Rimini, Italy – Macfrut 2026 officially opened its 43rd edition at the Rimini Expo Centre, reaffirming its position as one of Europe’s leading events for the fresh produce industry and a strategic meeting point for the global fruit and vegetable supply chain.

The opening ceremony was attended by Francesco Lollobrigida, Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, alongside ministers from Cameroon, Lebanon, Senegal, and Syria, underscoring the international scope of the exhibition.

Describing the event as more than a trade fair, Lollobrigida said Macfrut has become a strategic platform for strengthening international relations and fostering agricultural development partnerships. He emphasized the importance of the fruit and vegetable sector to Italy’s economy, noting that the government has allocated over €2 billion in direct funding for the supply chain through national investment initiatives, including the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, generating nearly €3 billion in related investments.

Italian fruit and vegetable exports continue to expand

New figures presented during the opening by Nomisma highlighted the economic relevance of Italy’s horticultural sector. According to the study, the country’s fruit and vegetable industry includes more than 150,000 companies operating across 887,000 hectares, generating a production value of approximately €17 billion—equivalent to 26% of Italy’s total agri-food output.

Exports of fresh and processed fruit and vegetables reached €12.9 billion in 2025, accounting for 18% of the country’s total agri-food exports. Between 2020 and 2025, exports rose by 38.1% for vegetables and 37.1% for fruit, with the European Union remaining the main destination for fresh produce shipments.

The report also pointed to increasing pressure from geopolitical tensions, rising logistics costs, climate instability, and phytosanitary challenges—factors that continue to reshape the competitiveness of the European horticultural sector.

Internationalization drives the 2026 edition

According to Lorenzo Galanti, the 2026 edition marks a major step forward in international outreach. Agenzia ICE brought 920 international buyers from more than 80 countries, more than doubling last year’s participation.

More than 5,000 business meetings have already been scheduled between international buyers and Italian exhibitors, reinforcing Macfrut’s role as a business-oriented platform for export development.

This year’s international spotlight is on the Caribbean, with strong representation from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ecuador. South America also expanded its presence, with Brazil and Peru joining returning participants such as Chile and Argentina. More than 20 countries from Sub-Saharan Africa are participating as well.

Innovation and sustainability at the center

For Patrizio Neri, the fair’s strong international participation confirms the strategic role of the fruit and vegetable sector for Italy and global markets. The industry accounts for nearly one-quarter of Italian agricultural production, making Macfrut an important venue for identifying trends and accelerating innovation.

The 2026 edition features several thematic areas dedicated to critical industry challenges, including water management, nursery technologies, biological crop inputs, digital agriculture, berries, healthy minimally processed foods, medicinal plants, and agrivoltaic systems.

Among the featured attractions are two outdoor demonstration areas covering 2,500 square meters, where exhibitors present innovations in fruit production and horticulture. A dedicated startup area hosts 26 emerging companies from different regions, highlighting new technologies and solutions for the supply chain.

Over the course of the three-day event, around 100 conferences and technical sessions are scheduled, focusing on topics such as sustainability, logistics, plant health, and digital transformation.

Strategic platform for global horticulture

With exhibitors from five continents and a record number of international buyers, Macfrut 2026 consolidates its role as a global hub for the horticultural industry. At a time when supply chains face mounting economic and environmental pressures, the event is positioning itself as a strategic platform for promoting innovation, international trade, and collaborative growth.

By combining business opportunities with technological showcases and institutional dialogue, Macfrut continues to strengthen Italy’s role as a leading player in the international fruit and vegetable market while fostering stronger commercial links across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Insta Href

Manel Cervera, DunhamTrimmer Managing Partner and Chief Commercial Officer

DunhamTrimmer Managing Partner and Chief Commercial Officer Manel Cervera will speak at the 7th BioEx Summit (Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers) taking place March 12–13 in Shanghai, one of the leading international forums dedicated to agricultural biologicals.

During his presentation, Cervera will share updated market intelligence from DunhamTrimmer’s latest global research, including developments in the biostimulant market, Single Biostimulant Molecules (SBMs), and the expanding role of pheromone-based technologies in large-scale crop systems.

The session will explore regional market dynamics across the United States, Brazil, China, and Europe, highlighting the strategic implications for manufacturers, distributors, and investors in the rapidly evolving biological inputs sector.

More details about the event and presentation are available in the AgroPages announcement:

https://news.agropages.com/News/NewsDetail—56855.htm

Insta Href

Just steps away from the European Parliament, at the headquarters of holding company Sofina, the first BioSolutions Forum brought together Brazilian and European agribusiness leaders in February 2026 to discuss the advancement of biological inputs across two profoundly different regulatory and production environments.

The meeting underscored both the maturity of the Brazilian market and the structural challenges Europe faces as it transitions toward more sustainable agricultural systems.

At the center of this movement is BioWorks Europe, the European arm of the BioFirst Group. The company is part of a global network that also includes BioWorks North America, BIOTROP and Real IPM Africa, sharing in-house research and development, proprietary biological production and field experience accumulated across multiple continents.

This integration enables the accelerated introduction of already-tested technologies, ensures consistent quality standards and reliable supply, and drives continuous improvement based on learnings from diverse climates, crops and production systems.

In practical terms, BioWorks Europe serves as both a commercial and technical platform to bring BIOTROP biosolutions to European growers, structuring market development, agronomic support and distribution partnerships across several countries in the region.

“At BioWorks Europe, our ambition is to bring premium, innovative solutions from Brazil to the European continent. As part of BioFirst Group and with BIOTROP’s strong innovation pipeline and production capability, we are well positioned to do that successfully and rapidly,” said Lara Ramaekers, Vice President of BioWorks (BioFirst Group).

“Our European team focuses on co-developing and marketing these biosolutions from BIOTROP with our customers in distribution and with European growers. With the rapid reduction of efficient, cost-effective tools for European growers, these new tools are essential to maintain reliable and high-quality food production in Europe”, she said.

According to Ramaekers, the combination of BioFirst Group’s global structure and BIOTROP’s robust innovation pipeline and manufacturing capabilities places the company in a strong position to deliver new solutions quickly and effectively.

She emphasized that the European team is dedicated to co-developing and commercializing these biosolutions alongside distribution partners and growers, particularly at a time when European farmers are facing a rapid reduction in efficient and economically viable crop protection tools.

During the event, Jonas Hipólito, President of BIOTROP and a member of the BioFirst Group leadership team, stressed that the forum’s primary objective was to connect two complementary realities. The event, he noted, was carefully designed to bring together leaders from both continents for a full day of technical and strategic exchange.

Hipólito highlighted that Brazil is experiencing large-scale adoption of biologicals driven primarily by economic criteria. In the Brazilian market, growers make decisions based on cost control, improved profitability and proven agronomic performance—particularly in situations where conventional solutions no longer deliver the same results.

This contrasts sharply with the European environment, where pressure to adopt sustainable technologies is intense, yet the availability of tools remains limited. Moreover, many existing solutions do not clearly offer the same profitability component that has underpinned the rapid expansion of biologicals in Brazil.

Representatives from major Brazilian groups such as Atvos, Coruripe, Cocal and Pedra Agroindustrial presented case studies showing biological adoption rates ranging from 35% to 100% of cultivated areas, particularly in sugarcane. What most captured the attention of the European audience was that this expansion has been driven primarily by economic performance and agronomic results—not by regulatory imposition.

Market Place

MKTPlace is a leading digital and social media platform for traders and investors. MKTPlace offers premiere resources for trading and investing education, digital resources for personal finance, news about IoT, AI, Blockchain, Business, market analysis and education resources and guides.

After nine years operating in Brazil and establishing itself as one of the leading digital platforms connecting buyers and sellers in agribusiness, Agronegociar is launching its first international operation: Portugal will serve as a base for conquering the European market.

The company has adapted its platform to European Portuguese, created its own domain—www.agronegociar.pt—and adjusted all infrastructure to comply with legal requirements, including conformity with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). An exclusive app (app.agronegociar.pt) has also been launched, with a clean database and settings tailored to local realities.

According to Product Manager Júnior Rodrigues, the presence in Portugal goes beyond simply replicating the Brazilian model: “We want to be a bridge between Brazil, Portugal, and the European market, respecting cultural, commercial, and production differences,” Rodrigues explains.

The project involved research on strategic value chains, marketplace usage habits, and business practices in the country, as well as meetings with rural associations and local producers to establish partnerships.

For project manager in Portugal, Raphaela Bordino, the choice of country is strategic: “Portugal is the gateway to the European market, especially for Brazilian companies, due to language and historical connections between the countries. There’s a natural exchange: Brazil demands Portuguese products, and Portugal also benefits from what Brazilian agribusiness offers.”

Key Product Categories

The launch prioritizes categories with high demand and added value, such as honey, fruits (orange, tangerine, strawberry, blueberry), and olive oil. There’s also special attention to gourmet items like wines, cheeses, and sustainable products.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite cultural affinity, entering the market requires adjustments. Portuguese producers, in general, are more familiar with digital tools, but adopt new solutions cautiously. The country has smaller farms, a strong presence of cooperatives, and more formal negotiations, with an emphasis on safety and reliability.

Founded in 2016, Agronegociar is a digital hub that connects producers, buyers, technicians, researchers, and agribusiness companies, offering free solutions in commercialization, training, and logistical support.

Market Place

MKTPlace is a leading digital and social media platform for traders and investors. MKTPlace offers premiere resources for trading and investing education, digital resources for personal finance, news about IoT, AI, Blockchain, Business, market analysis and education resources and guides.

• Groundbreaking weed management solution made available to the professional landscaping market. Ideal for sidewalks, paths, parking lots, cemeteries or shopping areas.
• CE-certified; efficient and sustainable; ease of use and transport.
• Proprietary advanced power electronics, control and safety features patented by Zasso.
• Exclusive partnership with Wimmersson BV for distribution of the eWeeding® Roller, powered by Zasso, in the Benelux.

The solution offers a unique combination of efficiency, safety, sustainability and ease of use. The device will first be made available by Zasso’s exclusive distribution partner in the Benelux, Wimmersson BV. Wimmersson will market the device as the eWeeding® Roller, powered by Zasso. For the last year, Wimmersson’s team has intensely field tested the device with partners. The eWeeding® Roller will be launched officially on June 6th at Fort Gagel in Utrecht, Netherlands, and on June 11th at Oostdorp 42, Anzegem-Tiegem in Belgium. Traditional weed management methods in public spaces often lack systemic effect, require numerous treatments, or have a high impact on our environment. The eWeeding® Roller is the first effective method without these limitations, making it ideal for reducing weeds on pavements such as sidewalks, paths, parking lots, cemeteries or shopping areas.

“We’re thrilled to announce the European launch of our walk-in device. Our dedicated team has spent years perfecting this solution, making it compact without sacrificing safety or ease of use,” said Benjamin Ergas, co-CEO of Zasso. “We’re confident and excited about Wimmersson BV introducing the eWeeding Roller in the Benelux market.”

For more details, visit www.eWeeding.com or contact Wimmersson BV – eWeeding®, Michel Wimmers at +31 622 247 857.

About Zasso: Zasso, based in Switzerland, specializes in non-chemical weed management using advanced power electronics. Their patented technology effectively targets both sprouts and roots of unwanted plants. With adaptable applicators, their solutions are suitable for agriculture, the consumer market, and urban areas. Zasso’s mission is to provide efficient and sustainable weeding technologies, establishing a new global standard. They have offices in Zug, Switzerland; Indaiatuba, Brazil; Aachen, Germany; and Paris, France. Learn more at www.zasso.com.

About Wimmersson: With over 20 years of experience in weed control for urban professionals, Wimmersson is a leader in using electric solutions for effective and sustainable weed management. Their innovative approach targets roots and emphasizes eco-friendly practices. Strong partnerships with companies committed to innovation and sustainability keep Wimmersson at the forefront of weed control technology. 

Wimmersson is a proud member of several key industry associations, including Cumela, VHG, and VVOG, which underscores its dedication to maintaining high standards and staying connected with industry advancements. eWeeding® is a registered trademark of Wimmersson in Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States, symbolizing its commitment to sustainable and effective weed control solutions.

Market Place

MKTPlace is a leading digital and social media platform for traders and investors. MKTPlace offers premiere resources for trading and investing education, digital resources for personal finance, news about IoT, AI, Blockchain, Business, market analysis and education resources and guides.

• Partnerschap gericht op de volledige lijn van XPower elektrische onkruidbestrijdingsproducten – XPU (Urban), XPA (Hydraulische Arm), XPS (wijngaarden/boomgaarden) – voor gemeenten, aannemers en landbouwers.
• Versterkte regionale klantervaring is de belangrijkste drijfveer achter het partnerschap.

Zasso, de wereldleider in elektrische onkruidbestrijdingsoplossingen, en Group Verschueren, een erkende specialist in werktuigbouwkunde en constructie van materiaal voor dienstverleners en gemeenten, kondigen met plezier hun strategisch partnerschap in de Benelux aan. Group Verschueren wordt een geautoriseerde distributeur van XPower-apparaten om de elektrische onkruidbestrijdingsoplossingen van Zasso in de regio verder op te schalen en naverkoopdiensten aan klanten te bieden.

De op tractor gebaseerde elektrische onkruidbestrijdingsoplossingen van Zasso bieden een efficiënt en duurzaam alternatief voor chemische, mechanische en thermische onkruidbestrijdingsmethoden. De samenwerking met Group Verschueren combineert de disruptieve aard van het productportfolio van Zasso met de regionale aanwezigheid en professionaliteit van Group Verschueren in de Benelux om een diepere marktpenetratie te garanderen en de klantervaring te versterken.

Beide bedrijven willen innovatie stimuleren en de toepassing van de technologieën van Zasso versnellen, met name door aannemers, dienstverleners en gemeenten in het bijzonder.

De overeenkomst richt zich met name op de distributie van de XPower XPU, ontworpen voor elektrische onkruidbestrijding in groene ruimtes, industrieterreinen, brede lanen, parken, sportterreinen en parkeerplaatsen, evenals de XPower XPS, ontworpen voor wijngaarden en boomgaarden, en toekomstige XPower-oplossingen die door Zasso zullen worden gelanceerd. Dit partnerschap bouwt voort op de bestaande distributie van de XPower XPA, die gebruikmaakt van een op maat gemaakte hydraulische arm die exclusief door Group Verschueren voor Zasso is ontwikkeld om moeilijk bereikbare onkruidgebieden te bereiken.

“We zijn erg enthousiast om met Zasso samen te werken aan de uitrol van deze baanbrekende technologieën. De markt vraagt om nieuwe oplossingen die disruptief en efficiënt zijn,” zei Carlos Verschueren, oprichter en CEO van Group Verschueren.

“Group Verschueren is een gevestigde naam in de regio. Ze staan bekend om hun toewijding aan hun klanten. We geloven dat dit partnerschap, dat een natuurlijke evolutie is van onze succesvolle gezamenlijke ontwikkeling de afgelopen twee jaar, zal bijdragen om de toepassing van onze op tractor gebaseerde elektrische onkruidbestrijdingsproducten in de Benelux te stimuleren. We kijken uit naar ons langdurige partnerschap,” zei Benjamin Ergas, mede-CEO van Zasso.

Over Zasso 

Zasso is een innovatief Zwitsers bedrijf dat gespecialiseerd is in chemievrije onkruidbeheeroplossingen met behulp van geavanceerde vermogenselektronica. De gepatenteerde technologie richt zich zowel op de spruiten als op de wortels van ongewenste planten. De flexibele en uitwisselbare applicatoren maken het mogelijk de oplossingen te gebruiken op verschillende oppervlakken en segmenten, waaronder landbouw, consumentenmarkt en stedelijke gebieden. De missie van Zasso is om efficiënte, levensvatbare en noodzakelijke technologieën te bieden voor een nieuw wereldwijd onkruidbeheerparadigma. Met kantoren in Zug (Zwitserland), Indaiatuba (Brazilië), Aken (Duitsland) en Parijs (Frankrijk), is Zasso de wereldwijde leider in elektrische onkruidbestrijding.

www.zasso.com 

 Over Group Verschueren 

Group Verschueren – subcompany van Maaiers Verschueren, opgericht in 2010 – is een Belgisch familiebedrijf gespecialiseerd in de bouw, verkoop en verhuur van machines voor dienstverleners, wegenonderhoud en gemeenten. We verbinden ons ertoe een kwaliteitsvolle aftermarket ondersteuning te bieden om de tevredenheid van onze klanten te garanderen. Group Verschueren is er ook trots op “out of the box” te denken en innovatieve oplossingen op maat te creëren die het best geschikt zijn voor zijn klanten.  Dit maakt Group Verschueren bij uitstek geschikt om het XPower gamma te verdelen vanuit hun hoofdkantoor in Lochristi, België.

Market Place

MKTPlace is a leading digital and social media platform for traders and investors. MKTPlace offers premiere resources for trading and investing education, digital resources for personal finance, news about IoT, AI, Blockchain, Business, market analysis and education resources and guides.

Photo by Morthy Jameson on Unsplash

Is Blockchain the Solution for Agribusiness? In recent years, concerns about food security and ESG practices have increased, leading to a greater appreciation of product origin. Blockchain emerges as a solution for tracking agricultural supply chains. Studies indicate that global investments in blockchain in agriculture could reach $948 million by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 48.1% since 2020.

“The data points to growth in the agribusiness sector, mainly due to the security that blockchain technology brings and for creating certification and traceability systems that guarantee the sustainable origin of products, benefiting both consumers and producers. So, I can affirm that exploring and adopting this technology strategically ensures significant benefits that can further boost growth, competitiveness, and trust in the market,” says Diego Guareschi, CMO of Hathor.

Blockchain offers advantages to the market, promoting transparency, efficiency, and sustainability in production. It functions as a decentralized, fraud-proof database, recording operations in chained and immutable blocks, allowing for subsequent analysis of stored information through verifiers.

“A good example of this is the use of QR Codes on product packaging, which when scanned provide data such as water, fertilizer, and energy use in cultivation, as well as the amount of carbon emitted in the process. At the same time, the tool also helps the producer to have better control of their operations, optimizing time and resources by unifying everything in one platform,” he indicates.

He concludes by saying that “by spreading transparency and traceability, blockchain is able to substantially contribute to ensuring a greater commitment to the ESG agenda of one of the important sectors of the Brazilian economy, promoting security and trust among all involved. In the coming years, we can expect its use to continue to grow in the country, driving innovation in agribusiness and increasing competitiveness in the market at the national and international levels.”

Leonardo Gottems

Photo by Anton Atanasov on Unsplash

Nortox, a Brazilian agrochemical company headquartered in the state of Paraná, has completed 70 years of operation, holding the position of the largest agricultural pesticide manufacturer in the tropical country. Additionally, it is the only Brazilian agribusiness company operating in three business platforms: pesticides, granulated micro-fertilizers, and hybrid corn and sorghum seeds.

‘Nortox‘s history is defined by its consistent presence alongside farmers, boasting a skilled field team and robust support system ensuring top-notch products and services.’ says Administrative Director Roberto Amaral.

Founded in 1954, when Brazil was not yet an agricultural powerhouse, Nortox began its journey focused on coffee cultivation – which at the time was the main source of wealth in the country. In this scenario, young entrepreneur Osmar Amaral founded Nortox on April 14th with just one product in the catalog, aimed at combating the coffee berry borer – one of the main threats to coffee plantations.

According to João Marcos Ferrari, Commercial Director of Nortox, the company’s DNA remains to produce cutting-edge agrochemicals, competitive and safe solutions for farmers. “The major contribution of the commercial area in recent years has been to develop a portfolio of exclusive products, such as the fungicide Scudeiro and the herbicide Arkeiro, recently launched and very well received by the market,” he says.

Both products have been proven effective in more than 20 research institutions in Brazil, in consultations and cooperative trials. “Nortox doesn’t merely sell active ingredients; it offers solutions to farmers. Adhering to this principle, we meticulously test various combinations to deliver the optimal product,” Ferrari explains.

INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

Nortox has become renowned in its 70-year history for innovation and sustainability. An example of this was when it began and dominated the synthesis of Trifluralin in Brazil in the 1970s. In the following decade, it broke the synthesis patent and produced the herbicide Glyphosate in the country, reducing costs and directly contributing to making no-tillage farming viable – the technique that turned Brazil into one of the world’s largest players in agribusiness.

Furthermore, Nortox has also become a reference in sustainability: Last year, the company saved 1,300 tons of BPF oil (derived from petroleum). Vapor production was made by replacing it with 11,500 cubic meters of reforested wood.

Nortox also sponsors socio-environmental projects such as Olho D’Água, a partnership with cooperatives for the preservation of aquifer water sources. With the motto “Nortox. Yesterday, today, and always in tomorrow’s agriculture,” the company aims to grow even further.

“It’s time to reflect on the paths that have brought us here and also on the new challenges and the role that Nortox plays in the market today,” says Lucas Morais, Marketing – Communication Coordinator.

Founder Osmar Amaral passed away four years ago, but before that, he summed up his journey at Nortox: “The feeling is one: that of duty fulfilled.” The Nortox team affirms that his legacy continues to be the great inspiration to persevere in the constant pursuit of improvement.

Market Place

MKTPlace is a leading digital and social media platform for traders and investors. MKTPlace offers premiere resources for trading and investing education, digital resources for personal finance, news about IoT, AI, Blockchain, Business, market analysis and education resources and guides.

Photo by Julia Koblitz on Unsplash

Out of 168 registrations of Formulated Products based on Equivalent Technical Products, 60 resulted from legal action, meaning more than one-third of approvals.

This statement comes from Flavio Hirata, an agronomist and expert in pesticide registration, and a partner at the consulting firm AllierBrasil.

In Brazil, he notes, the largest and most attractive agrochemical market in the world, the product registration process is quite slow, taking over 12 years for the evaluation of generic or equivalent products (Formulated Product based on Equivalent Technical Product).

According to a survey by AllierBrasil (2023), of the 168 registrations of generic Formulated Products approved in 2022, 52.38% took 6 years or more for approval.

This approval time has remained stable for the past four years, being much longer in previous years.

For this reason, Hirata points out that the year 2022 saw a record number of pesticide registration evaluations through legal actions.

“Highlighting the companies Rainbow (13.4%), Iharabras (13.4%), Adama (7.5%), Perterra (7.5%), and Syncrom (7.5%), which together accounted for 49.3% of legal actions, or 33 processes out of a total of 67, including all Chemical Formulated Products,” notes the expert.

According to him, the registration of Equivalent Formulated Products represented 90% of legal actions, or 60 out of 67 actions, with 24 mixtures of active ingredients against 43 isolated products, totaling 27 active ingredients.

No legal action was found related to technical products registered in 2022.

“The majority of actions had Anvisa and Ibama as defendants, 71.79%, while for only Anvisa or Ibama, the percentage was 28.21% of actions. The survey did not investigate actions against the Ministry of Agriculture,” emphasizes Hirata.

According to the unpublished report “Judicial Action, Decision by Federal Court – 2022,” prepared by AllierBrasil and Mazza & Manente de Almeida Advogados, not all legal action requests are successful, especially in obtaining injunctions, by the Judiciary.

Some Courts have a higher number of approvals, while in others, the appeal to the second instance is more frequent.

“In the same survey conducted by AllierBrasil (2023), when comparing the time for approval of registrations ‘without legal action’ versus ‘with legal action,’ it is possible to demonstrate that legal action significantly reduces the approval time,” states the expert.

“In 2023, there was a continued rise in companies turning to the court system and an uptick in the number of lawsuits being filed. For 2024, Joint Ordinance No. 3 may expedite the evaluation of registration processes, but the procedures are still being discussed by the authorities. Regarding the much-discussed Pesticide Bill (PL No. 1,459/2022), it is still too early to predict whether the project will reduce the registration time, even if it is fully sanctioned without any veto,” he concludes.

Market Place

MKTPlace is a leading digital and social media platform for traders and investors. MKTPlace offers premiere resources for trading and investing education, digital resources for personal finance, news about IoT, AI, Blockchain, Business, market analysis and education resources and guides.

Photo by Marta Ortigosa on Unsplash

Brazilian company Nortox has unveiled to MKTPlace its latest innovation for soybean disease control: Scudeiro, an exclusive and unprecedented fusion designed to combat rust and target spot. This fungicide, composed of Protioconazole and Tebuconazole, has been meticulously crafted to stand out as the primary choice for the initial soybean application.

Commercial Director João Marcos Ferrari emphasizes Nortox’s commitment to providing comprehensive solutions for farmers, extending beyond the mere sale of active ingredients. According to him, all possible combinations among fungicide groups were tested, leading to the conclusion of the mixture of two triazoles.

In turn, Célio Hiroyuki Fudo, Product Development Manager, stated that the synergy between Protioconazole and Tebuconazole ensured “efficacy in controlling Asian rust,” demonstrating “excellent performance in combating other soybean diseases.”

Thiago Polles, Market Development Leader, highlights that Scudeiro is a broad-spectrum systemic fungicide, registered for various crops such as cotton, corn, wheat, barley, and sorghum, eliminating the need for adjuvant oil.

The distinctive formulation of Scudeiro, developed in 27 research institutions in Brazil and Cooperative Trials, has proven effective in controlling diseases such as target spot and Asian rust, ensuring productivity and being selective for soybean cultivation.

Maicom Tumiate, Registration and Development Manager, emphasizes the prioritization of the product by the Ministry of Agriculture due to its exclusive and innovative composition, combined with the technical product synthesis and formulation in Brazil.

Lucas Morais, Marketing Coordinator – Communication, underscores that the launch of Scudeiro marks the continuation of the company’s new communication positioning in the market. Celebrating 70 years in April 2024, Nortox adopts a new marketing strategy for Scudeiro and upcoming innovations, moving away from the tradition of naming products after the predominant active ingredient.

Leonardo Gottems

Photo by Kanchanara on Unsplash

Agrotoken has partnered with Santander to launch “the world’s first experience” of providing resources through tokens based on agricultural commodities.

For each token, there is a ton of grains that the producer has sold and delivered to a grain trading and agricultural production company. Similarly, all tons are validated through a Proof of Grain Reserve (PoGR) – a transparent, secure, decentralized, and auditable system at all times through a modern security infrastructure.

Once producers have their digital assets, agro tokens can be used for various operations, taking into account three price indices defined in conjunction with the Matba Rofex Group (a market where financial and agricultural futures and options are traded), reflecting the real-time value of grains. Since the beginning of 2021, several operations have been conducted, demonstrating the usability of crypto assets in exchange for various types of inputs, trucks, machinery, and real estate, among other things.

Eduardo Novillo Astrada, CEO and co-founder of Agrotoken states that they are “creating, together with Santander, various financial products to offer agricultural producers a service through which they can easily and smoothly access a new credit system backed by the sale of their grains.”

“At Santander Argentina, we have technology and innovation to generate new business solutions that make life easier and expand opportunities for agricultural producers. This is the first time that a financial services platform using blockchain technology and crypto assets to expand the agricultural credit market and unleash the business potential of the producer,” said Fernando Bautista, Head of Agribusiness at Santander Argentina.

The bank announced that it “believes in technology” and will invest $225 million in this area in Argentina. According to them, it is the first time that a global financial services platform links tokens of agricultural products to financial products, using blockchain technology to generate new business and make the process more efficient.

Leonardo Gottems

Photo by James Baltz on Unsplash

Vegetable bioactivator-controlling nematodes can be associated with fertilizers.

Derived from plant sources, the Organic Bloom vegetable bioactivator has been drawing the attention of technicians and farmers as an efficient organic alternative in combating the main species of nematodes that cause damage to crops such as soybeans, corn, beans, and cotton. In addition to being effective in controlling reniform nematodes, along with gall, cyst, and lesion nematodes, Organic Bloom has studies confirming its ability to solubilize phosphorus, induce resistance against nematodes in soybean plants, and synergize with biological products formulated with bacteria and fungi.

According to agronomist Cristiane dos Reis, Director of Research and Development (R&D) at Ingal Agrotechnology, studies were conducted in collaboration with nematologist Dr. Cristiano Bellé from the Phytus Institute, confirming the effectiveness of Organic Bloom against nematodes when incorporated into organomineral fertilizer formulations.

The research was conducted in greenhouse and field settings in soybean (Glycine max) cultivation. Various organomineral fertilizer formulations treated with Organic Bloom were compared to their standards and also to mineral fertilizers regarding plant productivity parameters and mitigation of the root-knot nematode, Meloidoyne javanica.

In the greenhouse trial, 30 days after the application of Organomineral treated with 2 Liters.Ton-1 of Organic Bloom, there was efficiency in controlling Meloidogyne javanica eggs and juveniles in 100 cm3 of soil, with reductions of 46.2% and 43.2% compared to the control treatment, respectively. At 60 days after the application of organomineral in the soil, the highest response was observed in juvenile control, with an efficiency of 35.6%.

Field trials were conducted in Júlio de Castilhos/RS and showed more significant results compared to the same dose used in the greenhouse. At 30 days, efficiency of 46.8% and 48.2% in controlling eggs and juveniles in the soil was observed, with a similar result found in nematode control in soybean roots.

“Unexpectedly, the efficiency levels for both young plants and soil-buried eggs, as well as soybean roots, were sustained at consistent levels even 60 days after the introduction of organomineral fertilizer into the soil. The results, however, went beyond nematode control, as during the trial, factors related to soybean plant physiology, such as fresh root and shoot mass, were benefited, resulting in a productivity increase of 6.54 sc/ha,” commented Cristiane dos Reis.

According to her, the result contributes to strengthening studies initiated in 2021 by Ingal Agrotechnology. Preliminary tests were conducted on the treatment of mineral fertilizers with Organic Bloom, and promising results led to the development of the first organomineral enriched with Organic Bloom in the state of Paraná.

Ingal Agrotechnology’s Commercial Leader for the Southern Region, Estevão Terra Caetano, also established the technology in the cassava market. It is important to note that results have already been obtained in wheat cultivation. The research will continue with various organomineral fertilizer formulations and will be presented at the 35th Symposium of the European Society of Nematologists in April 2024 in Spain.

The results reveal that the addition of Organic Bloom to mineral (NPK) and organomineral fertilizers promotes greater root development and soybean plant growth. In addition to the benefits related to the crop, the combat against the main nematodes in the soil was verified in the first 30 days after emergence.

Treatments with NPK + Organic Bloom (2 L per ton of NPK in the 5-20-20 formulation) and Organomineral + Organic Bloom (2 L per ton of organomineral) achieved control efficiencies of 38.6% and 43.2% on juveniles and 38.5% to 46.5% on Meloidogyne javanica eggs. In the roots, control efficiency ranged from 31.3% for NPK + Organic Bloom to 38.2% for Organomineral + Organic Bloom on juveniles and remained at a similar level on Meloidogyne javanica eggs.

In the 60-day evaluation after emergence, greater control efficiency of Meloidogyne javanica juveniles occurred in the soil, 30.1% and 35.6% for NPK and Organomineral treated with Organic Bloom, respectively. Regarding the roots, the highest percentage of control was observed on nematode eggs, 39.2% in the NPK + Organic Bloom treatment and 32.2% in the Organomineral + Organic Bloom treatment.

Leonardo Gottems

With its departure from the European Union, the United Kingdom is experiencing the bitterness of the poison itself after Brexit. Because, for example, the export of meat to EU countries now has to face (and overcome) a difficult and lengthy bureaucratic process. To meet requirements which, in most cases, were created or suggested by the British themselves on imports from third countries outside the European Union.

Representative of the local meat industry, the Association of British Meat Processors (Bpma) is calling for help. It states that 20% of the sector’s exports are definitely lost and that to respond to transport, sanitary and customs requirements, around 30% to 40% of closed cargo shipments now made are costing 50% more than before Brexit. Or, as bpma points out, “to continue exporting to the European Union we will face an additional cost estimated between 90 and 120 million pounds”.

Seeking to demonstrate the difficulties that the meat industry now faces to reach the EU, the entity has drawn up a document in which it illustrates with an example – export, to Paris, of a batch of pork chops – the pre and post-Brexit bureaucracy.

By December 31, 2020, with an international consignment note (CMR), the transporter simply loaded the truck and the process was terminated. Time: 10 minutes and a single document.
Since January 1, 2021: until the truck leaves the factory, 20 different documents are required, which consumes between 4 and 12 hours. But this does not conclude the process, because, until it arrives in Paris, the cargo goes through nine other bureaucratic processes (passage through border posts, Customs and sanitary supervision, etc.).
To minimize these (for the British, unprecedented) challenges, the BPMA calls for (1) internal improvement in inspection and certification systems; (2) electronic documentation (even the color of the ink of a stamp on an invoice has hampered shipments); and, (3) search for sanitary equivalence with the EU.

In the words of the entity, “we can learn from other countries whose systems are much more flexible… to obtain services efficiently and economically”.

Market Place

MKTPlace is a leading digital and social media platform for traders and investors. MKTPlace offers premiere resources for trading and investing education, digital resources for personal finance, news about IoT, AI, Blockchain, Business, market analysis and education resources and guides.

The Interprofessional Organisation for sheep and goats meat, Interovic, has secured seven million euros for the promotion of lamb and kid meat in the internal market. This is the third consecutive program granted by the Executive Agency for Consumers, Health and food of the European Commission (Chafea) to the Interprofessional.

It is a continuation of the multi-country program that Interovic is currently developing in Spain and Hungary and whose objective is to promote the sustainable nature of the sector.

The first campaign, carried out from 2015 to 2017, focused on modernizing the way these foods are marketed through new cuts. The second, from 2018 to 2020, promoted the sustainable nature of sheep and goat production. The latter plans to keep focusing on a related message, but this time with the addition of the hospitality industry.

Raúl Muñiz, the president of Interovic, has indicated that “having these resources provides an opportunity for the sector as it allows us to multiply by four the funds raised through the Extension of the Standard and that just renew now”, adding that thanks to the contribution of all the sector have managed to position itself as “the flesh sustainable” and will continue to convey this message to the whole of society.

“We are proud to know that Europe is betting on us again. This project is one of the selected of a total of 49 that were presented in the 2020 call, Interovic bet on promoting the sustainability of the sector and the granting of this campaign gives us the necessary support from the European Commission to be able to transfer this to the whole of society”, said Tomás Rodríguez, director of Interovic.

The campaign to the sustainability of sheep and goats meat will run from 2021 to 2023 with a budget of 6.975.000 euros. Approximately 2.7 million euros will be invested each year (two million in Spain and the rest in Hungary).

Market Place

MKTPlace is a leading digital and social media platform for traders and investors. MKTPlace offers premiere resources for trading and investing education, digital resources for personal finance, news about IoT, AI, Blockchain, Business, market analysis and education resources and guides.