Biological inputs and agricultural policies in South America: between disruptive innovation and continuity

Frédéric Goulet

doi:10.19182/perspective/36383

Abstract

In South America, public policies take a strong interest in alternative technologies to agricultural chemical inputs (pesticides and fertilisers). Some South American countries support biological inputs, also known as bioinputs, through national incentive programmes and regulatory changes. Argentina, Brazil and Colombia are playing a leading role. However, the intention behind this promotion of bioinputs is not to break with industrial agricultural production models, from which States derive a large part of their tax income through exports. Rather, the goal is to foster coexistence between chemical and biological inputs in the context of a transition towards the bioeconomy. In this sense, the promotion of bioinputs meets the expectations of many South American farmers, as well as those of the agricultural inputs industry, which over the last few decades has diversified into these technologies. But these industrial dynamics are counter to certain farmers’ movements that defend on-farm production of biological inputs.

Highlights

Frédéric Goulet In South America, public policies take a strong interest in alternative technologies to agricultural chemical inputs
The promotion of bioinputs meets the expectations of many South American farmers, as well as those of the agricultural inputs industry, which over the last few decades has diversified into these technologies
South American countries, especially the major ones such as Brazil and Argentina, are no exception to this trend, plans to reduce pesticides are still relatively modest compared to Europe

Summary

Frédéric Goulet

In South America, public policies take a strong interest in alternative technologies to agricultural chemical inputs (pesticides and fertilisers). The goal is to foster coexistence between chemical and biological inputs in the context of a transition towards the bioeconomy In this sense, the promotion of bioinputs meets the expectations of many South American farmers, as well as those of the agricultural inputs industry, which over the last few decades has diversified into these technologies. Multinational agrochemical companies have invested in the bioinputs sector through numerous buyouts of national companies They are thereby establishing themselves on this emerging technology frontier, enjoying high growth on the South American markets – in Brazil, sales of biocontrol products increased by 15% between 2018 and 2019 These farmers are at the heart of another dynamic, in which Brazil is a front-runner: the on-farm production of biological inputs

Bioinput production by large farms is booming In Brazil

Findings

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