Biological pesticides are products derived from living organisms, such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, used to control pests and diseases in crops. Unlike traditional chemical pesticides, they act through natural mechanisms – such as parasitism and competition – and have been rapidly gaining ground in the field.
The Brazilian biological pesticide market generated around R$5 billion in the 2023/2024 harvest and has grown, on average, by R$211 billion per year – a pace 4x faster than the global market. Today, soybean planting accounts for more than half of the consumption of these products, followed by corn in 2nd, sugarcane in 3rd and other crops.
The rise of biologicals is driven by factors such as cost-effectiveness, reduced pest resistance, reduced environmental impact, greater adherence to ESG principles and an increasingly restrictive regulatory environment for chemicals. In addition, technological advances (such as drone application) and government incentives are increasing their adoption.
In today's pill, understand why biological pesticides are gaining prominence in the future of agriculture.
