A study on factors influencing the usage of bioinputs among the curry leaf farmers in Tamil Nadu

Plant extracts, microbial cultures, enzymes, proteins and other biomolecules are used as bioinputs in the cultivation process. This study addresses the environmental and health concerns associated with conventional farming practices, particularly the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It explores bioinputs as a sustainable solution to these issues, aiming to promote environmentally friendly farming practices while maintaining crop productivity. The study analyzed the usage of bioinputs among curry leaf farmers in the Karamadai block of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India. A purposive sampling method selected 90 farmers for the research. Data was gathered through structured interviews and analyzed using percentage analysis, factor analysis and the Garrett ranking technique. The findings revealed that most farmers were aware of and used bioinputs. Factor analysis identified three key elements influencing adoption: product preference, derived benefits and promotional efficacy. The Garrett ranking technique highlighted significant challenges, including unavailability of bioinputs and lack of technical knowledge. Farmers expressed satisfaction with improved market demand for organically produced crops and higher yields due to bioinputs. However, addressing challenges such as inconsistent product quality and slow results is crucial for broader adoption. The study recommends enhancing farmer education, improving local bioinput availability and ensuring consistent product quality to support sustainable farming practices

Biological resources driving productivity: bioinputs for sustainable plant agriculture in Brazil.

Brazil is a world leader in agriculture, playing an important role in world food security. Agriculture has changed drastically over the years in Brazil. Different kinds of technology are being developed to increase production, reduce costs, and to decrease environmental impacts of agriculture. In 2020, the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply (MAPA) launched the National Bioinputs Program to promote the adoption of sustainable technologies derived from biological resources, bioinputs, many of which are microbial-based. Bioinputs aim at enhancing agricultural productivity, improving soil health, and mitigate environmental impacts. Bioinputs can be classified into three main groups according to functionality: those that promote plant growth and development, those that serve as biological pest control agents, and those that contribute to soil conditioning or restoration

Bioinsumos e produção orgânica no Brasil: um estudo a partir do aplicativo Bioinsumos da Embrapa

The use of bioinputs has been intensified in conventional and organic systems. In Brazil, the National Bioinputs Program was instituted to enhance their production and use in crops, and the Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa) launched the Bioinsumos (bioinputs) application, containing the bioproducts registered by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. This study aimed to identify the classes and number of bioinputs for phytosanitary control included in the Embrapa’s Bioinsumos application with authorized use for the organic agriculture in the country. There are 526 bioinputs for the phytosanitary control of several pests and diseases in various agricultural crops, which are divided into eleven classes, of which only two do not have bioproducts for organic agriculture: microbiological bactericide and pheromone. Despite the number of bioinputs for organic agriculture, in practice, their use is still reduced, what may be related to limited financial resources, lack of knowledge of their existence and the ways of using them. Thus, it is necessary a greater incentive and public guidance for the development of bioinputs with greater accessibility for rural producers, especially for those who work with organic agriculture. KEYWORDS: Agroecology, sustainable agriculture, pesticides, organic products, conservation of natural resources.O uso de bioinsumos tem sido intensificado em sistemas convencionais e orgânicos. No Brasil, foi instituído o Programa Nacional de Bioinsumos para potencializar a produção e uso destes nos cultivos, e a Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa) lançou o aplicativo Bioinsumos, no qual constam os bioprodutos cadastrados no Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento. Objetivou-se identificar as classes e o número de bioinsumos para o controle fitossanitário inseridos no aplicativo Bioinsumos da Embrapa, com uso autorizado na agricultura orgânica do país. Existem 526 bioinsumos destinados ao controle fitossanitário de diversas pragas e doenças em várias culturas agrícolas, os quais estão divididos em onze classes, das quais apenas duas não possuem bioprodutos para a agricultura orgânica: bactericida microbiológico e feromônio. Apesar do número de bioinsumos para a agricultura orgânica, na prática, o uso destes ainda é reduzido, o que pode estar relacionado aos recursos financeiros limitados, não conhecimento da existência e das formas de uso destes produtos. Faz-se necessário maior incentivo e orientação pública para o desenvolvimento de bioinsumos com maior acessibilidade para os produtores rurais, especialmente para aqueles que trabalham com agricultura orgânica. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Agroecologia, agricultura sustentável, defensivos agrícolas, produtos orgânicos, conservação de recursos naturais

Multisectoral dialogue: Towards the reduction of synthetic pesticide use in coffee cultivation. Workshop report – ECOFFEE Initiative

Reducing synthetic pesticide use in agriculture is a global priority with far-reaching implications for environmental sustainability, public health, and biodiversity. In coffee cultivation, the urgency is heightened due to the sector's reliance on chemical inputs to achieve productivity. The ECOFFEE initiative, launched in 2020, addresses this challenge by fostering collaborative, multisectoral solutions aimed at phasing out highly toxic pesticides and promoting sustainable alternatives. On October 1-2, 2024, ECOFFEE, in partnership with CATIE and Finca Aquiares, convened the workshop “Multisectoral Dialogue: Towards the Reduction of Synthetic Pesticide Use in Coffee Cultivation” in Turrialba, Costa Rica. The event brought together 39 stakeholders from across Costa Rica's coffee value chain, including researchers, producers' representative, policymakers, and private sector representatives, to discuss about developing actionable strategies for transitioning toward more sustainable practice

Bioinputs in agriculture: trends and challenges in Brazi.

There is a wide variety of bioinputs on the market in Brazil, including plant growth-promoting microorganisms, such as Rhizobium, Azospirillum, Bacillus, and Trichoderma, which have proven to increase nutrient use efficiency, stimulate phytohormone production, induce systemic resistance against phytopathogens and increase crop tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity

Tratamentos com bioinsumos melhoram a germinação e o vigor de sementes de Mimosa bimucronata

Seed treatment with bioinputs can improve the efficiency of direct seeding by enhancing both its establishment and early growth. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of five commercial bioinputs (Acadian®, Asokop®, AURAS®, Trichodermil® and Stimulate®) on the germination and vigor of maricá [Mimosa bimucronata (DC.) Kuntze] seeds. The germination percentage, germination speed index, mean germination time and primary root and shoot lengths were measured. Asokop® and AURAS® promoted a more uniform germination, whereas Asokop®, AURAS® and Acadian® significantly increased the germination speed. AURAS® also promoted the greatest root development. KEYWORDS: Plant growth promoters, bioregulators, ecological restoration, direct seeding.O tratamento de sementes com bioinsumos pode aprimorar a eficiência da semeadura direta, melhorando tanto o seu estabelecimento quanto o crescimento inicial. Objetivou-se analisar os efeitos de cinco bioinsumos comerciais (Acadian®, Asokop®, AURAS®, Trichodermil® e Stimulate®) na germinação e vigor de sementes de maricá [Mimosa bimucronata (DC.) Kuntze]. Avaliaram-se a porcentagem de germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação, tempo médio de germinação e os comprimentos da raiz primária e da parte aérea. Asokop® e AURAS® proporcionaram a germinação mais uniforme, enquanto Asokop®, AURAS® e Acadian® aumentaram significativamente a velocidade de germinação. AURAS® também promoveu o maior desenvolvimento radicular. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Promotores de crescimento de plantas, biorreguladores, restauração ecológica, semeadura direta

Biofactories: A new model for production and access to agricultural inputs in Latin America

The production and access to alternatives to chemical agricultural inputs are key issues today. In Latin America, solutions to these challenges (see Perspective 55, May 2021) are becoming available thanks to the rise of biological inputs – including biofertilizers, biocontrol agents and biostimulants – resulting from many years of public investment in research and development, and a significant industrial drive in developing technologies based on micro-organisms, macro-organisms or plant extracts. However, the sector is taking a different route from the traditional agri-supply channels: NGOs, farmer networks, public policies and even some private stakeholders are encouraging the production of bio- inputs in bio-factories, directly on farms or in community facilities in rural areas. While these biofactories open up new prospects, they also face major challenges

Self production of bioinputs or biofactories: A taste of future for smallholders?

The aim of a biofactory is to empower the local development of agriculture. To get an overview of such infrastructures, a non-exhaustive inventory has been drawn up in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia, using literature, websites, and contacts. They vary widely in size, from individual production of bioinputs to village communities trained by Paysans Relais (in Madagascar), University structure, and crop-protection firm-type entities. The bioinputs produced, given or marketed to smallholders, are mainly organic fertilizers (compost-based biofertilizers such as 'Bokashi'), substitutes for synthetic pesticides such as plant-based preparations, and microbial solutions (e.g., biostimulants). Beneficiaries often practice organic or agroecological farming. To help set up a biofactory, guides and videos are available. Diverse factors influence the adoption or rejection of the produced bioinputs. Among the constraints to be overcome before a biofactory can be truly deployed are the availability of technical and plant materials, the time required to prepare and store bioinputs, their effectiveness in relation to their application frequency (for botanical extracts), and the product cost when marketed. A main important factor for their implementation is their promotion by institutions, governments (as in Colombia), and organizations (e.g., ESSOR, Ethiquable) some being non-profit. Research is called upon at every stage to validate the bioinput value chain

Uso de bioestimulantes no manejo sustentável de plantas frutíferas: uma revisão narrativa

Introduction: On a global scale, the obstacles to fruticulture correspond to the lack of skilled labor, the limited amount of available arable land, and the high costs of acquiring fertilizers and pesticides. These inconveniences, linked to environmental impacts and ecotoxicological damage, indicate that scientists, industries, and fruit growers have shown interest in the development of biotools for fruiting crops’ management aiming at orchards’ optimal production, such as biostimulants. This bioinput stimulates plant nutrition processes independently of the product’s nutrient content, aiming to improve efficiency in the use of nutrients, tolerance to abiotic stress, and the quality and availability characteristics of nutrients available in the growth medium. Objective: Thus, this narrative review aims to analyze the state-of-the-art regarding the use of biostimulants in fruticulture, compile information on the proper application of these bioinputs and present alternatives to the diffusion of biostimulants in fruit agroecosystems. The totality of bioestimulants’ action mechanisms still needs to be better understood. Results: The applicability of biostimulants in the management of fruiting crops proved to be a relevant possibility to grant sustainability to production systems in fruticulture and reduce costs, increasing productivity, shelf life, and reducing damage caused by climatic adversities in crops, mainly hydric stress. Conclusions: The development of specific legislation for biostimulants should contribute substantially to generating credibility with farmers in order to differentiate, for example, foliar fertilizers and microbial agents.Introducción: A escala mundial, los obstáculos para la fruticultura corresponden a la falta de mano de obra calificada, la limitada cantidad de tierra cultivable disponible y los altos costos de adquisición de fertilizantes y pesticidas. Estos inconvenientes, ligados a impactos ambientales y daños ecotoxicológicos, indican que científicos, industrias y fruticultores han mostrado interés en el desarrollo de bioherramientas para el manejo de plantas frutales con el objetivo de la producción óptima de los huertos, como los bioestimulantes. Este bioinsumo estimula los procesos de nutrición de las plantas independientemente del contenido de nutrientes del producto, con el objetivo de mejorar la eficiencia en el uso de los nutrientes, la tolerancia al estrés abiótico y las características de calidad y disponibilidad de los nutrientes disponibles en el medio de cultivo. Objetivo­: Así, esta revisión narrativa tiene como objetivo analizar el estado del arte en cuanto al uso de bioestimulantes en la fruticultura, recopilar información sobre la correcta aplicación de estos bioinsumos y presentar alternativas a la difusión de bioestimulantes en agroecosistemas frutícolas. La totalidad de los mecanismos de acción de los bioestimulantes aún debe comprenderse mejor. Resultados: La aplicabilidad de bioestimulantes en el manejo de cultivos frutales demostró ser una posibilidad relevante para otorgar sostenibilidad a los sistemas productivos en fruticultura y reducir costos, aumentando la productividad, la vida útil y reduciendo los daños causados por las adversidades climáticas en los cultivos, principalmente el estrés hídrico. Conclusiones: El desarrollo de una legislación específica para bioestimulantes debe contribuir sustancialmente a generar credibilidad con los agricultores para diferenciar, por ejemplo, fertilizantes foliares y agentes microbianos.Introdução: Em escala global os entraves da fruticultura correspondem à falta de mão-de-obra especializada, à quantidade limitada de terra arável disponível e aos elevados custos para a aquisição de fertilizantes e pesticidas. Esses inconvenientes, atrelado aos impactos ambientais e aos danos ecotoxicológicos, apontam que cientistas, indústrias e fruticultores têm demonstrado interesse no desenvolvimento de bioferramentas para o manejo de plantas frutíferas visando a ótima produção dos pomares, a exemplo dos bioestimulantes. Esse bioinsumo estimula processos de nutrição das plantas de forma independente ao teor de nutrientes do produto, visando melhorar a eficiência no uso de nutrientes, a tolerância ao estresse abiótico e as características de qualidade e disponibilidade de nutrientes disponíveis no meio de crescimento. Objetivo: Assim, essa revisão narrativa tem como objetivo analisar o estado da arte referente ao uso de bioestimulantes na fruticultura, compilar informações sobre a aplicação adequada desses bioinsumos e apresentar alternativas à difusão dos bioestimulantes nos agroecossistemas frutícolas. A totalidade dos mecanismos de ação dos bioestimulantes ainda precisa ser melhor compreendida. Resultados: A aplicabilidade de bioestimulantes no manejo de culturas frutíferas revelou-se uma relevante possibilidade de conceder sustentabilidade aos sistemas de produção em fruticultura e redução de custos, incrementando a produtividade, a vida de prateleira e a redução de danos causados por adversidades climáticas nas culturas, principalmente estresse hídrico. Conclusões: O desenvolvimento de legislações específicas para bioestimulantes deverá contribuir substancialmente para gerar credibilidade aos agricultores de modo a diferenciar, por exemplo, fertilizantes foliares e agentes microbianos