Chemical fertilizers — NPK, urea, superphosphate, potassium chloride, and micronutrients — are the inputs with the greatest impact on crop productivity and the highest cost per hectare. In Brazil, fertilization accounts for 20 to 40% of the production cost of soybeans and corn — and the efficiency of fertilization is the main determinant of profitability per hectare.
Brazil imports over 80% of the fertilizers used — primarily from Russia, China, Canada, and Morocco. This dependence creates price and supply vulnerabilities that became evident during the 2021-2022 crisis, when fertilizer prices doubled. Partial replacement with biofertilizers and organominerals is the biggest opportunity for cost reduction in agribusiness.
When fertilizers are applied with efficient use, soil analysis, and correct parceling, this segment can significantly contribute to generating jobs and income 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 agri-food system — from the grains chain to sustainable extraction, including horticulture, fruit production, livestock, and much more.
The series Innovation For Brazil to Produce More was developed precisely to identify and implement the best available solutions in Brazil and worldwide, across 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 apply fertilizers with maximum efficiency and lower cost per hectare
Efficient fertilization starts with soil analysis and fertilization calculation — which precisely defines what and how much to apply per hectare. "Eyeballing" fertilization wastes 20 to 40% of the applied fertilizer — money that goes to the groundwater or remains immobilized in the soil.
✔ Soil analysis — the basis for all fertilization recommendations
✔ Urea parceling — 30 + 70% at corn stages V4 and V6
✔ Foliar fertilization of micronutrients — boron, zinc, copper at critical moments
✔ Variable rate application — reduction of 15 to 25% of fertilizer
✔ PRONAF and Rural Credit for fertilizers
The E-Book 01 — Strategic Manual for the Small Rural Producer presents, in detail, the best solutions for this segment and the other 254 in Brazilian agriculture — focusing on method, 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 services the fertilizer chain demands
Fertilizers require specialized distributors, technical consulting, and bulk logistics — with increasing personalized formulation services.
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 — automation of fertilizer distributors;
Electronic Engineering and IoT — soil sensors for recommendations;
Control and Automation Engineering — variable rate spreaders;
Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering — automatic fertilizer applicators;
Renewable Energy Engineering — solar for fertilizer warehouses;
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence — fertilization recommendation models.
✔ Regional fertilizer distributors
✔ Personalized NPK formulation for the region
✔ Technical assistance in efficient fertilization
✔ Variable rate applicators
✔ Soil analysis integrated with recommendations
The E-Book 02 — Strategic Guide for Micro and Small Local Suppliers maps, segment by segment, 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 fertilizers and create a soil nutrition hub
The municipality that supports a soil laboratory and local fertilizer distribution reduces logistics costs and increases the efficiency of regional fertilization.
✔ Municipal soil analysis laboratory
✔ Cooperative for bulk fertilizer purchase
✔ Municipal IDM: fertilizer usage efficiency per hectare
✔ Program for partial replacement with biofertilizer
✔ Promotion of local organominerals
The E-Book 03 — Reference Guide for Municipal Governments presents the step-by-step process for municipal secretaries and managers to implement effective public policies for the 255 segments of agriculture. Access now for BRL 99.00 →
4. Opportunities for Small Agricultural Product Merchants
How fertilizers generate business for distributors and the agrochemical industry
The fertilizer distributor that offers personalized formulation + soil analysis + consultancy has an advantage that bulk distributors do not offer — retaining the producer who experiences the efficiency of calibrated fertilization.
The plant nutrition consultant who demonstrates cost reduction with soil analysis + VRA has the most powerful sales argument in the input market — immediate savings of R$ 100 to R$ 400/ha with the same or greater yield.
Products with high commercial potential
The main products derived from this segment for local retail and foodservice:
NPK formulated for the region — the highest value product;
Protected urea (NBPT) — greater nitrogen efficiency;
Foliar micronutrients — growing market;
Consulting in plant nutrition — high return service;
Foliar analysis — precise diagnosis;
Fertilization recommendation platform — digital service.
Merchant profiles and their specific opportunities
✔ Regional distributors: personalized NPK formulation
✔ Nutrition consultants: recommendations from soil analysis
✔ Micronutrient manufacturers: growing market
✔ Digital platforms: fertilization recommendations by AI
✔ Cooperatives: collective fertilizer purchasing
✔ Soil analysis: regional laboratories
Growth strategies for local merchants
The distributor that offers formulated fertilizer + soil analysis + technical recommendation as a package has the highest market retention rate — producers who experience calibrated fertilization never return to standard NPK without analysis.
PRONAF and Rural Credit cover fertilizers. Pronampe finances distributors. BNDES supports formulators.
The E-Book 04 — Strategic Guide for the Small Agricultural Product Merchant maps 30 merchant profiles and details growth opportunities across all 255 segments of agriculture. 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 available solutions in Brazil and worldwide.
✔ Small Rural Producers
✔ Micro and Small Supplier Companies
✔ Municipal Governments
✔ Small Merchants of Agricultural Products
⭐ 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
Instructor: IFPB and UFRN · 38 years of engineering experience
Written by
Equipe Editorial
Content Team
Nossa equipe de especialistas compartilhando conhecimento.
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