Journal of Integrative Agriculture
|
2026, 25(2): 402-423
• Section 1: Regional Resources and Ecosystem Management •
Microbial bioinputs in Brazilian agriculture
Full
Alane Beatriz Vermelho1#, Andrew Macrae2,3, Athayde Neves Junior1, Levy Tenorio Sousa Domingos1, Julia Emanuela de Souza4, Amália Cristina Piazentim Borsari5, Silvia Souza de Oliveira6, Irene von der Weid6, Pedro Veillard7, Jerri Edson Zilli8#
Affiliations
1Bioinovar-Biotechnology Center, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
2Postgraduate Program in Plant Biotechnology and Bioprocesses, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
3Paulo de Góes Institute of Microbiology, General Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
4National Association for the Promotion and Innovation of the Biological Industry (ANPIIBIO), Curitiba 80035-010, Brazil
5CropLife Brazil, São Paulo 04707-000, Brazil
6Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), Rio de Janeiro 20090-910, Brazil
7State Secretariat for Economic Development, Industry, Trade and Services (SEDEICS), Rio de Janeiro 22.231-090, Brazil
8Embrapa Agrobiology, Rio de Janeiro 23891-000, Brazil
About Author:
#Correspondence Alane Beatriz Vermelho, E-mail: abvermelho@micro.com.br; Jerri Edson Zilli, E-mail: jerri.zilli@embrapa.br
doi: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.013
Outline
Brazil maintains a leading position in agricultural exports and stands as the world’s foremost producer and user of bioinputs in agriculture. These bioinputs generate annual savings of billions of dollars that would otherwise be allocated to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The nation’s regulatory framework enables bioinput agriculture and serves as a model for countries transitioning toward regenerative agriculture. Brazilian legislationcategorizes bioinputs into: 1) biofertilizers (extracts); 2) biostimulants (plant growth-promoting and biocontrol agents); and 3)inoculants (active ingredient comprises one or more living microorganisms). The inoculation of soybeans with Bradyrhizobiumstrains provides approximately 90% of the nitrogen accumulated by this crop. Brazil has registered over six hundred inoculants, with at least 60% specifically designated for soybean cultivation. The annual sales of inoculants in Brazil reach approximately 120 million doses. Although beans (Phaseolusvulgaris and Vignaunguiculata) represent an essential food crop in Brazil’s staple diet and benefit from inoculation, inoculant supply remains insufficient. Regarding biocontrol,soy, corn, sugarcane, and coffee rank among the most protected crops, employing biocontrol agents against bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and insects. Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, Rhizobium, Azotobacter, and Paenibacillusstrains were predominantly cited in the 5,000+ bioproduct patents filed between 2022 and 2024. Among fungal genera, Trichoderma, and Penicilliumreceived the most citations. EMBRAPA's biobanks maintain over 10,000 strains of bacteria, fungi, and viruses for biocontrol, and 14,000 strains of nutrient-fixing and plant-growth promoters. Production challenges include quality control,particularly as on-farm production of inoculants becomes prevalent on larger farms, alongside product availability and supplylimitations. Brazilian farmers maintain global competitiveness partly through reduced chemical fertilizer and pesticide costs enabled by bioinput usage. As components of regenerative agriculture, bioinputs enhance soil quality, decrease carbon footprints, and support Sustainable Development Goals. Brazil's leadership in microbial bioinput utilization stems from its extensive agricultural sector, rich microbial biodiversity, and progressive regulatory framework.
Alane Beatriz Vermelho, Andrew Macrae, Athayde Neves Junior, Levy Tenorio Sousa Domingos, Julia Emanuela de Souza, Amália Cristina Piazentim Borsari, Silvia Souza de Oliveira, Irene von der Weid, Pedro Veillard, Jerri Edson Zilli.
Microbial bioinputs in Brazilian agriculture[J].
Journal of Integrative Agriculture,
2026
, 25
(2)
: 402
-423
.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.013
Year 2026 volume 25 Issue 2
PDF
10
1
Cite this Article
BibTeX
Article Info
doi: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.013