Nufarm reenters Brazilian market with innovation-focused strategy

Nufarm has officially returned to the Brazilian agricultural market after a four-year absence, this time with a new strategic positioning centered on innovation. The Australia-based agribusiness firm, formerly known for its generic crop protection products, is reentering the South American market with the aim of delivering integrated, technology-driven solutions in both crop protection and seeds.

Fernando Arantes Pereira, Brazil Portfolio Leader at Nufarm, said the company’s relaunch signals a shift from its previous focus on off-patent products. “Our return is guided by a clear goal: to contribute meaningfully to overcoming the sustainability challenges faced by Brazilian agriculture,” he stated. Nufarm plans to introduce 15 new products over the next five years, targeting key crops such as soybeans, corn, cotton, sugarcane, sorghum, canola, and carinata.

Nufarm originally entered Brazil in 2002 through the acquisition of Agripec Química e Farmacêutica S.A., eventually becoming one of the country’s leading pesticide firms with revenues of $504 million and a ranking among the top seven players. However, in 2019, the company exited Brazil along with its operations in Argentina, Colombia, and Chile, selling its South American assets to Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical as part of a broader global restructuring. Since then, its regional focus had shifted to seed development through the Nuseed brand.

Now, Nufarm is combining its crop protection and seed portfolios under a unified brand to provide “complete solutions for Brazilian farmers.” According to Carlos Balbi, General Director of Nufarm Seeds, this strategic unification responds to increasing pressures on rural producers, such as high input costs, climate variability, and demands for sustainable practices. “The integration of crop protection and seeds reflects our commitment to support producers in addressing these urgent issues,” he said.

As part of its renewed commitment to innovation, the company announced the introduction of Evolvance, its first biological product in Brazil. Targeting nematodes that damage soy, cotton, and corn crops, Evolvance was pre-launched at the Tecnoshow fair earlier this year. Balbi described the product as “a milestone,” noting its ability to enhance plant physiology and provide broad-spectrum nematode protection.

To support its new portfolio, Nufarm has formed partnerships with manufacturers and packaging companies to improve cost competitiveness. It has also begun collaborating with Brazilian universities and agricultural consultancies to conduct research and validate product efficacy.

“We are returning to Brazil at a pivotal moment of global transformation for Nufarm,” Pereira concluded. “Our aim is to bring solutions that are aligned with the evolving challenges of Brazilian agriculture.”