Biocontrol Agents: Fungi, Bacteria, and Viruses for Pest Control with Zero Residues

The biocontrol agents — entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria, Metarhizium), bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis), viruses (baculoviruses), and parasitoids (Trichogramma) — are the fastest-growing alternative for pest control in Brazil. With the market growing 35% per year and increasing pressure from residues on exports, biological products are the plant protection products with the greatest business opportunity of the 21st century.

Brazil has a unique competitive advantage in biocontrol — with the largest biodiversity of entomopathogenic microorganisms in the world and national companies like Koppert, Laverlam, and ICB Biotech leading the development of registered products. The Baculovirus for the soybean crop pest (Spodoptera frugiperda) is the most widely adopted biological product in Brazilian soybean cultivation.

When biocontrol agents are integrated into IPM with the correct timing and suitable application conditions, significant improvements occur in cultivation processes. This segment can greatly contribute to job and income generation in Brazil.

Join our strategic actions to implement the best solutions in the Brazilian agricultural sector. Our activities, studies, and advanced research encompass 20 chains and 255 segments of the national agro — from grain chains to sustainable extraction, including horticulture, fruit growing, livestock, and much more.

The Innovation for Brazil to Produce More series was developed specifically to identify and implement the best available solutions in Brazil and worldwide, in the 255 segments of the agricultural sector — with accessible technical language, updated data, and a focus on practical results for producers, suppliers, governments, and marketers.

1. Opportunities for Small Rural Producers

How to integrate biocontrol agents into IPM for maximum efficiency

Efficient biocontrol requires preventive application or application at the beginning of the infestation — when pest populations are low. Unlike insecticides, which act quickly but have a short residual effect, entomopathogenic fungi take 5 to 10 days to kill the pest but leave spores that continue to control for weeks.

✔ Preventive application — 30 to 45 days before peak pest population

✔ Beauveria bassiana for sugarcane borer, cotton boll weevil, mites

✔ Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for caterpillars — the most used product globally

✔ Baculovirus for Spodoptera — specific and without MRL

✔ Trichogramma for lepidopteran eggs — efficient parasitoid

The E-Book 01 — Strategic Manual for Small Rural Producers presents detailed information on the best solutions for this segment and the other 254 segments of Brazilian agriculture — focusing on methodology, cost reduction, and progressive growth from Agro 1.0 to Agro 6.0. Access now for BRL 99.00 →

2. Opportunities for Micro and Small Local Suppliers

What equipment does the biocontrol chain require?

Biocontrol requires biofactories, applicators, and quality control laboratories — all experiencing rapid growth.

Solutions by area of engineering applied to the segment

Our activities, studies, and advanced research cover six major areas of engineering — and the chain demands solutions in all of them:

Electrical Engineering and Computing — biofactories for entomopathogenic fungi;

Electronic Engineering and IoT — sensors for agent quality and viability;

Control and Automation Engineering — fermenters for Bacillus and fungi;

Mechatronics Engineering and Robotics — biocontrol applicators (drench, spray, drones);

Renewable Energy Engineering — solar for biofactories;

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence — application timing models.

✔ Biofactories of Beauveria, Metarhizium, and Trichoderma

✔ Quality control laboratories for biological products

✔ IPM consultants with biocontrol

✔ Biocontrol applicators via drone

✔ Refrigerated distribution of biological agents

The E-Book 02 — Strategic Guide for Micro and Small Local Suppliers maps, segment by segment, the business opportunities — focusing on IoT, energy, automation, and specialized technical services. Access now for BRL 99.00 →

3. Opportunities for Municipal Governments

How the municipality can support biocontrol and create a bioplant hub

The biocontrol hub is the innovation project with the greatest impact for reducing agrochemicals — and municipalities that support local biofactories create high-value products with proven environmental benefits.

✔ Cooperative mini-biofactory of Bacillus and Trichoderma

✔ Municipal IDM: percentage of farmland with biocontrol

✔ Partnership with universities for the development of local agents

✔ IPM and biocontrol school for technicians

✔ Export of certified biological agents

The E-Book 03 — Reference Guide for Municipal Governments presents a step-by-step guide for secretaries and municipal managers to implement effective public policies for the 255 segments of the agro. Access now for BRL 99.00 →

4. Opportunities for Small Agricultural Product Merchants

How biocontrol generates business for biofactories and IPM consultants

The local Beauveria bassiana biofactory produces the product at R$ 3 to R$ 8/kg and sells it for R$ 30 to R$ 80/kg to distributors — using inexpensive raw materials like sugar and nitrogen sources, and employing a simple fermentation process on a small scale.

For exporters of organically certified products, biocontrol agents without MRL are the plant protection products with unrestricted access to all international markets — without the risk of embargo due to residues, which is the biggest cost for exporters of fruits and vegetables.

Products with high commercial potential

The main products derived from this segment for local retail and food service:

Beauveria bassiana for borers and mites— local biofactory;

Bacillus thuringiensis for caterpillars— largest market volume;

Baculovirus for Spodoptera— soybean without MRL;

Trichogramma for lepidopteran eggs— efficient parasitoid;

IPM consulting with biologicals— high-value service;

Trichoderma for soil— control of fusarium and pythium.

Merchant profiles and their specific opportunities

✔ Biofactories: Beauveria, Bacillus, Trichoderma

✔ Distributors: regional biological portfolio

✔ IPM consultants: biological + chemical integration

✔ Organic producers: biocontrol as the sole resource

✔ Exporters: MRL-free products for the international market

✔ Application drones: biocontrol via drone

Growth strategies for the local merchant

The local biofactory that produces Beauveria and sells with technical application support has the least competitive product and highest margin in the biological inputs market — as the local agent has proven quality in the region and the producer pays a premium for traceability of origin.

BNDES and Finep support biofactories. Pronampe finances distributors. SEBRAE subsidizes mini-biofactories.

The E-Book 04 — Strategic Guide for Small Agricultural Product Merchants maps 30 merchant profiles and details growth opportunities across all 255 segments of the agro. Access now for BRL 99.00 →

Innovation and Technology Network

By purchasing any e-book from the series, you become a member of our Innovation and Technology Network. Groups with 30 members can organize and fund in-person strategic planning events to identify and implement the best solutions available in Brazil and the world.

✔ Small Rural Producers

✔ Micro and Small Supplier Companies

✔ Municipal Governments

✔ Small Agricultural Product Merchants

⭐ Special offer: I will provide 100% discount on the value of my working hours for the 10 pioneer events organized by 11/30/26 and held in December 2026. Therefore, the 10 pioneer groups will only cover the general expenses.

Sincerely,

Ivo Alves

CEO · Master in Electrical Engineering and Computing · Specialist in Innovation and Technology Project Management

Experience as a lecturer: IFPB and UFRN · 38 years of experience in Engineering