Ecobreves – BRAZIL: More Genome, Less Fertilizer

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jun 2 2003 (IPS) - Deciphering the genetic map of the Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus bacteria, which helps sugar cane to grow and to fix nitrogen from the air, would allow Brazilian farmers to save on nitrogen-based fertilizer and reduce agro-chemical contamination in soils and rivers. These are the goals of a Rio-based network of seven research laboratories that are studying the genes identified for improving the bacteria's nitrogen-fixing capacity.

This would reduce the need for fertilizer on sugar cane plantations by up to 60 percent, predicts Paulo Ferreira, who is coordinating the study. Even if only half of that target is achieved, it would mean savings of 33 million dollars in Brazil's sugar cane industry.

Farmers in this giant South American nation spend a total of 1.8 billion dollars on nitrogen-based fertilizers annually.