Written by Desio Luiz Gazzoni, researcher at Embrapa Soja, member of the Brazilian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Council of Sustainable Agricultural Sciences (CCAS), CESB and ABCA;
and Mariangela Hungary, researcher at Embrapa Soja, member of the Brazilian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, ABC and ABCA.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Brazil had the most comprehensive biological control program for a pest – soybean caterpillars, Anticarsia gemmatalis – on a global scale, using a deadly virus. This virus is highly contagious and effective, eliminates pest populations, dispenses with the need for chemical insecticides, and is harmless to beneficial insects and higher animals.
At the same time, the program was a victim of its own success. Farmers began producing the bio-insecticide, collecting and preserving larvae presumed to be contaminated with the virus, for use in the next harvest. Instead of previous excellent results, reports of inefficiency have emerged.
The investigation into the failure revealed the poor quality of the company’s production. In the words of the program leader: “There was everything but viruses in the samples collected from the farmers!” This is an exaggeration, because the percentage of viruses was small, but it was not sufficient to control the plague. This was one of the reasons for the early end of a program that had everything to be a global success story, benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment to this day.
Lesson learned? Apparently not.
Biometric entry regulations
Four decades have passed and bio-inputs have become a global trend to solve some agricultural problems, gradually replacing chemistry with biology. As a result, the National Program for Bioinputs (PNB) was created in Brazil by Decree No. 10375 (5/26/20). PL 658/2021 is being processed in the House of Representatives, which ratifies the PNB and provides for the classification, processing and production of bio-inputs through private (on-farm) production; PL 3,668 is being processed in the Federal Senate, which provides for production, registration, marketing, use, and final destination of waste, packaging, registration, inspection, inspection, research, experimentation, and incentives for the production of bioinputs for agriculture. .
The definition of bio-inputs adopted in the regulations is general and includes more than one hundred potential products of plant, animal or microbial origin with action in various sectors of agriculture.
As far as other countries are concerned, Argentina and Colombia are on the same level as Brazil, in terms of incentive programs and uniformity. There are no records of similar programs in the USA, where commercial production of bioinputs follows general legislation, unlike Europe, where the subject is highly regulated.
Recently, the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG Santé), which oversees public health and food safety in the European Union, has studied problems caused by microorganisms used in agriculture, such as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and B. thuringiensis (Bt). Impacts on biodiversity and contamination in food were identified, which was also investigated in the study by Bonis et al. (bit.ly/480IEKc). Scientists say that Bt has been detected in 49 cases of illness due to food contamination in France (2007-2017). In 19 of them, Bt was the only microorganism detected, making it the most likely causative agent. More than 50% of Bt isolates were collected from raw vegetables, especially tomatoes (48%). This study, and the concerns of DG Santé, demonstrate that bio-based inputs can pose high risks and must be produced and applied with the best technologies and with the utmost precision.
Production problems on the farm
In Brazil, alarming reports of serious consequences for agricultural production are increasing every day. We will cite three illustrative examples:
1) The survey conducted by Embrapa Milho e Sorgo in MT and GO on the on-farm production of B. thuringiensis showed that the majority of samples did not contain Bt, but pathogens such as Enterococcus faecalis and Acinetobacter baumannii spread, the latter being considered one of the most serious causes of nosocomial infections, with resistance Multiple antibiotics (bit.ly/3NCxgMu).
2) In the survey conducted by Embrapa Soja using inocula (Bradyrhizobium and Azospirillum), which were collected in five states (RS, PR, SP, MT and BA), the desired microorganisms were not found, except for one sample, in which they were present In azospirillum in low concentration. It should be noted that the success of Brazilian soybeans is largely due to the contribution of the biological nitrogen fixation process, carried out by Rhizobium brady, which is not present in all samples produced on the farm. On the other hand, in the on-farm vaccines analyzed, there was high contamination by many other unwanted microorganisms, with a third of them having high multi-antibiotic resistance (bit.ly/3RE4jB8), which represents a significant risk to public health.
3) A study conducted in Vale do São Francisco, using 12 samples from five properties, revealed contamination in 100% of samples, 84% of total coliforms, 75% of thermotolerants, and 75% of Salmonella sp. (bit.ly/3TrtmJX).
In summary, studies point to the potential for low quality in on-farm production of bio-inputs, as well as risks to human health, which directly affect the producer and which can lead to other undesirable developments in the market. The right to own production demanded by some agricultural sectors conflicts with rights to the environment, human and collective health, if good production practices are not observed.
It is practically impossible to eliminate microorganisms entering the soil, and extensive use of pathogens can lead to major phytosanitary problems and negative environmental impacts. Microorganisms do not know fences, so the surrounding area can be contaminated, violating collective rights.
The risks of on-farm production become greater when it is recommended that qualified professional assistance, quality control, environmental licensing and respect for intellectual and industrial property are not required. Regarding these last two items, the implications would be a disincentive to the search for new vital inputs and a lack of interest in developing or introducing technological innovations in Brazil, whether by private companies or public institutions. In other words, this may dampen the current accelerating dependence on biological inputs, leading to a return to traditional chemical inputs.
To meditate
We are completely against the production of bio-inputs on the farm. We clarify that our aim with this article is to encourage discussion of the need for on-farm production of bio-inputs to be accompanied by good production practices, with strict security measures, ensuring that farms receive high-quality products, that respect genetic resources, environmental regulations and worker safety, and are produced under Technical responsibility of trained professionals and proof of the quality of the final product, which benefits the producer, consumers and the environment.
About CCAS
The Council of Sustainable Agricultural Sciences (CCAS) is a civil society organization, created on April 15, 2011, headquartered and based in the city of São Paulo-SP, with the primary aim of discussing topics related to the sustainability of agriculture and agriculture. Take a clear position on this issue.
CCAS is a private entity, of an associative nature, with no economic purposes, and bases its business on neutrality, ethics and transparency, always valuing scientific knowledge.
CCAS members are professionals from different backgrounds and fields of activity, in both the public and private sectors, who share the common goal of fighting for the sustainability of Brazilian agriculture. They are professionals who stand out for their technical and scientific activities and are ready to present facts, based on scientific facts, to prove the sustainability of agricultural activities.
Agriculture, given its fundamental importance to the country and to every citizen, has its reputation and image under construction, and positive and negative perceptions alternate. It is necessary for teachers, researchers and experts on this subject to present and discuss their theses, studies and opinions, to better inform society. We cannot help but remember that the development of civilization was only possible thanks to agriculture. It is important that all the knowledge accumulated in universities and research institutions, as well as the extensive experience of farmers, is available to the population, so that the reality of agriculture, especially the nature of its sustainability, shines through. More information on the website: http://agriculturasustentavel.org.br
