A natural repellent removed from the guava leaf may be the solution to control citrus greening, considered one of the worst diseases of citriculture in Brazil and in the world. The product is being developed in a partnership between the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) and the Fund for Citrus Protection (Fundecitrus), and it should start to be tested in the groves soon.

The disease is caused by a bacterium that is transmitted by an insect vector, the psyllid. Because it is too small and difficult to identify, it easily enters the groves. If the plant is infected, it has to be eliminated. And because of that, the group of researchers began to investigate natural pesticides capable of repelling the psyllid and attract them to another area, without harming the environment and human health.

They discovered a molecule in the guava leaf that has this attribute. “Our research looked for natural volatile compounds, which are the odors. Our strategy is to use these compounds to repel the insect from the grove to another area, where we can apply pesticides in a more rational way, and also to avoid contaminating the environment,” explained Fundecitrus researcher Mr. Rodrigo Facchini Magnani.

The research in laboratory has already been completed. The next step includes studying the effectiveness of this repellent in the field. “To check if it really works as a repellent and then incorporate it into citrus greening management,” said Mr. Magnani.

The latest Fundecitrus data showed that 16.73% of the groves in the state of São Paulo were affected by the disease last year, with around 32 million infected trees.

The Biological Institute received an investment of R$2,246,769.40 from the Government of São Paulo to develop a research project that will monitor the environmental impacts on the application of agrochemicals in agricultural areas. The studies are expected to last three years.

The project “Environmental Impacts on the Application of Agrochemicals in Agricultural Areas” aims to assess the contamination of pesticides in several state areas. The first sites to be surveyed will be Brotas, a tourist town cut across by the Jacaré Pepira river and close to sugarcane and orange growing areas, and Ibiúna, a town near the city of São Paulo, which produces vegetables. Other regions will be selected during the course of work.

The Institute’s researchers will collect samples from soil, sediment, surface water, rivers and streams, and groundwater, such as artesian wells. The samples will be analyzed in the Laboratory of Ecology of Agrochemicals of the Biological Institute, in São Paulo, which carries out research related to the monitoring of the environment and studies on the effect of these compounds on the biome in agricultural and urban areas.

For the director of the Biological Institute, Mr. Antônio Batista Filho, the project aims to measure impacts on the use of chemicals in soil and water, and help to identify the correct management in the field. According to Ms. Eliane Vieira, an BI researcher and project coordinator, the research will reduce environmental impacts without harming agricultural productivity. “In addition, the study will collaborate on the prevention of public health problems due to the use of chemical compounds in agriculture, and will promote access to information that helps choosing the most effective and, at the same time, more affordable means to assess the quality of water,” she said.

During the 2012-2013 and 2013- 2014 seasons, the researchers assessed several volumes of spray and copper rates to control citrus canker on trees of sweet orange “Valencia” planted in 2006, with an average canopy volume of 49 m³. Spray volumes were defined based on the tree canopy size, aiming to reduce waste of resources and production costs.

Volumes of 150, 100, 70, and 40 mL of spray mixture/m³ of canopy were tested during two seasons. The last two volumes were also assessed with adjustment of the copper rate. The study assessed the incidence of leaves and fruits with symptoms, premature fruit drop, yield, copper deposits on the leaves, spray coverage and the cost-benefit ratio.

In the first year, the copper-treated plants – regardless of the volume and copper adjustment – showed at the most 5% of occurrence of diseased leaves. Whereas non-sprayed trees showed a peak of 30% of leaves with citrus canker.

In the second year, results were similar to those in the first year, except for the 40 mL/m³ volume with no rate adjustment, which reached 10% of symptomatic leaves, between November and January, when tree flushing coincides with the occurrence of rains.

According to researchers, the lower protection of that treatment was caused by the reduction of product deposits on the tree. In this case, when the rate was adjusted, control was reestablished, showing that the 40 mL volume may be efficient, since the metallic copper rate is adjusted.

“The results show that spray volumes may be safely used by citrus growers. Lower spray volumes and copper rates may affect such control and are still being studied.”, affirms researcher Franklin Behlau.

With this method, citrus growers would save US$ 1.5 in one application, on a 100-hectare area, for example.

Equipment adjustments are required to use reduced volumes of spray, among which the use of spray nozzles that produce fine droplets (150 µm). The sprayer speed must not exceed 5.5 km/h, with a minimum coverage of 30% on the leaves inside the canopy.

According to Fundecitrus researcher Marcelo da Silva Scapin: “The adequacy of application volumes allows savings and reduction of the environmental impact, in addition to increasing the operating efficiency of the equipment”, he affirms.

As an example, if the reduction proposed by the research were applied to the Sao Paulo State citrus belt, which is currently estimated at 462 thousand hectares, if carrying out six applications per crop year, there would be savings of 6.2 billion liters of water, enough to supply the whole city of Sao Paulo for 5 days, or the equivalent to 56 million people for one day. The cost reduction for the whole citrus belt would reach US$ 40 million a year in expenses with equipment, product and labor.

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According to Fundecitrus researcher Mr. Marcelo Scapin, one of the people responsible for the system, the information allows the citrus grower to manage the control of diseases and pests without wasting the pesticides, using only the volume needed. “The citrus growers will be able to adjust the volume and pesticide rates, and adjust the equipment in the right way”, he says. The accurate control reflects in a smaller amount of product waste, avoiding soil contamination, and making the operation even more sustainable.

According to Fundecitrus, with the app it’s possible to reduce the water volume up to 70% to control the psyllid, up to 60% for postbloom fruit drop, 30% for citrus leprosis, and between 40 and 50% for citrus black spot. “The SPIF is a way to take the knowledge generated by research to the citrus growers in a more practical and accessible way”, says Mr. Scapin.

To do the math, the SPIF was based on the results of research on Application Technology that have been carried out in Fundecitrus for over ten years for citrus leprosis, citrus black spots, citrus canker, postbloom fruit drop (PFD) and psyllids. The purpose of the system is to provide these results in a practical way to be applied in the field and to assist in the correct sizing of the spraying.

The app is available for free in the desktop version (offline) and can be also accessed at the Fundecitrus website (Click here). A mobile version will be launched soon, available for Android, IOS and Windows.

To know more about the new technology check the link, in Portuguese

http://www.fundecitrus.com.br/comunicacao/noticias/integra/fundecitrus-lanca-aplicativo-para-ajudar-a-calcular-pulverizacoes/478

The sustainability of the citrus chain was the central theme at the 13^th International Citrus Congress, one of the main citrus event in the world. From September 18^th to 23^rd, the event, which took place in Foz do Iguaçu, in the state of Paraná, south region of Brazil, gathered over 1 thousand participants from 35 countries to debate the main challenges of the sector.

In over 18 plenary sessions, the event, organized by the Agronomic Institute of Paraná (IAPAR), in partnership with the Agronomic Institute of Campinas, discussed what’s new in cultivation science, pest control, fertilization and plant nutrition, and also technological innovation for the fruit processing industry. One of the key themes was the discussion around the scientific way to introduce citrus greening genetically resistant plants, one of the main citrus’ disease. “The goal of the event is to generate knowledge to expand the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the citrus agribusiness”, highlighted Mr. Eduardo Fermino Carlos, IAPAR researcher and member of the Congress’ organization committee.

Now, for the coordinator of the Citrus Health department of the Agricultural Defense Agency of Paraná (Adapar), the public agency link to the state government of Paraná, Mr. José Grossi, the discussions during the event will meet the demand for products with less agrochemicals during the process of fruit production. “The trend is to reduce the use of agrochemicals in the groves, complying with the environmental and consumer requirements”, he underlined. “It’s up to science, research and agricultural extension to help the grower seek efficiency under the financial, environmental and human health aspect as well”, he added.

The Government of the State of São Paulo announced a new electronic system to monitor the sales of agrochemicals in its territory, a region where the Brazilian citrus production is concentrated. The goal of this monitoring, which will be carried out by the Agricultural Defense Coordination (CDA), agency under the Secretariat of Agriculture of the state of São Paulo, is to prevent the sale and use of illegal products that can cause damages to the environment and to those who applied them.

The forecast is that by the end of this year all data related to buying and selling agrochemicals are in the system, allowing CDA to control the flow of products in the state. These information must be provided by the manufacturer, distributors and farmers. “Every agrochemical entering the State of São Paulo to be sell through legal means will be registered and tracked”, says Mr. Rafael de Melo Pereira, director of the Center for Inspection of Inputs and Soil Conservation of the Agricultural Defense.

With this monitoring, the farmers must register the cultures they grow in their farms. The distributors must inform the amount and types of agrochemical purchased by their store. The non-compliance prevents the marketing of the product, in other words, those who don’t inform are unable to sell or buy.

The Secretariat is already inspecting stores and farms in order to identify the use of illegal products, that can be up to 60% cheaper. However, the economy is only financial since, because they are not approved by the Brazilian government, they don’t offer safety when applying – it can harm the environment as well as the grower who manipulates it.

The secretary of agriculture, Mr. Arnaldo Jardim, highlighted that inspection and control are essential to delimit the use of agrochemicals. “We can’t demonize science and waive agrochemicals, but we should use them in a disciplined manner, in the right amounts”, he said.

The illegal agrochemicals cause damage not only to the planet and human health but as well as to the financial health of those who use them – they can be arrested by the Federal Police for smuggling. The Defense technicians inspect farms and stores in order to identify these products. The farmer as well as the seller have to shown purchase invoices. At the farm, the agrochemical has to be the one specifically indicated to the culture grown in the areas and it has to be recommended by an agronomist through agronomic prescription.

Those who use illegal agrochemicals can be legally implicated in environmental crime, with sentences ranging from community service to prison. The Agricultural Defense fines the farmer, who has 15 days to explain, if they don’t, there’s an administrative penalty, like notice or fine, that ranges from 1 to 1000 MRV (highest reference value) – an amount that can double in case of recurrence. This money goes to the Fund of Agricultural Defense to continue its inspection activities.

After that, the administrative process is submitted to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Even after the fine, the illegal product must be necessarily incinerated, with the collection at the property being paid by the offender themselves.

In 2015, the Defense carried out 454 inspections in farms, 911 in agrochemicals retailers, 105 spraying companies and 33 receiving stations or centers of empty containers. 150 notice of infraction were issued.

You can see the legislation, in Portuguese, on the use of agrochemical at http://www.defesa.agricultura.sp.gov.br/www/legislacoes/popup.php?acti%20target=

During last year, Brazil reached an important mark in agriculture and it’s not about any record in production. The country was able to dispose 94% of the primary containers volume used in its farms in an environmentally correct way. These rates turned Brazil into a leader and world reference in the subject. Just keep in mind that in second place comes France with 77%, followed by Canada, with 73%. The United States comes in 9^th place, with 33%.

In 2015 alone, 45,537 tons of containers were disposed, a 6.8% growth compared to the volume registered in 2014. The correct disposal of these materials prevents contamination in rivers and soils, in addition to prevent health risks to people and animals.

Ahead of this work is the National Institute for Processing Empty Containers (inpEV), a non-profit civil society organization, formed by 98 associated companies. The entity, created in 2001, promotes the program “Campo Limpo”, one of the most successful environmentally correct initiatives in the world for disposal of post-consumption agrochemical containers.

A network was organized through inpEV with more than 400 receiving units for empty containers, across 26 states, managed by around 260 distributors’ associations. The farmers purchase agrochemicals from around five thousand distributors and cooperatives, and they are responsible for washing and render post-consumption containers useless so, then, send them to the receiving units. From there, the containers follow to their final disposal, that can be incineration or recycling. The government authorities, in federal, state, and municipal level, are responsible for the inspection of the System and for orientation and issuing licenses for the receiving units, in addition to support educational actions.

The program has its operation based on the dynamics of reverse logistics, responsible for integration and articulation of all chain links. These agents share responsibility, according to Federal Law 9,974/2000. The Brazilian legislation requires that each agent active in the agricultural production in Brazil fulfils a specific role in the receiving process and final disposal of the empty agrochemical containers, as links in an integrated chain.

Producers

• To wash all containers and render them useless
• To store them temporarily in the property
• To return them to the place indicated in the product’s invoice
• To keep the return ticket for a year

Distribution channels / Cooperatives

• To indicate places of return in containers’ invoice
• To arrange and manage the receiving units
• To issue a return ticket for producers
• To educate producers and raise awareness

Industry manufactures

• To remove the empty containers returned in the receiving units
• To make a correct disposal of containers (recycling or incineration)
• To educate producers and raise awareness

Government authorities

• To inspect the compliance of shared responsibilities
• To issue licenses for receiving units
• To educate producers and raise awareness

http://www.inpev.org.br/relatorio-sustentabilidade/2015/index.html