Brazil AgTech Report: Digital Discipline, AI Automation, Weed Warfare, Credit Comeback
#60 BAR Brief
Hi, I’m Kieran Gartlan, originally from Ireland, but living in Brazil for the past 30 years. I’m Managing Partner at The Yield Lab Latam, one of the top agrifood and climate tech VC funds in the region. If you’re curious to learn more about this space, feel free to reach out here or on LinkedIn. I’m always happy to share what I’m seeing on the ground.
Summary
In Agri Tech this week, connectivity and artificial intelligence are shifting from pilot stage to core infrastructure. A connected farm model backed by Case IH and TIM delivered measurable cost savings and yield gains at commercial scale, while Valtra expanded AI use across both manufacturing and field operations. At the same time, climate intelligence startup i4Sea is moving from ports and mining into agriculture, applying predictive weather and risk models to farm and logistics decisions.
In Climate Tech, biologicals remained in focus from both a science and corporate strategy perspective. BASF strengthened its biological crop protection platform with the acquisition of AgBiTech, a startup with deep roots in Brazil’s row-crop market. Separately, Brazilian researchers identified a bacterium from the Caatinga biome with potential to materially reduce soybean losses caused by herbicide-resistant weeds.
On the Funding & M&A front, signs of normalization continue. Rural Ventures closed a US$10m agtech fund anchored by strategic producers, Solinftec tapped Brazil’s capital markets through a green CRA issuance, and Fiagros returned to positive territory. Consolidation also remained active, with deals in rural insurance and seeds reflecting a continued push for scale and specialization.
In Macro & Markets, trade policy moved forward politically but remains economically cautious. The European Union provisionally approved the Mercosur agreement, advancing the ratification process while leaving key agricultural safeguards and compliance requirements at the center of ongoing debate. Alongside this, Brazil’s fruit exports reached a third consecutive record in 2025, with shipments topping US$1.45 billion as volumes rose nearly 20%.
Table of Contents
Agri Tech
Case IH and TIM deploy connected farm model cutting US$200k in costs
Valtra expands AI use across factories and farms
i4Sea brings climate intelligence from ports and mining to agriculture
Climate Tech
BASF acquires AgBiTech to scale biological crop protection
Caatinga bacterium could help reduce soybean losses
Funding & M&A
Rural Ventures raises Brazil-focused US$10m agritech fund
Solinftec raises US$38m via green CRA to strengthen balance sheet
Private ag credit rebounds as Fiagros and CRAs regain momentum
Wallerius Seguros acquires 100% of Ativa Agro
Sementes São Francisco acquires Auma Sementes
Macro & Markets
EU provisionally approves Mercosur trade agreement
Brazil fruit exports hit third straight record of US$1.45B in 2025
Agri Tech
Case IH and TIM cut R$1 million in costs with connected farm model – The Fazenda Conectada Case IH, a model farm operated in partnership with TIM, Brazil’s largest telecom operator, reported cost reductions of around R$1 million (USD200k) in the 2024/25 season through the use of 4G connectivity, real-time monitoring and data-driven management. Located in Água Boa, Mato Grosso, the farm spans more than 3,000 hectares and integrates connected machinery, agronomic sensors and operational analytics. Soybean yields reached 75 sacks per hectare, up from 68 previously, outperforming regional and national averages. read more
Valtra expands AI use across manufacturing and on-farm operations – Valtra, part of AGCO group, is scaling the use of artificial intelligence across both its industrial processes and field operations, applying machine learning to improve quality control, predictive maintenance and production efficiency in its factories, while also embedding AI into connected machinery used by farmers. On the farm side, AI supports real-time machine diagnostics, operational optimization and smarter use of data generated by equipment, reinforcing the shift toward precision agriculture and more efficient asset utilization across large-scale operations. read more
i4Sea brings climate intelligence from ports to agriculture – i4Sea, a Brazilian climate intelligence startup originally deployed in complex logistics environments such as the Port of Santos and with clients including Vale, one of the world’s largest mining companies, is now targeting agriculture. The platform applies advanced weather modeling and AI to predict extreme events, operational risks and climate variability. In agriculture, the focus is on supporting planning, logistics and risk management for producers and agribusinesses increasingly exposed to climate volatility. read more
Climate Tech
BASF acquires AgBiTech to scale biological crop protection – BASF has acquired AgBiTech, a biological ag startup founded in Australia, headquartered in the United States, and with Brazil as its largest market, accounting for up to 70% of sales. AgBiTech develops bioinsecticides based on baculoviruses to control pests such as Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera frugiperda in soy, corn, and cotton. In Brazil, AgBiTech employs 140 people, serves roughly 600 direct producer clients across 700 farms and will strengthen BASF’s push into biological crop protection, which currently makes up around 10% of its portfolio. read more
Caatinga bacterium could help eliminate up to US$1.8bn in soybean losses – Researchers from Embrapa and the University of São Paulo identified a bacterium from Brazil’s Caatinga biome with potential to control buva, a herbicide-resistant weed responsible for significant soybean losses. Current damage is estimated at around US$1.0bn per year and could rise to US$1.8bn as resistance spreads. Laboratory trials show the microorganism produces natural metabolites capable of inhibiting weed germination, opening a pathway for a new bioherbicide adapted to Brazilian conditions. read more
Funding & M&A
Rural Ventures raises US$10m agtech fund backed by strategic farmers – Rural Ventures has raised a US$10m fund to invest in early-stage Brazilian agtech startups, with ticket sizes of around US$400k per company. The model prioritizes on-farm validation before scaling capital deployment, reducing adoption risk and accelerating product-market fit. Strategic investors include NovaAmerica, one of Brazil’s largest sugarcane mills, and Monte Alegre Feedlot, reinforcing the fund’s operator-led approach. read more
Solinftec raises R$189m via green CRA to strengthen balance sheet – Brazilian agtech startup, Solinftec, has issued a R$189m (US$38m) green agribusiness receivables certificate (CRA), split into two series maturing in 2030. One tranche pays 100% of the DI rate (interbank benchmark, around 14.3%) plus 2.65% per year, while the second is indexed to IPCA (headline inflation, around 4.3%) plus 10.7% per year. The CRAs are backed by agribusiness receivables (CDCAs), with proceeds earmarked for financing equipment, software, and AI-driven automation solutions focused on efficiency gains and emissions reduction in agriculture. read more
Private ag credit rebounds as Fiagros and CRAs regain momentum – After the 2024 credit shock, Brazil’s private agribusiness financing market showed signs of normalization in 2026. CRA issuance reached R$52.1 billion by November last year, up from R$42.8 billion in 2024, though still below the R$57.1 billion peak of 2023. Total outstanding private agro instruments, including CRAs, LCAs, CPRs, and Fiagros, climbed to R$1.41 trillion. Listed Fiagros delivered double-digit returns in 2025, with the top funds posting gains of over 40%, reinforcing a clearer market distinction between high-grade credit and stressed exposures heading into 2026. read more
Wallerius Seguros acquires 100% of Ativa Agro – Wallerius Seguros acquired full control of Ativa Agro, a brokerage specialized in rural insurance and agribusiness risk solutions. Founded ten years ago, Ativa Agro operates nationally and is headquartered in Santa Catarina, with a portfolio focused on crop, machinery, and rural property insurance. The acquisition strengthens Wallerius’ expansion strategy in agribusiness, adding sector-specific expertise and closer ties to producers. Financial terms were not disclosed. read more
Sementes São Francisco acquires Auma Sementes – Sementes São Francisco, a Goiás-based soybean seed company controlled by Pátria Investimentos, has acquired Auma Sementes, marking its entry into the Minas Gerais market. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Patos de Minas, Auma specializes in soybean seed multiplication and was founded by producer Cláudio Nasser, who has more than 40 years of experience in agribusiness. Following the transaction, Nasser remains a minority shareholder under a strategic partnership designed to ensure operational continuity and support a new phase of growth. read more
Macro & Markets
EU–Mercosur trade deal advances despite political resistance – The European Union provisionally approved the EU–Mercosur trade agreement, a deal expected to remove around €4 billion (US$4.6 billion) per year in tariffs once fully implemented. Mercosur countries currently face tariffs as high as 35% on vehicles, 28% on dairy products, and 27% on wines entering the EU. Trade between the two blocs reached €111 billion in 2024, split roughly evenly, with Mercosur exports concentrated in agricultural goods, minerals, pulp, and paper. France and Poland continue to oppose the agreement, citing pressure on European farmers, while final approval still requires a vote in the European Parliament, likely in the coming months. read more
Brazil fruit exports hit third straight record of US$1.45B in 2025 – Brazil’s fruit exports totaled US$1.45 billion in 2025, up 12% in value and 19.6% in volume year on year, marking the third consecutive annual record. Mango remained the top export at US$335 million, with volumes rising 12.6% to nearly 280,000 tons despite softer pricing in the U.S. market. Melon exports climbed 24.9% to US$231 million, lemons and limes reached US$199 million, grapes totaled US$158 million, and watermelon jumped 57.1% to US$115 million. read more
That’s all for this week, 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 across Latin America.