Latin America’s Growing Role in Agricultural Biologicals

The Latin American agricultural biologicals market is gaining momentum, mirroring the global movement toward sustainable farming. With forecasts predicting growth from USD 4.19 billion in 2024 to USD 6.96 billion by 2033, the region is at the forefront of a biological revolution, expanding at a 5.8% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR).

But what’s driving this transformation?

Rising Demand for Sustainable Solutions

Consumers are demanding healthier, sustainable alternatives, pushing farmers to seek biological alternatives to conventional chemical inputs. At the same time, there’s a growing urgency to increase crop yields without compromising sustainability. Governments and industry leaders are stepping in with incentives and regulations, encouraging the transition to eco-friendly biological inputs that enhance productivity while reducing environmental impact.

Countries like Colombia, Argentina, Mexico and others across Latin America are also stepping up—introducing regulatory reforms and financial incentives designed to move biological products into the agricultural mainstream. Their goal is clear: reduce dependence on synthetic agrochemicals, support global sustainability efforts, and enhance food security. Together, these changes are positioning biologicals as a critical part of the future of farming across the region.

Brazil: Leading the Charge Toward Sustainable Agriculture

As Latin America’s largest agricultural market, Brazil is setting the stage for biological adoption. Over the past two years, the country’s crop protection sector has surged by more than 70%, driven in part by soaring prices of non-selective herbicides. Farmers are now turning to cost-effective, bio-based solutions, especially in key crops:

• Soybeans (52% of cultivated land) → Represents 55% of the total bioinputs used in Brazil, with emphasis on the increased demand for bionematicides (almost 90% of nematocides are biological).
• Corn → Representing 27% of the total demand for biological products, with rapid adoption of bioinsecticides.
• Sugarcane → Corresponds to 12% of the biological products market
• Cotton, coffee, citrus and horticultural crops → Complement the 6% of demand.

Biopesticides accounted for 9% of the total pesticide market in Brazil in 2022, and saw a significant increase of 15% in the 2023/2024 harvest, compared to the previous harvest. Considering all products of biological origin, the Brazilian market grew at an average annual rate of 21%, which represents a value four times greater than the global average.

With the growing demand for organic and sustainable products, Brazil has been working for years to simplify the production, registration, and access to biological inputs. This effort is now taking shape through the New Brazilian Bioinputs Law (Law No. 15.070/2024), which marks a significant shift in how these products are regulated and promoted.

Under the new law, all biological products are removed from the pesticide category and reclassified as bioinputs, alongside other biologically derived products such as inoculants and biofertilizers. This reclassification aims to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and make these products more accessible to farmers.

The legislation is comprehensive, covering the entire lifecycle of bioinputs—from production and import to packaging and advertising. It encourages sustainable practices across agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, and forestry.

Key Immediate Changes:

• Amendment of Law No. 10,603 (Data Protection for Registration Dossiers)
• Updates to Law No. 14,785 (Pesticide Law) and Law No. 6,894 (Fertilizer Law)
• Authorization for on-farm production of bioinputs, with restrictions on commercial-scale multiplication
• Exemptions for semiochemical products that act through mechanical means

Looking Ahead:

• Clear definitions and categories for different types of bioinputs
• Tailored registration pathways for each category
• Maintenance of the current registration process until the new regulations are fully implemented
• Full regulatory rollout expected by 2026

Overcoming Barriers

Regulatory barriers, limited awareness among farmers, and infrastructure gaps still pose significant challenges to making biologicals a widespread solution throughout the region.

Even so, Latin America is stepping up as a global leader in biopesticide use. Brazil—by far the region’s agricultural powerhouse—is moving towards the use of biologicals on major crops like soybeans (nematodes), corn, sugarcane, and cotton, however their road to include biologicals is still in progress. Mexico is turning to biologicals to protect high-value export crops like avocados, berries, and citrus—critical for meeting international standards. In Colombia, they’re helping safeguard coffee and banana industries. And in Argentina, biopesticides are proving their worth in large-scale soybean, corn, and wheat production.

As these countries increase their use of biologicals, they’re laying the groundwork for a more sustainable and resilient agricultural system. However, to accelerate the transition, key issues—including regulatory complexity, limited farmer education, and technical formulation challenges—must still be addressed.

Overcoming Challenges in Biopesticide Development

Biopesticides are revolutionizing crop protection, but stability, shelf life, application compatibility, and field performance remain key challenges. Unlike synthetic pesticides, biologicals are highly sensitive to temperature, humidity, and UV exposure, requiring advanced formulations to maintain potency. Short shelf life further discourages adoption, making longer-lasting, more stable solutions essential.

Another challenge is the integration with existing farming equipment, some biopesticides require specialized handling, farmers may hesitate to switch. Additionally, their effectiveness varies across climates and soil types, demanding rigorous field testing and adaptive formulations for consistent results.

The Future of Biologicals in Latin America

Latin America’s biologicals market is booming, with Brazil leading the way and Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia expanding rapidly. Despite regulatory hurdles and awareness gaps, the region is poised to become a global leader in sustainable agriculture.

Advances in formulation science, streamlined regulations, and farmer education will accelerate adoption. As biologicals continue to evolve, they will play a key role in shaping the future of Latin American agriculture, ensuring higher yields, environmental sustainability, and long-term food security.