Biofertilizers can reduce Brazil’s dependence on international market
Posted on2022-04-15
The military conflict between Russia and Ukraine began just over a month ago, but its effects are already being felt around the world. In Brazil, a major consequence is the fertilizer crisis, since Russia was the main supplier of such products. One of the ways out of the crisis, which can compromise production and profit margins for farmers, is investing in biofertilizers.
“Over the past three years, this type of input has shown a significant trend, and it is a rapidly expanding market,” said Bernardo Lipski, Agrotechnology researcher at the science and technology institution (ICT) Lactec.
According to an estimate by Itaú BBA, soy plantation areas are expected to increase by only 0.5% by 2023, reflecting rising production costs and the risk of shortages of agricultural inputs. The fertilizer crisis highlighted Brazil’s dependence on these products. Despite the country being one of the world's largest exporters of agribusiness, it does not have its own production capacity for inputs.
“It is time to make this investment, especially in view of the rising costs of fertilizers due to the war,” Lipski added.
Agriculture and sustainability
An example of a sustainable input that could be used is “rock dust.” In the rock technique, the powder of minerals, such as basalt, is applied to the soil for remineralization. As well as contributing to the capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, the long-term continuous use of the process tends to regenerate the soil, making it more fertile and providing plants with the necessary nutrients.
Another trend is biofertilizers produced from organic matter. “At Lactec, we are working with the production of microalgae biomass, living organisms that not only nourish plantations but also stimulate their growth and development,” Lipski said.
Algae biomass is versatile and can be used for various purposes, from substrate nutrition to water treatment, detoxification and the removal of toxic metals. It is a sustainable alternative, not only because it does not pollute the soil, but also because its cultivation involves re-processing polluting organic waste, such as organic matter from animal husbandry and industry by-products.
