To Prevent Impacts of the Ukraine War on Brazil's Fertilizers, Embrapa Launches Initiative to Save $1 Billion

To Prevent Impacts of the Ukraine War on Brazil’s Fertilizers, Embrapa Launches Initiative to Save $1 Billion

Written by Roberta Souza

Published on 08/03/2022 at 13:32

Foto: Reprodução Google Imagens (via AgroSaber)

Be the first to react!

Involvement in Conflict Over Russia, Supplier of More Than 20% of Brazil’s Fertilizers, Concerns Embrapa About the Economy of This Sector

In addition to generating widespread tension in Eastern Europe, the Ukraine War significantly affects the economy of Brazil and the world. In the fertilizer market, this has been no different. In light of this, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Company (Embrapa) will create a technical support caravan aimed at field producers. The goal of this measure is to increase the effectiveness of fertilizer use from 60% to 70% and save US$ 1 billion in product usage for the upcoming harvest.

Also Read:

Embrapa President Celso Moretti confirmed the information to CNN Brasil and explained the measure: “To apply fertilizer, you first need to analyze the soil to see what is lacking, and this does not always happen. We will provide all this technical guidance in the main producing regions of Brazil.” According to Moretti, this action was the means found by Embrapa to act quickly in response to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Called FertBrasil, the caravan emerged from an initiative implemented between 2013 and 2014, due to a pest that contaminated cotton and soybean chains in the Cerrado. The caravan is expected to launch alongside the announcement of a national fertilizer plan from the Federal Government. Also in an interview with CNN, Tereza Cristina, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, stated that the launch will occur by March 17.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Weakening Dependency

Embrapa plans to reduce Brazil’s dependency on the foreign market, aiming to decrease fertilizer imports by 25% by 2030. Celso Moretti reiterates that it is impossible to make drastic changes in a short period of time.

The research organization has five areas of action: biofertilizers, organominerals, nano-structured fertilizers, precision agriculture, and soil conditioners with rock dust.

Among the biofertilizers, there is one that contains two bacteria that act on soil phosphorus, one moving the element more and the other impacting plant roots. Using this technology, Brazil increased from 300,000 hectares to 3 million hectares in the 2021/2022 harvest.

In the case of organominerals, a mineral fertilizer is mixed with organic sources, such as animal manure.

The nano-structured fertilizers work with a moderate release of essential substances to plants, while precision agriculture involves detailed assessments of the issues in rural properties that need less or more fertilizers.

The “rock dust” initiative is still in study, expected to yield results in two years.

The president of Embrapa emphasizes the importance of agribusiness, which represents 26% of the country’s GDP. For him, by uniting research and technology, it is possible to reduce international dependency and decrease expenses.

In this regard, technology helped Brazil save R$ 28 billion in 2021 and prevented the use of nitrogen from petroleum, which avoided the emission of 100 million tons of CO2.

Regarding the consequences of the conflict in Europe on national production, Moretti believes they will be more intense after the summer harvest, which begins planting in October, if the attacks continue. “It is difficult to make any predictions. It will depend on the extent of the conflict,” he says.

Seeking other suppliers to replace Russia and Belarus, such as Canada, Iran, and Qatar, the Government is implementing “fertilizer diplomacy.”

To learn more, watch the video from CNN below:

To Prevent Impacts of the Ukraine War on Brazil’s Fertilizers, Embrapa Launches Initiative to Save $1 Billion

Involvement in Conflict Over Russia, Supplier of More Than 20% of Brazil’s Fertilizers, Concerns Embrapa About the Economy of This Sector

Also Read:

Weakening Dependency

Mother and daughter build a 70 m² house with more than 8,000 discarded glass bottles and impress with their creativity; known as the Casa de Sal, the property is located on Itamaracá Island, in Pernambuco.

Workers were opening a new road connection near the Marginal Tietê when they found, in the underground of the construction site, remnants of locomotives, wagons, and boilers from the 19th century linked to the forgotten history of Lapa.

Instead of burning or burying old tires, an American city is transforming about 2,000 of them into the street itself, paving its first sections with a quieter and more durable rubber asphalt.

China transforms desert-devastated area into the world’s largest artificial forest, planting trees for 60 years, blocking sand that reached Beijing, and creating a “green lung” of 92,000 hectares in a region once considered lost.

Greek island offers free housing for volunteers, but there’s a condition: you need to take care of rescued cats.

Engineers want to carve through Africa with a giant canal to bring water from the world’s second-largest river to a dying lake on the edge of the Sahara Desert that has already lost 90% of its water.

China has deployed snake-shaped robots to slide along power lines, where they have already inspected over 130 kilometers of cables using cameras and sensors to detect damaged wires, worn-out parts, and overheating.

“Dude, it was bizarre”: Nubank founder admits mistake that triggered bank liquidation alert for thousands of customers and explains what really happened.

Huawei will install Chinese batteries in 24 cities in the Amazon, in a project worth R$ 850 million that could become the largest energy storage system in Brazil.

China connects to the power grid the largest ultra-large battery storage station ever built in the world and signs a billion-dollar contract that consolidates a technology capable of sustaining entire cities with clean energy.

Mother of 7 children leaves night job in São Paulo, invests only R$ 86 in artisanal ice creams and sees income become household support: business created at the gate reaches R$ 6,000 per month and aims for a physical store.

An empty spacesuit was launched from the ISS and became a “ghost astronaut” in orbit: the SuitSat floated alone around the Earth transmitting radio signals before burning up in the atmosphere.

To Prevent Impacts of the Ukraine War on Brazil’s Fertilizers, Embrapa Launches Initiative to Save $1 Billion

Involvement in Conflict Over Russia, Supplier of More Than 20% of Brazil’s Fertilizers, Concerns Embrapa About the Economy of This Sector

Also Read:

Weakening Dependency

Mother and daughter build a 70 m² house with more than 8,000 discarded glass bottles and impress with their creativity; known as the Casa de Sal, the property is located on Itamaracá Island, in Pernambuco.

Workers were opening a new road connection near the Marginal Tietê when they found, in the underground of the construction site, remnants of locomotives, wagons, and boilers from the 19th century linked to the forgotten history of Lapa.

Instead of burning or burying old tires, an American city is transforming about 2,000 of them into the street itself, paving its first sections with a quieter and more durable rubber asphalt.

China transforms desert-devastated area into the world’s largest artificial forest, planting trees for 60 years, blocking sand that reached Beijing, and creating a “green lung” of 92,000 hectares in a region once considered lost.

Greek island offers free housing for volunteers, but there’s a condition: you need to take care of rescued cats.

Engineers want to carve through Africa with a giant canal to bring water from the world’s second-largest river to a dying lake on the edge of the Sahara Desert that has already lost 90% of its water.

China has deployed snake-shaped robots to slide along power lines, where they have already inspected over 130 kilometers of cables using cameras and sensors to detect damaged wires, worn-out parts, and overheating.

China connects to the power grid the largest ultra-large battery storage station ever built in the world and signs a billion-dollar contract that consolidates a technology capable of sustaining entire cities with clean energy.

Casa CazéTV transforms internet chat into a live event during the World Cup, targeting over 100,000 fans in São Paulo and Rio, and boosts a Brazilian experience company that expects to grow up to 60% with shows, big screens, activations, and Brazil’s games.

Guarulhos becomes the “Faria Lima of warehouses” with logistics square meter at R$ 37.11, more expensive than the São Paulo capital, while Shopee, Mercado Livre, Amazon, and billion-dollar funds compete for space near the largest airport in South America.

Amazon plans to invest more than R$ 1 billion to transform the Brazilian airport into a major cargo hub; the agreement with the city hall is expected to be signed by 2026 and could generate around 5,000 jobs.

“Dude, it was bizarre”: Nubank founder admits mistake that triggered bank liquidation alert for thousands of customers and explains what really happened.

Huawei will install Chinese batteries in 24 cities in the Amazon, in a project worth R$ 850 million that could become the largest energy storage system in Brazil.

China connects to the power grid the largest ultra-large battery storage station ever built in the world and signs a billion-dollar contract that consolidates a technology capable of sustaining entire cities with clean energy.

Mother of 7 children leaves night job in São Paulo, invests only R$ 86 in artisanal ice creams and sees income become household support: business created at the gate reaches R$ 6,000 per month and aims for a physical store.

An empty spacesuit was launched from the ISS and became a “ghost astronaut” in orbit: the SuitSat floated alone around the Earth transmitting radio signals before burning up in the atmosphere.