Soybean Production In Brazil Research Articles

Exploring Bemisia tabaci Middle East-Asia Minor I and Mediterranean Cryptic Species Relationship with Cowpea Mild Mottle Virus and Their Dynamics in Soybean Fields.

Cowpea mild mottle virus (CPMMV, genus Carlavirus, family Betaflexividae) is an economically important virus infecting soybeans in Brazil, where it was initially identified in 1983. CPMMV is transmitted by the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, and occasionally by seeds. Over the last three decades, the most invasive B. tabaci Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1), and lately the Mediterranean (MED) cryptic species, have replaced the indigenous species in Brazil, with MEAM1 being predominant. In this study, we investigated the transmission properties of CPMMV by MEAM1 and MED, and their distribution in major soybean-growing areas in São Paulo State. Our results from transmission assays with a single insect revealed that MED is a more efficient vector compared to MEAM1, transmitting the virus within a two-minute inoculation access period. B. tabaci MEAM1 is still the predominant whitefly species in São Paulo State, but MED was also identified in different places, mainly in mixed infestations with MEAM1. Some areas transitioned to a predominance of MED over the three years, while others, where MED had previously been detected, showed a reduction in the insects during the same period. Understanding the transmission dynamics of CPMMV and the distribution of its vectors is crucial for implementing effective management strategies to control the virus spread and protect soybean crops. Further research into the mechanisms driving the shifts in whitefly species dominance and CPMMV distribution will be essential for sustaining soybean production in Brazil.

Multiple resistance of Colletotrichum truncatum from soybean to QoI and MBC fungicides in Brazil

AbstractColletotrichum truncatum, the predominant fungal species associated with soybean anthracnose, is responsible for significant losses in this crop. Chemical control via fungicide application is the most effective strategy for the control of soybean foliar diseases. However, the increasing incidence of anthracnose in some regions of Brazil indicates that current chemical control is not effective against anthracnose. In this study, we evaluated the fungicide sensitivity of C. truncatum genetic lineages to the fungicides azoxystrobin, thiophanate‐methyl, difenoconazole, and fludioxonil using isolates representing two important regions of soybean production in Brazil. We characterized the molecular resistance to the quinone‐outside inhibitors (QoI), methyl benzimidazole carbamates (MBC), and demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicide groups based on amino acid sequences of the cytochrome b (cytb), β‐tubulin gene (β‐tub), and P450 sterol 14a‐demethylases (CYP51) genes. Multiple resistance of C. truncatum isolates to QoI and MBC was observed associated with mutation points in the β‐tub (E198A and F200Y) and cytb (G143A). Alternatively, low EC50 values were found for fludioxonil and difenoconazole indicating high efficacy. Analysis of C. truncatum genomes revealed two potential DMI targets, CYP51A and CYP51B, and higher genetic variability in the CYP51A gene. A positive correlation was found between genetic differentiation of C. truncatum populations and fungicide sensitivity (Student's t‐test <0.001). To our knowledge, this is the first report of multiple resistance to QoI and MBC fungicides in C. truncatum in Brazil.

Molecular characterization and demographic insights into soybean bud borer (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Brazil.

The soybean bud borer, a soybean pest in Brazil, was initially identified as Crocidosema aporema (Walsingham 1914) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Outbreaks of this species have recently increased, but identification of this pest remains uncertain, and the historical factors associated with its geographic distribution in Brazil are little known. Here, we conducted a species characterization and phylogeographic analysis based on molecular and morphological evidence. Ninety individuals of bud-borers Lepidoptera were collected in different regions of Brazil. We sequenced COI and COII mitochondrial genes and examined wing patterns and male genital morphology. DNA barcoding approach revealed that 10 individuals were Argyrotaenia sphaleropa (Meyrick 1909) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and 80 were a species of the genus Crocidosema Zeller. The morphology of the adult genitalia and wings proved to be insufficient to confirm the identification of Brazilian individuals as C. aporema, a species originally described from a high-elevation site in Costa Rica. Furthermore, the genetic distance between putative C. aporema specimens from Brazil and Costa Rica (ranging from 5.2% to 6.4%) supports the hypothesis that the Brazilian specimens are not referable to C. aporema. Our analysis revealed a single genetic strain (i.e., species) with low genetic diversity on soybean crops. We found no indication that the genetic structure was related to geographic distance among populations or edaphoclimatic regions. The population expansion of the soybean bud borer coincides with the increase in the area of soybean production in Brazil, suggesting that expanded soybean farming has allowed a significant increase in the effective population size of this pest.

Identificação de genótipos de soja com o uso inteligência artificial e reflectância por infravermelho próximo

ABSTRACT With the increasing soybean production in Brazil, and the demand for soybeans with high protein and oil content, it is essential to conduct an in-depth study of the constituents of this grain, which can vary according to genotypes and growing conditions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to classify soybean genotypes, cultivated in different environments and sowing seasons, according to their chemical composition and the spectrum generated by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). For this purpose, artificial intelligence and its machine learning technique were employed. 10 soybean genotypes were used, sown in two sowing seasons and cultivated 7 cities in Rio Grande do Sul. The chemical composition of the samples was analyzed using the FOSS NIRS DS2500 equipment, selecting the band between 807 and 817 nm. The applied algorithms were J48, Random Forest, CVR, lBk, MLP, using the Resample filter. The Weka software, version 3.8.6, was employed for data mining. The IBk algorithm achieved the best performance, reaching 89% correct classification of attributes. From the Confusion Matrix, it was observed that all genotypes obtained results above 60/70 for correctly predicted values, highlighting the algorithms’ good performance. In the metrics, IBk achieved 0.89 Precision, Recall, and F-Measure, and 0.94 ROC Area. Thus, it was possible to classify the genotypes according to their chemical composition related to the data obtained in the spectral curve, sowing season, and environment, using artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Physical characteristics of soybean cultivated under the conditions of integrated agrosystems

Integrated crop-livestock-forest (ICLF) systems involve intercropping of various crops to achieve beneficial and synergistic outcomes, enhancing both economic viability and environmental sustainability. Considering the complexity of integrated agrosystems and the economic importance of soybean production in Brazil, we aimed to investigate the effects of two ICLF systems on the physical characteristics and quality of soybeans produced. The treatments comprised plots (two ha) with either single-row (ICLFS) or triple-row (ICLFT), tree configurations intercropped with soybean (maize and forage grass), and control plots (one ha), whose crops were cultivated under full sunlight (CFS). Soybeans were harvested from plants located at 3, 6, 10 and 15 m from tree bands in the north and south faces of the ICLF systems and at random positions in the CFS plots. The moisture content, electrical conductivity of the exudate solution, hue angle and chroma index of grains harvested from ICLFS and ICLFT were similar to those of CFS-grown soybeans. However, the mass of 1000 grains and the bulk density values of ICLF-grown soybeans were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than those of grains harvested from CFS plots. We conclude that the quality of soybean seeds was not negatively affected by the conditions prevailing in the ICLF systems. Moreover, it appears that the forest component contributed positively to the ecosystem by providing a favorable microclimate for the development of soybean grains.

How did the coinoculation of Bradyrhizobium and Azospirillum become indispensable for soybean production in Brazil?

How did the coinoculation of Bradyrhizobium and Azospirillum become indispensable for soybean production in Brazil?

Analysis of the importance of the inoculation technique in brazilian soybean crop

Soybean (Glycine max) is the most important aleuro-oleaginous cultivated in the world, being undoubtedly the crop that had most advanced in Brazilian agriculture, due to a series of joint factors such as the increase in productivity, producer efficiency, new technologies, especially in the southern and central regions of Brazil. For the 2020/2021 harvest, Brazilian soybean production is expected to break a new record, reaching 131 million tons. The use of bacteria that promote plant development helps to reduce cultivation costs, being an alternative to increase soybean crop yield. In the Brazilian agricultural scenario, soybean is able to maintain high yields in commercial crops inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and B. elkanii strains through the symbiosis between leguminous plants and N2 fixing bacteria. Thus, the objective of this revisional work is to investigate the inoculation technique in Brazilian soybean production and analyze its advances in the last decade. Inoculation is one of the most important practices in soybean cultivation, so the producer must inoculate the soybean to fix N2 and thus help in the production of nitrogen compounds for the plant, achieving greater productivity. Finally, the scientific studies analyzed show that the inoculation technique in Brazilian soybean farming has evolved a lot in the last years, significantly contributing to the increased production and productivity of the soybean crop.

Review article: Design and evaluation of weather index insurance for multi-hazard resilience and food insecurity

Abstract. Ensuring food security against climate risks has been a growing challenge recently. Weather index insurance has been pointed out as a tool for increasing the financial resilience of food production. However, the multi-hazard insurance design needs to be better understood. This paper aims to review weather index insurance design for food security resilience, including the methodology for calculating natural hazards' indices, vulnerability assessment, and risk pricing. We searched for relevant research papers in the Scopus database using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. Initially, 364 peer-reviewed papers from 1 January 2010 to 19 February 2022 were screened for bibliometric analysis. Then, the 26 most relevant papers from the last 5 years were systematically analyzed. Our results demonstrate that despite a significant research effort on index insurance, most papers focused on food production. However, research considering other aspects of food security, such as transportation, storage, and distribution, is lacking. Most research focuses on droughts. Other hazards, such as extreme temperature variation, excessive rainfall, and wildfires, were poorly covered. Most studies considered only single-hazard risk, and the multi-hazard risk studies assumed independence between hazards, neglecting the synergy hypothesis between hazards. Lastly, we proposed a conceptual framework that illustrates design paths for a generalized weather index insurance design and evaluation. Solutions for addressing multi-hazard problems are considered. An illustrative example demonstrates the importance of testing the multi-hazard risk hypothesis for weather-based index insurance design for soybean production in Brazil.

The Impact of Climate Change on China and Brazil’s Soybean Trade

In the recent past, China has expanded its grain production to achieve high food security and increased its partial dependence on imported agricultural commodities, of which soybean supply is highly import-dependent. This study systematically reviews the past trends in China’s soybean demand, Brazil’s soybean production and export, factors contributing to the soybean trade between China and Brazil, and future uncertainty in China’s demand and Brazil’s supply under climate change. We find that recently China imported ~64% of soybean from Brazil, while ~73% of Brazil’s soybean exports were destined for China, making them key stakeholders in their international soybean trade. China’s accession to the World Trade Organization, China–Brazil trade cooperation, and diversion from trade with the USA have played a pivotal role in China’s increasing soybean imports from Brazil. China’s soybean import has brought increasing virtual land to China (from 3.57 million hectares (Mha) in 2005 to 19.63 mha in 2020). This growing virtual land import could be one of the reasons behind Brazil’s soybean harvested area, which increased from 22.95 Mha in 2005 to 37.19 Mha in 2020. In the future, climate change impacts on soybean production in Brazil can seriously affect China’s soybean imports from Brazil and its domestic food security. We analyze these effects using a climate-crop–economic modeling approach, where yield changes from the crop model are incorporated into the economic model as lower land productivity. Our results show that Brazil’s future soybean production and gross exports can drop up to 13.1% and 15.2% under the highest emissions scenario (RCP8.5). Consequently, China would face a decrease in its soybean imports from Brazil (−9.94 Mt). Due to these import reductions, China’s domestic soybean supply will be reduced (−9.94 Mt). There would also be some reduction in China’s meat supply and a drop in China’s consumer welfare. Our results can contribute to devising policies to ensure China’s food security and promote global sustainable development goals.

Physiological and biochemical responses of soybean to drought as represented by the fraction of transpirable soil water

The influence of water deficit on plant physiological and biochemical responses as measured by the fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW) has not been investigated in cultivars developed by the world's largest soybean producer. This information can help obtain plants with improved tolerance to the abiotic stress that most affects soybean production in Brazil, enabling adaptation to edaphoclimatic conditions to enhance the crop's yield potential. We aim to determine the FTSW threshold for transpiration and evaluate changes in the growth, physiological activities, and biochemical and antioxidant responses of soybean cultivars. Three trials were sown on 11/19/2018 (T1), 12/28/2018 (T2), and 9/9/2019 (T3), representing almost the entire soybean sowing window in Brazil. The estimated FTSW threshold values were 0.33, 0.29, and 0.31 in T1; 0.35, 0.41, and 0.43 in T2; and 0.31, 0.49, and 0.45 in T3 for cultivars BMX GARRA IPRO, DM 66I68 RSF IPRO, and NA 5909 RG, respectively. In the three trials, NA 5909 RG showed the greatest height. The POD enzyme was activated in non-irrigated plants in T2 only in cvs. DM 66I68 RSF IPRO and NA 5909 RG. We conclude that cvs. DM 66I68 RSF IPRO and NA 5909 RG showed a more efficient stomatal control, conserving soil water for a longer time, which indicates greater tolerance to water deficit.

Food loss and waste from farm to gate in Brazilian soybean production

Brazil is a global leader in soybean production. Although it is acknowledged that part of Brazilian soybean crop is lost and wasted in transition from farm to gate, the exact magnitude of this food loss and waste (FLW) remains unknown. This hampers the design of preventative interventions, thus diminishing profitability of farmers and resellers. This study quantified FLW occurring from farm to gate, identified the causes and assessed the monetary value of the lost crop. Data were collected by continuous monitoring of the crop planted in 2020 and harvested in 2021 by a larger soybean producer in the State of Paraná. These data were triangulated with stakeholder interviews and secondary data. The monitoring results showed that for every US$ 20 of revenue from soybean production, about US$ 1 (5.68%) was lost or wasted. Incorrect use of combine harvesters, moisture and foreign material represented the main FLW causes. The results highlighted the need to implement policies aimed at raising awareness of FLW among farmers and their employees. • A case study of FLW from Brazilian soybean production. • Out of every US$ 20 of soybean producer's income, US$ 1 is lost or wasted between farm and gate. • FLW increases as distance from farm to gate becomes greater. • Better trained combine harvester operators will reduce FLW significantly. • Measures are required to change farmers' attitude to FLW as being an issue of little concern.

Host-parasite relationship between Aphelenchoides besseyi and soybean

Summary Aphelenchoides besseyi is a concern to Brazilian agriculture, since the losses caused by the green stem and foliar retention syndrome in soybean, especially in hot and humid climates, could reach high levels. However, limited information is available regarding the host-parasite relationship. The objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of A. besseyi to penetrate soybean roots and its movement in soybean tissues until reaching the top parts. Plants inoculated with 1000 A. besseyi were evaluated for root penetration from 1-28 days after inoculation (DAI), and post-penetration and movement inside tissues by staining them with acid fuchsin. Plant development, chronology of the symptoms and the number of pods were also evaluated at 60 DAI. Aphelenchoides besseyi was found in the cortex and xylem vessels of roots from 1 DAI. During the experimental period, the number of nematodes from roots to shoots increased more than 123, 330 and 430%, respectively, for roots, stems + petioles + inflorescences, and leaves, demonstrating the ascendent movement of A. besseyi. Necrotic lesions in young leaves and apical tissues were observed from 8 DAI; the typical symptom of ‘amachamiento’ was observed from 10 DAI, with enlargement of nodes and lesions in inflorescences and, at 30 DAI, stunted plants were detected. At 60 DAI, inoculated plants had lower numbers of pods and exhibited severe symptoms including abortion of flowers and tissue splitting and cortical lesions in a few pods and roots. These observations emphasise the importance of A. besseyi for Brazilian soybean production.

A sustainable pathway to increase soybean production in Brazil

A sustainable pathway to increase soybean production in Brazil

Techno-economic Evolution of Soybean Production in Brazil and Argentina

Brazil and Argentina, respectively the second and third largest producers of soybean in the world, consider this oilseed one of the most important products in their economy, whose significance is easily perceived in their commercial balance because, in addition to income generation, this product is also responsible for the creation of several jobs. Based on such a perspective, our research aim is to present the historical evolution of production costs and technological parameters (productivity) of soybean considering the most productive territories in Brazil and Argentina over 20 years. Our findings indicate that technology was the main relevant factor in the Brazilian case and, in Argentina, production cost. We also emphasize the great impact of exchange rates and market factors on the cases analyzed.

CADEIAS MERCANTIS E CONTRIBUIÇÕES CONCEITUAIS À GEOGRAFIA HUMANA

This article proposes that the conceptual parameters of the focus on "Commodity Chains" offer fertile resources for the formulation, exploration, and unraveling of problems in human geography. To this end, an exploratory study was carried out, beginning with a bibliographical, documentary, and data survey followed by a concise case analysis of the productive-commercial system of Brazilian soybean production. The "Geoeconomic Web" concept was formulated to highlight socio-institutional factors in the geopolitical dimension of the economy. It is understood that these conceptual frameworks are suitable to problematize issues about the dynamics of insertion and positioning of substructures in national economies, of these economies in the world economy, and power relations in these spaces. Keywords: Commodity Chains, Conceptualization, Web Geoeconomic.

Work accidents in agriculture: a study of Brazilian soybean production

Soybean cultivation has great economic and social impacts, meaning it offers many job opportunities. Studying the number of accidents in this field is essential for a better understanding of the quality of work related to it. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to verify if, in the field of soybean cultivation, there are correlations between productivity, product price, and the number of accidents, between the years of 1999 and 2018, in Brazil. For that, Pearson’s method was applied, allowing for a bivariate analysis that can quantify a degree of strength between different variables. As a result, it was found that soybean production and price are linearly related to the number of work-related accidents in cultivation. Therefore, it is concluded that, if an increase in price or production occurs, it will lead to an increase in accidents, and the opposite will also happen.

Food Loss and Waste from Farm to Gate in Brazilian Soybean Production

Food Loss and Waste from Farm to Gate in Brazilian Soybean Production

Development Indicators and Soybean Production in Brazil

Due to its agricultural potential, land extensions, and favorable climate, Brazil is one of the largest producers and exporters of various agricultural products. A significant part of this production is placed in Mato Grosso, the primary national producer of several agricultural commodities. The soybean complex alone produced more than 33 million tons of soybean for the 2019/2020 harvest, representing 27% of national production. The economic potential that the soybean commodity represents is linked to the increase in demand for inputs, planted area, production, and productivity. Given these factors, the present study aims to analyze how the largest municipalities of soybean production behave, and the degree of interaction and positive associations between the economic potential promoted by soybean production and the economic/social development and environmental impacts in the Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The methodology was to categorize the thirty largest soybean producing municipalities, using the factor analysis method for selected indicators. The interpretation is made through the adoption of the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework. The results indicated that the groups formed are not homogeneous in terms of socio-economic and environmental development. The three factors that formed, were interpreted using the DPSIR are characterized by the significant influence of the population, reflect on its development, how economic activities are other and not just agriculture. The second also belongs to the driver in the DPSRI framework group. It is associated with the soybean production indicator, implying larger planting areas, generating jobs focused on agricultural activities. The interpretation is made through the adoption of the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework. The results indicated that the groups formed are not homogeneous in terms of socio-economic and environmental development. The significant influence of the population characterizes the three found factors. The first reflects on the region’s development and how other economic activities (not just agriculture) are carried on. The second also belongs to the driver in the DPSRI framework group, and it is associated with the soybean production indicator, generating jobs focused on agricultural activities. The third group, formed by municipalities in the Amazon region, with environmental factors associated with large geographical areas, extensive native forests, and more significant carbon sequestration, considers the DPSRI framework’s impacts. Showing that there are behavior patterns and taking this into account is the optimal way to use the predictors appropriately. Municipalities are expected to be more reactive to some changes than to others to achieve a good level of development.

A Commodity Supply Mix for More Regionalized Life Cycle Assessments.

Supply chain information is invaluable to further regionalize product life cycle assessments (LCAs), but detailed information linking production and consumption centers is not always available. We introduce the commodity supply mix (CSM) defined as the trade-volume-weighted average representing the combined geographic areas for the production of a commodity exported to a given market with the goal of (1) enhancing the relevance of inventory and impact regionalization and (2) allocating these impacts to specific markets. We apply the CSM to the Brazilian soybean supply chain mapped by Trase to obtain the mix of ecoregions and river basins linked to domestic consumption and exports to China, EU, France, and the rest of the world, before quantifying damage to biodiversity, and water scarcity footprints. The EU had the lowest potential biodiversity damage but the largest water scarcity footprint following respective sourcing patterns in 12 ecoregions and 18 river basins. These results differed from the average impact scores obtained from Brazilian soybean production information alone. The CSM can be derived at different scales (subnationally, internationally) using existing supply chain information and constitutes an additional step toward greater regionalization in LCAs, particularly for impacts with greater spatial variability such as biodiversity and water scarcity.

Conservation agriculture strengthen sustainability of Brazilian grain production and food security

Sustainability of Brazilian agriculture has been frequently addressed in debates about human influences on the environment. Sustainability of agricultural production is critical to meet the growing demand for food, fiber and energy, and involves economic and environmental components of agriculture. We tested the hypothesis that conservation agriculture (CA) contributes to sustainability of Brazilian soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merril) production through positive effects on one or more of the following: soil quality, grain yield and nutritional quality and growers profitability. We found that CA enhanced carbon sequestration, physical and especially biological quality of soil, which caused improved soybean grains yield, protein and flavonoids content and profit. In turn, the most expressive cropping sequence within Brazilian farmlands, the annual soybean and maize double crop (Zea mays), reduced soil physical quality with impacts on food security and agricultural sustainability. The hypothesis was proved once sustainability of Brazilian soybean production can be increased by inserting crop rotations involving cover crops in the rotation cycle.