Expert defends the use of technology and traceability to contain counterfeit products and protect the agribusiness production chain
Brazilians, one of the pillars of the national economy, face a growing challenge: the illegal market for agrochemical products and inputs. Renato Seraphim, an agronomist with more than 30 years of experience, shares his vision on this complex issue and possible solutions to ensure safety and effectiveness in agricultural production. The topic has been the subject of discussions after the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) launched the National Pesticide and Related Traceability Program (PNRA), a topic of debate last week during a hearing in the Chamber of Deputies.
Seraphim is one of the defenders of the PNRA as a means of combating pirated agrochemicals and infiltration of and from factions such as the parallel market. In conversation with the Young Panhe emphasizes that the illegal market has always existed in the sector, with products entering Paraguay and circulating in bodegas. “As long as I have been an agronomist, this market has always existed,” he says. He highlights that, currently, it is estimated that between 20% and 25% of the agrochemicals market in Brazil is illegal, representing a significant weakness in a sector that generates around R$360 billion.
This situation becomes even more alarming when we consider that the pharmacy market, which includes health products, is approximately R$90 billion. “When you look at 360 billion, if you put 25 billion on the market, what happens? It doesn’t just happen in agrochemicals; it can happen in fertilizers, biological products and pirated seeds”, observes Seraphim.
To face the problem, Seraphim says there is no way around implementing traceability systems and agronomic prescriptions, such as the PNRA. “Every agrochemical product applied in Brazil needs an agronomic recipe”, he states. According to him, traceability would help ensure that farmers use legitimate and safe products, preventing the use of inappropriate or counterfeit inputs.
With the technology available today, such as QR Codes, it is possible to create mechanisms that increase security and transparency in the production chain. “The security that we are going to provide to the farmer, the cost-benefit is very great”, says Seraphim, highlighting that the implementation of these technologies does not significantly increase the final price for the consumer.
The agronomist also points out that the industry needs to organize itself to provide genuine, quality products to farmers. “If the industry does not offer this to the farmer on a consistent basis, it will become more difficult”, he warns. He suggests starting by regularizing products with the highest cost and highest incidence of counterfeits, a strategy that can serve as a model for other categories of inputs.
Furthermore, the agronomist emphasizes that the responsibility lies not only with the industry, but with everyone involved in the production chain. “This is a problem for everyone. It’s a problem for the industry, it’s a problem for us agronomists and it’s a problem for the farmer”, he highlights.
Seraphim concludes that regularizing the illegal market is a crucial step to strengthen Brazilian agribusiness and promote foreign exchange for the country. “The more we organize ourselves, the more we will be able to promote currency. This regularization will be a prize for everyone who wants to do the right things in Brazil”, he concludes.
*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jovem Pan.
