Around-the-Clock Crop Dusting, AI Agent Farming, Rural Connection, Tinder of Reforestation, Biofuel Boom, JBS Egg Deal, Sweet Cash
#15 BAR Brief
Welcome to this week’s BAR Brief, the Brazil AgTech Report that provides key news and insights into Brazil's agrifood and climate tech ecosystems.
In this week’s edition…
AgriFood Tech
✈️Autonomous Electric Crop Duster Cleared for Take Off in Brazil 🚀
🤖 AI Agents Set to Transform Brazilian Agriculture 🚜
🚜 John Deere Partners with Starlink to Enhance Rural Connectivity🌐
📊 Study Shows Increased Engagement with Ag Innovation Hubs 🇧🇷
Climate Tech
🌳Microsoft Invests in Brazilian Forest Restoration with Re.green 💼
📈Brazil Sets Record in Biological Input Approvals in 2024🌿
🔬 GranBio Invests $257M in Advanced Biofuels Hub in Alagoas🚜
🌳São Paulo Announces "Tinder of Reforestation" Initiative 💚
Funding Rounds
🍫 Haoma Chocolate Raises $1M from Minerva CFO 🇧🇷
🤖 AgTech Calice Expands into Brazil with $1.5M Investment🚜
🚀 Sicredi Comunitá and Ventiur Invest $170K in Alloy🍽️
M&A
🥚 JBS Acquires Stake in Mantiqueira to Enter Egg Market 🐔
🤝 Bunge to Acquire Minority Stake in Belagrícola 🇧🇷
🏭 Coopavel Acquires Dona Alda Wheat Mill🌾
AgTech
✈️Autonomous Electric Crop Duster Cleared for Take Off in Brazil 🚀
The American startup Pyka has partnered with Synerjet to introduce the Pelican Spray, a 100% electric and autonomous agricultural aircraft, to the Brazilian market. This innovative plane can carry up to 300 liters of payload, covering 90 hectares per hour with an application rate of 10 liters per hectare. Notably, it can operate continuously, including nighttime flights, thanks to its five interchangeable battery sets. The Pelican Spray has received authorization from both the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) for agricultural operations. Deliveries in Brazil are slated to begin in early 2026, with an initial sales target of 20 units. 🌱read more
🤖 AI Agents Set to Transform Brazilian Agriculture 🚜
Brazilian connectivity company Sol by RZK is preparing to launch an army of AI Agents aimed at simplifying and enhancing technology use on farms. Over the past five years, the company has invested more than $25 million to install approximately 450 antennas, bringing 3G and 4G connectivity to rural areas across 12 million hectares in Brazil. In collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Sol by RZK has developed an intelligence engine capable of processing data from public and private sources to generate actionable insights for farmers. These AI agents are currently undergoing testing on Brazilian farms, with a full-scale launch planned for late April at the Agrishow event in Ribeirão Preto. 🌾read more
🚜 John Deere Partners with Starlink to Enhance Rural Connectivity🌐
Agricultural machinery giant John Deere has teamed up with Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet service, to bring high-speed connectivity to remote farming areas in Brazil. With this new technology, farmers will be able to monitor their machinery in real time, knowing exactly when a machine is operating, moving, or idle. The system also enables precise fieldwork by sending remote work plans and prescriptions directly to the machines, eliminating errors and optimizing productivity. In addition, John Deere’s connected support tools allow for remote diagnostics and updates without the need for on-site technical visits, making maintenance faster and more efficient. A secondary Wi-Fi network integrated into the equipment will also let mobile devices and tablets stay connected in the field.🌱read more
📊 Study Shows Increased Engagement with Ag Innovation Hubs 🇧🇷
A recent study by PwC, reveals that 82% of participants in Brazil's agribusiness sector are engaged with at least one innovation hub, and 54% are involved with two or more. The research highlights the importance of integrated strategies to foster effective collaboration among all ecosystem participants. Notably, 76% of surveyed companies practice open innovation, underscoring the value of collaborative efforts. However, while 82% of organizations express a desire to partner with strategic collaborators in the future, only 38% feel prepared for such initiatives. Additionally, 80% expect their innovation teams to connect with internal departments and external partners, yet just 32% report being effectively connected. 🌱 read more
Climate Tech
🌳Microsoft Invests in Brazilian Forest Restoration with Re.green 💼
Microsoft has announced the purchase of an additional 3.5 million carbon removal credits from Brazilian startup Re.green, aiming to offset its carbon footprint by restoring forests in the Amazon and Atlantic regions. This agreement, estimated at over $200 million, will involve the reforestation of 17,500 hectares across Maranhão, Pará, Bahia, and the Paraíba Valley. The credits will be delivered over 25 years, contributing to Microsoft's goal of becoming carbon negative by 2030. This marks the second collaboration between the two companies, following a previous deal in May 2024 for 3 million credits. 🌱read more
📈Brazil Sets Record in Biological Input Approvals in 2024🌿
In 2024, Brazil approved 663 pesticide and biological defense products, marking a 19% increase from the 555 approvals in 2023. This surge follows the implementation of new legislation that streamlined approval and commercialization processes. The majority of these approvals are for generic pesticides, which are copies of existing active ingredients, and include 106 biological defenses considered low-risk. Of the total, 464 products are designated for direct agricultural use, while 199 are intended for industrial applications in pesticide manufacturing. The Ministry of Agriculture attributes the rise in approvals to an increased volume of registration requests and a prioritization of low-risk products. 🌱read more
🔬 GranBio Invests $257M in Advanced Biofuels Hub in Alagoas🚜
GranBio, a biotechnology company specializing in advanced biofuels, has announced a $257 million investment to establish Exygen, a dedicated complex for producing biofuels in Alagoas, in the northeast of Brazil. In partnership with local sugarcane mills, the hub will utilize non-conventional raw materials such as agricultural residues, sugarcane bagasse, algae, and residual oils to produce carbon-neutral ethanol, biogas, and biofertilizers. Scheduled to commence operations in 2026, Exygen aims to produce 160 million liters of carbon-neutral ethanol and 50 million cubic meters of biomethane annually. Brazil's biofuels sector has seen a nearly 40% increase in production over the past decade, reaching 43 billion liters. With the enactment of the Future Fuel Law, the industry is projected to grow to 59 billion liters by 2037, reinforcing Brazil's position as a global leader in biofuels. 🌱 read more
🌳São Paulo Announces "Tinder of Reforestation" Initiative 💚
The São Paulo State Government has unveiled the finalists to manage Finaclima, a financing mechanism designed to connect private sector funds with climate mitigation and adaptation projects, particularly those focused on reforestation. Dubbed the "Tinder of Reforestation," Finaclima aims to match available resources with projects in need of funding, promoting environmental restoration in the state's Atlantic Forest biome. The finalists are the Brazilian Fund for Biodiversity (Funbio), proposing a 12% management fee; the Brazilian Foundation for Sustainable Development (FBDS), with a 13% fee; and the Foundation for Agribusiness Research Development (Fundepag), offering a 10% fee. The final selection is expected by the end of February, with the cooperation agreement anticipated to be signed in early April. 🌱 read more
Funding Rounds
🍫 Haoma Chocolate Raises $1M from Minerva CFO 🇧🇷
Haoma, a health-focused chocolate brand from Minas Gerais, has secured an additional $1 million investment from Minerva CFO Edison Ticle, valuing the company at approximately $25.8 million. Founded in 2019, Haoma offers sugar-free chocolates and reported revenues of around $6 million last year. The company plans to open 10 new kiosks through franchising this year, aiming for 100 points of sale and revenues between $25.8 million and $31 million within four years. Haoma emphasizes high-quality, sugar-free products and maintains close relationships with cacao producers to ensure quality and sustainability. Currently, 70% of Haoma's sales are B2B, with products available in over 2,000 retail locations. The remaining sales come from e-commerce and company-owned kiosks. With the franchise expansion, Haoma projects a 45% increase in revenue this year, targeting approximately $8.8 million, while maintaining an EBITDA margin between 30% and 35%. 🌱 read more
🤖 AgTech Calice Expands into Brazil with $1.5M Investment🚜🇧🇷
Spanish AgTech Calice has entered the Brazilian market after securing $1.5 million in funding, aiming to revolutionize the country's agricultural sector with advanced artificial intelligence and predictive modeling. Investors included Xperiment, GrainCorp, Innventure, Air Capital and Draper Cygnus. The company's AI-powered platform leverages satellite imagery and data analytics to help farmers increase productivity, reduce costs, and optimize crop management. With Brazil's vast agricultural landscape, Calice's expansion is set to drive efficiency and sustainability in farming operations. 🌱read more
🚀 Sicredi Comunitá and Ventiur Invest $170K in Alloy🍽️
Alloy, a Brazilian technology company specializing in solutions for the gastronomy sector, has received an investment of approximately $170,000 from Sicredi Comunitá through its Corporate Venture Capital program, in partnership with the accelerator Ventiur. This funding aims to enhance Alloy's technological capabilities, expand its team across various departments, and broaden its operations to reach more entrepreneurs nationwide. 🌱read more
M&A Deals
🥚 JBS Acquires Stake in Mantiqueira to Enter Egg Market 🐔
Brazilian food giant JBS has announced the acquisition of a 48.5% stake in Mantiqueira Alimentos, one of the country's largest egg producers, marking its entry into the egg sector. The deal values Mantiqueira at around $320 million, with JBS and Mantiqueira's founder, Leandro Pinto, each holding equal shares and joint control of the company. Mantiqueira produces over 4 billion eggs annually and operates 21 units across six Brazilian states, exporting to regions including South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. This strategic move diversifies JBS's protein portfolio, which already includes beef, chicken, pork, salmon, and plant-based alternatives. The acquisition is pending regulatory approval. 🌱 read more
🤝 Bunge to Acquire Minority Stake in Belagrícola 🇧🇷
Global agribusiness giant Bunge has reached an agreement to acquire a minority stake in Belagrícola, a Paraná-based distributor of agricultural inputs, seeds, and grain commercialization. The deal involves purchasing part of the shares held by the Colofatti family, who founded Belagrícola in 1985 and currently own 46% of the company, with the remaining 54% controlled by China's Pengdu Group since 2017. Belagrícola operates 52 retail outlets and 70 grain reception units across Paraná, São Paulo, and Santa Catarina, serving approximately 8,500 farmers. 🌱 read more
🏭 Coopavel Acquires Dona Alda Wheat Mill🌾
Paraná-based agro-industrial cooperative Coopavel has acquired Moinho Dona Alda Indústria de Alimentos, a renowned milling company located in the southern town of Bom Sucesso do Sul. The Moinho Dona Alda boasts a milling capacity of 270 tons per day, totaling around 90,000 tons annually. This strategic acquisition includes the entire food processing complex and a grain storage facility, both previously owned by the Munaretto family, founders of the mill. The move aims to bolster Coopavel's presence in the wheat sector, reinforcing its commitment to advancing agribusiness and achieving self-sufficiency in wheat production within Brazil. 🌱read more
Thanks for reading!
KFG
Kieran Finbar Gartlan is an Irish native with over 30 years of experience living and working in Brazil. He is Managing Partner at The Yield Lab Latam, a leading venture capital firm investing in Agrifood and Climate Tech startups. All views, opinions, and commentary expressed are strictly his own.