Can you brief us on UMFFAAC's activities in 2024?

We have had many changes this year, including the rotation of the presidency, which I assumed on January 1. The most significant change has been the change in government. This new government has demonstrated through the appointment of new technocratic positions in key ministries and regulatory bodies, that it is serious about engaging with the industry. They have chosen well-qualified officials and we are confident that a good team will deliver positive results for the crop protection industry. As such, our main priority this year has been engagement with the new government, encouraging science-based policy making.

 Fundamentally, the most important role of our association is to communicate the technical and scientific advances of new products and also important advances in biorational products, dispelling notions of toxicity or harmful effects on people and the environment. The key to this is the proper application and use of our products; the poor application of them is what causes toxic effects. 

Can you give us an update on the development of UMFFAAC's programs?

ATOX is an important program that combats accidental or voluntary poisoning anywhere in our beloved country. We work in partnership with the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon; we have a medical service available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We have saved lives thanks to this program, which is complemented by the Pura program, which trains day laborers and farmers to use our products properly. Every year we receive fewer calls thanks to the training given to laborers and agricultural producers in the proper use of phytosanitary products. 

Campo Limpio is a program that we founded in collaboration with Proccyt. It focuses on collecting and recycling plastic waste in our fields. The collection centers have been set up by SADER, all shipping costs are paid by UMFFAAC and Proccyt. Only Brazil and Mexico have achieved this in Latin America, with domestic and global companies joining together to collect and recycle empty pesticide containers, which demonstrates the level of cooperation in our sector. Collecting containers from all companies shows us the large amount of piracy that exists. We combat this by reporting it.

What factors drive the export competitiveness of the agricultural sector?

Mexico's agricultural sector has grown steadily in importance and competitiveness, moving away from its subsistence model and becoming an export power, which is crucial for the economy in general. Mexico has a diverse climate, which allows us to produce all kinds of crops. Between October and March, we produce a variety of vegetables and fruits that are extremely popular in the US market and cannot be grown there due to the climate, and this is the period when consumption of crop protection products skyrockets. In the northwest, the agricultural sector benefits from many dams that have been built to be able to irrigate crops. We have ideal conditions to export our vegetables and fruits to the US and we have a huge competitive advantage in this space.

What impact does climate change have on Mexico's agricultural sector?

The first half of 2024 was challenging, as prolonged droughts meant insufficient water. Sinaloa, Sonora and Baja California were hit hard and are critical agricultural states. They will not be able to grow grains. Increasingly, authorities must choose where the water goes: to the cities or to the fields, although that is not the crux of the matter; the biggest problem is waste. On the other hand, heavy rains in the second half of the year have also been a challenge. These regions must adapt their agricultural composition and stop growing corn and other water-consuming grains. We must focus more on intensive agriculture, such as fruits, vegetables and flowers. This provides more employment and is our competitive advantage. Our industry is also working hard to develop products that increase resistance to water scarcity.

What are your association's priorities for the coming year?

One of our main goals is to change the legal definitions of our products from pesticides or insecticides to crop protection products. They are crop protection products; their purpose is to control invasive species and pests, not to eliminate them. We want to reduce the number of insects that grow on a crop so that we can make it profitable and commercially successful.