Romeo SC, an innovative and effective tool on fungicide program for Brazilian soybean producers

A record production to be expected in 2021 soybean campaign in Brazil

Brazil soybean production for marketing year (MY) 2020/21 is forecast at a record 136.0 million metric tons (mmt), up 7.5 mmt (6 percent) from the MY 2019/20 revised record crop of 128.5 mmt.

The harvested area is forecast at a record 38.6 million hectares (mha),while yield is forecast at a record of 3.52 tons per hectare (t/ha).

Not only Brazil is currently the main country on world soybean production but on exports as well, leading the ranking with almost 83 million tones exported in 2020 and a revenue of USD28.56 billion in the same year.

A growing interest for biocontrol alternatives within the Brazilian crop protection market

In 2020, Brazilian agrochemicals market was USD12,1 billion, being 48% of this amount referent to soybeans (USD5.8 billion).

Meanwhile, biocontrol market achieved USD237 million, or 2.5% of total agrochemicals market. Even that representing only a minor part of Crop Protection market, biocontrol is getting more and more relevance presenting a 34% growth in USD basis over last period.

At the soybeans agrochemicals market, fungicides had a revenue of USD 2.85 billion, being USD450 million of protectant (multisite) fungicides, which were adopted by 70% of cultivated area at the 2019/2020 crop season.

Protectant fungicides have gained relevance since the 2016/2017 crop season due to the sharp reduction of efficacy of chemical fungicides to control Asian Soybean Rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi). The lower performance of fungicides is explained by resistance of the fungi to the main products (or mode of action) in Brazilian market:

• In 2007/2008 it was identified resistance to triazoles (DMI group);
• In 2013/2014 it appeared resistance to strobilurins (QoI group);
• In 2016/2017 it was the time of the carboxamides to “join the team”.

Considering the current efficiency of site-specific fungicides around 60% to 70% and of 40% of multisite fungicides, there is clearly a gap to bridge and an opportunity for new tools to come and contribute on ASR control.

Romeo SC, an ideal partner on the fungicide program for soybeans protection and the 1st microbial elicitor registered in Brazil

In this scenario, our distribution partner IHARA is launching on 2021/2022 soybean season a groundbreaking and clean solution to assist growers on the fungicide program: Romeo SC.

After five crop seasons of a hard and effective work investigating Romeo SC in comprehensive lab and field studies over the most relevant regions in Brazil for soybean production, Ihara launches the solution and presents its positioning at the fungicide program: 2 applications of 750mL per hectare, following the 1st and 2nd application of chemical fungicides.

Romeo acts by activating the plant’s defense metabolisms.

Romeo SC is registered as a biochemical fungicide, must be sprayed always preventatively, and has the active ingredient Cerevisane at 10% concentration.

Cerevisane is based on specific yeast fractions and its mode of action is an elicitor, activating natural defenses of the plant and is present on FRAC list (Fungicide Resistance Action Committee) since 2019.

Romeo SC is the 1st microbial elicitor registered in Brazil, highly compatible with chemical fungicides, an ideal partner on the fungicide program.

Results achieved in field trials are quite motivating, adding 4 pp on ASR control and providing additional 4.76 bags per hectare (60kg bags).

These results, considering the investment on the product will lead to a 792% on Return of Investment.

Soybean growers are looking forward to having access to this solution which is coming soon on the upcoming crop season.