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With Minas Gerais at the forefront of fertilizer production, Brazil can drastically reduce its 85% dependence on foreign inputs
O Brazilian agribusiness, a fundamental part of the national economy, faces a critical challenge: dependence on imported fertilizers, which currently account for 85% of everything used in the sector. This vulnerability to fluctuations in the international inputs market has sparked the need to seek alternatives to guarantee the country's autonomy. In this scenario, Minas Gerais stands out.
In this scenario, Minas Gerais emerges as a state with the potential to lead a revolution in the sector, as highlighted by the president of the National Union of the Fertilizer Raw Materials Industry (Sinprifert), Bernardo Silva.
Minas Gerais: A pillar in fertilizer production
Minas Gerais is already recognized as the main fertilizer producer in Brazil and Latin America. According to Silva, the state not only has the largest fertilizer industrial park in the country, but also attracts investments and technologies necessary to boost the sector.
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Furthermore, it houses the largest phosphate reserves and also has a significant production of potassium, both essential inputs for the manufacture of fertilizers.
The state is also investing in new projects, such as the production of nitrogen, which reinforces its leadership role in this market. However, for Minas Gerais to truly consolidate this position, it is necessary for the state to assume a leading role in political discussions at the federal level, something that, according to Caio Coimbra, undersecretary of Economic and Agricultural Policy at the Minas Gerais Department of Agriculture, is already underway.
Agribusiness: National fertilizer plan and goals for 2050
The Brazilian government has set ambitious goals with the National Fertilizer Plan (PNF), which aims to reduce dependence on imported fertilizers to 50% by 2050.
Despite being bold, the goal is seen as possible by industry experts, including the president of Sinprifert himself. To achieve this goal, Silva emphasizes that “attitude, focus and a sense of urgency” are necessary.
Minas Gerais, aligned with the PNF goals, has already taken concrete measures. One example is the attraction of the EuroChem Group, one of the largest global players in the fertilizer sector, to build a Mining and Industrial Complex in Serra do Salitre, in the Alto Paranaíba region.
This unit is designed to be integrated, covering everything from the extraction of phosphate rock to the distribution of fertilizers, and will meet 15% of national demand. The project involves investments of more than US$ 1 billion and has mineral reserves estimated at 350 million tons.
Initiatives to strengthen local production
In addition to investments in industries, Minas Gerais also seeks to strengthen its production capacities through strategic partnerships.
One example is the international mission to the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), with the aim of consolidating partnerships to optimize fertilizer consumption in local agriculture. Among the initiatives, the training of qualified labor stands out, something essential for the future of the sector.
Another relevant action is the partnership with the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) to create the MG Fertilizer Hub, linked to the Center of Excellence for Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition. This hub will be dedicated to research and innovation, focusing especially on phosphate-based fertilizers, essential for agricultural productivity in the state and in the country.
International Collaboration and Innovation
The partnership with Harsco Environmental, an American multinational company, is also an example of how Minas Gerais is seeking innovation in the sector. Harsco donated 10 tons of agrosilicon-based fertilizers per year to the administration of Governor Romeu Zema, as part of an effort to improve soil correction in the state.
Agrosilicon stands out for being three times more efficient than limestone in correcting soil and for containing 10% silicon, an element beneficial for the healthy growth of crops.
This type of innovation brings positive impacts not only to agricultural production, but also to the sustainability of agribusiness, as it reduces the need for agricultural pesticides to combat pests and diseases, strengthening plants naturally.
Towards Independence
With so many initiatives underway, Minas Gerais is paving the way for Brazil to achieve its long-awaited independence in fertilizers.
The state, which is already one of the largest producers of inputs in the country, has shown that, with focus, investment and international collaboration, it is possible to transform the reality of the sector and reduce dependence on the external market.
In the long term, these actions will not only benefit the local economy, but will also strengthen national agribusiness as a whole, ensuring greater security and stability for the future of agriculture in Brazil.
