Trends in fungicide resistance in Latin America

Agriculture plays an important role in Latin America. Since 2000, this region has been the largest global exporter of crop and food products (Faostat, 2024). With its extensive land area and varied climate, it is possible to grow many crops, including coffee cultivated in Brazil and Colombia, and apples, peaches, grapes and pears in Argentina, Chile and Brazil. Corn (maize) and soybean are widely cultivated throughout the continent, whilst beans are grown using smallscale methods and form an important part of the diet in most Latin American countries. The potato is an important crop for countries in the Andes and is widely cultivated in Brazil. Several other vegetables are cultivated in the region, such as squashes, pumpkins and tomatoes. In Brazil, tropical fruit such as cantaloupes, honeydew melons, cashews, cacao, pineapples, papaya, mango and guava are also important crops for export. Oranges, lemons and grapefruit are grown throughout the tropical and subtropical environments in South America. Sugarcane has been cultivated in the humid tropics of South America, mainly in Brazil, where it has become the mainstay of the economy. Bananas are an important local food in Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil. Among the cereals, rice is important in Brazil and Colombia, whilst wheat is an important cereal in South America, particularly in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.