This study was designed to analyze the relationship between guava crop production variables in the Matão region of central São Paulo, Brazil, and to better understand the economic importance of this crop to its growers. Data were obtained through a questionnaire applied during interviews with guava growers and after the data collection, statistical analyzes were made using Chi-Square hypothesis tests. Analysis results indicate a distinct association between the variables variety and plant age, between variety and number of plants per hectare, andbetween number of plants per hectare and yield, while no association was found between yield and variety. The Paluma guava variety spaced seven meters by five meters apart and pruned throughout the entire year was found to be the most common crop arrangement. The mean yield of the plots studied was 110 Kg plant-1. The use of irrigation added 22.8 Kg of guava production per plant, annually.

Postbloom fruit drop (PFD) of citrus, caused by Colletotrichum acutatum sensu lato and C. gloeosporioides sensu lato, is an important disease in the humid tropics of the American continent. PFD mainly affects flowers, on which typical symptoms are characterized by orange-brown lesions with presence of acervuli. The disease has a sporadic occurrence, but preventative fungicide sprays are applied every season. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a fungicide spray strategy for PFD based on a predictive model of C. acutatum conidium germination linked to weather conditions. Fungicide sprays were performed when the model predicted pre-established thresholds of 10, 15, 20, and 25% of germinated spores (T10, T15, T20, and T25, respectively). Five experiments were conducted in two different seasons in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. PFD control efficacy of the threshold-based treatments was compared with a nontreated control and to a calendar-based spray system. Additionally, an economic analysis was performed to assess the gross income revenues of the fungicide spraying strategies. Disease control in plots treated at T10, T15, and T20 was as effective as the calendar-based strategy. The number of fungicide applications was reduced by 33 to 71% when sprays were applied at T15 and T20, and gross income increased or was comparable to that of the other treatments. Therefore, using a conidium germination model with a threshold of 15 or 20% is recommended as a spraying strategy for PFD management in Brazil.

Before launching a new beef brand concept based on high sustainability and environmental production principles, the Brazilian market was tested using a survey informed by Intentions’ Framework scales. To identify the determinants of the willingness to consume and pay for a new brand of beef based on Carbon-Neutral production principles, 1,000 valid responses were evaluated, using Exploratory Factor Analysis. A Hierarchical Cluster Analysis identified five classes of respondents. The classes showed general skepticism regarding exaggerated ethical and/or sustainability claims which led to rejection or indifference, particularly of those from lower income families with children. Despite this, there was an overall positive attitude toward good production practices and product innovation. The resulting typology throws a light onto consumers in markets such as Brazil or similar. The dataset could be also further explored by stakeholders in beef chain, particularly in new product development, positioning and targeting segments.

An increase in Brazilian agricultural product exportation with a concurrent increase in the use of fertilizer has put pressure on the country’s already overtaxed transportation system and expanded the number and intensity of transportation bottlenecks, especially during the grain harvest and planting seasons. Problems with the transportation system have led to an increase in fertilizer transportation costs and a disproportionate increase in fertilizer’s share of total agricultural production costs, highlighting the need to discover the most economic fertilizer transportation routes. Our research found a significant variance in fertilizer transportation costs among different Brazilian transport regions, referred to as transport corridors in this study. Literature on the subject has found that regional fertilizer shipping price variations are often contingent on the presence of shipping intensive industries, ports and storage centers. Using a comparative analysis based on an econometric model, this study examines the effect of intra-regional fertilizer transportation routes on shipping costs and clarifies the dynamics of fertilizer transport in Brazil.