In the view of Antônio Carlos Zem, founder of Biotrop, focused on organic pesticides and recently sold to the Belgian group Biobest for almost R$3 billion, the biological market continues to grow, even though it has lost its previous vigor.
He recalls that, at the beginning of the brand, in 2018, after spending more than 38 years at FMC, an American giant in the chemical sector, the segment’s revenue doubled every year. At the time, the market as a whole advanced around 45%. Internally, however, the target was to be even bigger than that: “if we are minimally efficient, we have to grow above average”, he said.
It worked and, over time, the company reached 70% growth per year. He was the guest on the eighth episode of the Raiz do Negócio podcast, your road between the countryside and Faria Lima, a partnership between InfoMoney e The AgriBiz.
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Replacement or complement
Out of the company’s day-to-day activities since April this year, but remaining on the global board of BioFirst, the holding company created by Biobest to manage the business model, he says he has an aggressive and firm position: yes, biological pesticides will replace chemical ones – and in an increasing way.
“I hope that, in the next five or six years, we will have a big turnaround, in which biological pesticides will be greater than chemical pesticides in terms of market value. Many people criticize and think not. But I don’t say that based only on what we have today, on the technology we have today, but a lot on what lies ahead”, he said, during the podcast.
And part of this turning point in the sector is the creation of an efficient bioherbicide, with a compatible cost. In almost everything, it is now possible to use biological pesticides in agribusiness, as explained by the founder of Biotrop. For herbicides specifically, however, the industry is still in its infancy. The expectation is that it will reach similar levels as chemicals in the near future.
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Furthermore, high quality fungicides and insecticides of biological origin are now available on the market. And other topics are also mapped by the sector, such as soybean rust, one of Biotrop’s current focuses. “At the moment, it is more of a kind of band-aid, replacing some applications, coming together”, he said.
Innovation
All of this is only possible, according to the founder of Biotrop, Antônio Carlos Zem, through an extensive, efficient and consistent innovation process. According to him, biological pesticides came to occupy a necessary space in the market. This is because the main competition, from chemical pesticides, has had reduced efficiency, especially due to the increase in pest resistance.
“The secret of this market is to innovate. Innovate and innovate. You can’t keep thinking that you’re going to live: ‘ah, my business is doing well, being profitable, growing’. Don’t believe that this phase will last forever. So, get ready. The competition will be stronger, there will be erosion, you have to bring added value to your product, so that you can position yourself in the market and remain profitable”, he explained.
