There are two main factors that directly impact the demand for agro-products globally. These are the global population growth, which is estimated to reach 9 billion people in the year 2050, and the increase in the per capita income of the population.
Agribusiness is extremely important to the global economy. The real growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of agribusiness was 8.36% between the years 2020 and 2021, according to data from the Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics (Cepea).
In this context, investments are applied in innovation to optimize the use of natural resources associated with agro-products, bioenergy and other foods. Thus, the development of new technologies and biotechnologies for Agro become essential for the sustainability of agricultural activities.
Biotechnology in Agro
Biotechnology is the science of the study and application of genetic and molecular biology methods for the development of innovative products for the market and useful needs. In modern agriculture, a biotechnology associated with genetic improvement has contributed to the launch of genetic events with new characteristics of agronomic interest, in short, productivity, nutritional quality and biotic and abiotic stress.
For this, a holistic knowledge associated with technological advances to solve problems and produce products that are really used to meet global needs, in addition to feeding the population. And, for that, it is necessary, before making it available to consumers, to guarantee the food safety of these new bioproducts.
Historically, the process of domestication of plant species began more than 0,000 years ago, with a selection of varieties with characteristics of interest. The first 19 years among the first years among the first years carried out in the 180's. And, in the middle of the years 0, were the first works of introducing new genes.
In the 1990s they were not marketed as the first transgenic plants. recommended for soybean cultivation, the use of biotechnologies contributed to increase the productive potential, with the increase of the efficiency of the species in the field. In this context, the major biotechnological milestone in soybean farming was the launch of Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans, whose varieties are tolerant to glyphosate-based herbicides.
Next, history as biotechnologies that come from Brazil will carry out the evolution of Brazilian soybeans.
Soy biotechnologies in Brazil
In the history of Brazilian soybean production until today, there are three years that mark the great evolution of soybean production in the country. In these years, new biotechnologies were launched in the Brazilian market.
Roundup Ready (RR)
The launch of Roundup Ready (RR) soybean biotechnology in Brazil was in 1998. The great innovative step of this transgenic event was the characteristic of tolerance to glyphosate-based herbicides. As a result, lower cost and greater flexibility in weed control was made possible, with high efficiency and selectivity, in addition to low risk of phytotoxicity.
Intact RR2 PRO (IPRO)
To meet the new needs of Brazilian farmers, in 2010, the Intacta RR2 PRO (IPRO) soybean biotechnology was launched. This biotechnology, in addition to the tolerance to glyphosate, provided an increase in the productive potential of the culture and protection against caterpillars of the culture, which were causing important production losses. The Bt protein (Cry1Ac) is responsible for the high efficacy against the soybean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis), the false worm (Chrysodeixis includens), the armpit borer (Crocidosema aporema) and the -apples (Chloridea virescens).
Intact 2 Xtend (i2x) and Xtend Haven
In order to promote the leap to a new level of soybean productivity, in 2021 the Intacta 2 Xtend (i2x) biotechnology was launched in Brazil. To this end, this biotechnology has the Intacta 2 Xtend Platform, with i2x and XTEND REFUGIO varieties. Both have greater weed control, associating tolerance to glyphosate with the great innovation for controlling broadleaf weeds, especially horseweed, caruru, viola and black beanie, which is tolerance to dicamba-based herbicides.
The i2x varieties have increased protection against caterpillars. In addition to the Bt protein (Cry1Ac), two new proteins (Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2) were added, resulting in a broad spectrum of complete protection against the bollworm (Chrysodeixis includens), soybean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis) , armpit borer (Crocidosema aporema), apple bollworm (Chloridea virescens), Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera cosmioides.
With the aim of expanding the adoption of refuge areas, an important practice for the sustainability of biotechnologies in the field, the Intacta 2 Xtend Platform has the XTEND varieties, which, despite not having the protection proteins against caterpillars, are highly productive.
With the proposal to generate value for the Brazilian farmer, the Intacta 2 Xtend Platform has a broad training program, called i2x LAB. This program uses an innovative method to train the entire soy production chain, sharing knowledge and lessons learned with a network of experts in the country.
Future of biotechnologies in soybean seed
The future of soybean seed biotechnologies is linked to factors for their longevity and to meet new opportunities to generate value for farmers.
Biotechnologies provide several benefits for increasing soybean productivity. However, the adoption of good refuge practices in field cultivation is essential for the long-term longevity of a biotechnology. This crop management strategy aims at the perpetuity of biotechnology and so that there is high efficiency in grain production.
Advantages of using these biotechnologies
The use of biotechnologies in soybean cultivation expresses several competitive advantages, among them:
Productivity increase: made possible with the increase in the efficiency of the management in the field, with less competition of the soybean crop with weeds and pest damage.
Sustainable production: the evolution of agribusiness with a view to sustainability seeks to manage risks and obtain economic returns for farmers, promote the development of employees with quality, health and safety, and face the challenges of global climate change and pay attention to new possibilities for preservation of the environment.
Reduction in the use of agrochemicals: crop protection biotechnologies help to reduce the use of agrochemicals, with assertiveness in the positioning of these products according to needs.
Greater operational efficiency: with the high demand for food, the need to increase operational efficiency and improve results in the field is indisputable.
Lower cost/ha: with all the strategies presented above, the farmer is the main focus. The vision of increasing financial returns and generating value with customers has become the main purpose of competitive companies.
Adoption of sustainable production systems: a great example of a sustainable production system implemented in Brazil was the no-tillage system.
It is unquestionable the importance that biotechnologies in soybean seed have, in association with technologies related to digital agriculture, for the constant sustainable evolution of agribusiness. The next step is to increase the adoption of this new Age of Agriculture effectively in the field.
