Biologicals

How a Tiny Fungus is Solving Brazil’s Biggest Farming Challenges

30 January 2025, New Delhi: For over two decades, the Biological Institute, affiliated with the São Paulo Agribusiness Technology Agency (Apta) and the São Paulo State Secretary of Agriculture and Supply (SAA), has been a cornerstone in advancing biological control methods for Brazilian crops. Its groundbreaking partnership with Japanese company Toyobo has reshaped pest management, particularly in sugarcane farming, by leveraging the power of the metarhizium fungus.

The Birth of a Game-Changing Collaboration

The partnership began when Toyobo faced significant challenges with trichoderma contamination in its shimeji mushroom cultivation. Minoru Takahashi, Toyobo’s CEO, discovered that the metarhiziumfungus, widely used in agriculture for biological pest control, could be the solution. After attending a course led by Dr. José Eduardo Marcondes de Almeida at the Biological Institute in Campinas, Toyobo established a formal agreement with the institute. This marked the start of a transformative journey in biological control.

By 2005, Toyobo had shifted entirely from shimeji cultivation to producing metarhizium-based biopesticides. Today, the company is a leading producer of the IBCB 425 strain, a critical component in managing sugarcane spittlebugs. This strain is now utilized by over 160 companies and applied across millions of hectares of farmland in Brazil.

Impact on Agriculture and the Environment

The IBCB 425 strain has become a cornerstone of biological pest control in Brazil. It is applied to approximately 2 million hectares of sugarcane for root spittlebug management and another 1 million hectares for pasture spittlebug control. According to José Eduardo Marcondes de Almeida, director of the Reference Laboratory Unit in Biological Control at the Biological Institute, the collaboration has led to the development of multiple strains used across more than 10 million hectares of farmland.

This innovation has had a profound economic impact, reducing reliance on costly chemical insecticides that rely on imported molecules. Environmentally, the shift to biological control has enhanced worker safety by minimizing exposure to harmful chemicals. Additionally, the bioinsecticide industry, growing at an impressive 20% annually, has created hundreds of jobs, contributing to both economic and social development.

A Model for Sustainable Agriculture

The partnership between the Biological Institute and Toyobo exemplifies how science, technology, and strategic collaboration can drive transformative change. Ana Eugênia, the institute’s general director, highlights the economic, social, and environmental benefits of this alliance, which has paved the way for more sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices.

The use of biological control methods has already reduced chemical pesticide application by at least 30% in various crops, with projections suggesting a 50% reduction by 2050. This shift not only improves soil health but also enhances productivity through the use of biofertilizers, biostimulants, and other innovative biological products.

Toyobo’s Evolution and Contribution

Founded in Japan in 1882 as a cotton spinning company, Toyobo entered the Brazilian market in 1955 as a textile manufacturer. However, its pivot to biotechnology in the 1990s, particularly through its partnership with the Biological Institute, positioned it as a leader in the biological control market. With production facilities in Salto and Americana, São Paulo, Toyobo now generates over 500 jobs and supplies spores to numerous biopesticide manufacturers.

A Vision for the Future

Researchers José Eduardo Marcondes de Almeida and Ricardo Harakava emphasize that the Biological Institute’s work, in collaboration with companies like Toyobo, is helping to build a new era of agriculture. This approach prioritizes cleaner, more efficient farming practices that balance productivity with environmental stewardship.

As the global demand for sustainable agriculture grows, the partnership between the Biological Institute and Toyobo serves as a powerful example of how innovation and collaboration can create a greener, more productive future for farming.

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