent, preventive, and long-term control, rather than short-term corrective responses,” he says. “Biological control evolved as a strategic answer to these challenges, particularly when embedded within well-structured integrated pest management (IPM) programs.” Castro says a decisive element behind the rapid and sustained adoption of biologicals in Brazil has been the quality, robustness, and completeness of the technologies delivered to growers. Over the last two decades, biological products have transitioned from niche alternatives to scientifically engineered crop protection technologies. At Koppert, this evolution is driven by a deliberate strategy of technology stacking, combined with a comprehensive biological control portfolio. “This stacked technological approach has been fundamental in transforming biologicals into tools that deliver predictable, reproducible, and economically viable results under real farming conditions, even within the complexity of tropical agriculture,” he says. At an industry level, Castro says CropLife Brasil has been fundamental to the fast and structured advancement of biological control in the country. CropLife has played a key co-ordinating role by fostering dialogue between industry, regulators, researchers, and growers, promoting science-based regulation, technical harmonization, and best practices for integrating biologicals into modern crop protection programs. This coordinated approach significantly reduced adoption barriers and increased confidence throughout the agricultural value chain, he says. According to Castro, regulatory evolution further reinforced this environment. Specific public policies and legal frameworks dedicated to biological inputs brought clarity, differentiated biological solutions from conventional chemical pesticides, and stimulated long-term investment in research, industrial capacity, and innovation. “Brazilian growers are highly professional and strongly marketoriented,” he says. “As major global exporters, they face increasing pressure related to pesticide residues, resistance management, sustainability goals, and ESG commitments, while maintaining high productivity. Biological solutions that are scientifically validated, technologically robust, and operationally reliable directly meet these demands.” • “Biological control evolved as a strategic answer to these challenges, particularly when embedded within well-structured integrated pest management (IPM) programs. - Thiago Castro, research and development manager, Koppert Brazil
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