Hi, I’m Kieran Gartlan, originally from Ireland, but have called Brazil home for the past 30 years. I currently serve as 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 or connect on LinkedIn. I’m always happy to share what I’m seeing on the ground.
Summary
In AgTech news this week, Iara is expanding its subscription-based irrigation model across five Brazilian states and Argentina, while Neosilos advances grain grading with cameras and AI, supported by US$800K in prototype funding from Cocamar, Lar, Frísia and Inpasa.
In Climate Tech developments, Brazil and India advanced a cooperation agreement to apply Embrapa’s tropical dairy-management tools and genetic models in Indian herds. Meanwhile asset manager Tivio, backed by Bradesco and BV, launched a US$60M fund to restore 12,000 to 15,000 hectares of degraded farmland.
On the funding and M&A front, Ceres Investimentos drew acquisition interest from BTG Pactual after originating more than US$1.2B in ag assets. Braza Bank and Onda Finance introduced stablecoin payments for exporters handling up to US$2M per month, Wallerius Seguros entered agribusiness through the acquisition of Ativa Agro, Harmony Baby Nutrition raised US$6.2M and OCP detailed a US$13B global fertilizer strategy.
In broader market moves, China will decide in January whether to apply safeguard measures on beef imports, a ruling that could shape Brazil’s 2026 price outlook. The sector also faces a growing talent shortage, with gaps in machinery operation, livestock management, logistics and commercial roles becoming more acute in remote regions.
🧭 Table of Contents
AgTech
Iara launches subscription-based irrigation model
Neosilos automates grain classification with cameras and AI
Climate Tech
Embrapa signs India partnership to advance tropical dairy genetics and R&D
Tivio launches fund to convert degraded farmland
Funding and M&A
Ceres Investimentos attracts BTG acquisition interest
Braza Bank and Onda Finance partner to take stablecoin payments to the farm sector
Wallerius Seguros acquires Ativa Agro to expand into agribusiness services
Harmony raises US$6.2 million to build infant-formula research center
OCP outlines US$13 billion global fertilizer investment strategy with relevance for Brazil
Macro & Markets
China to decide on beef safeguard measures in January
Agribusiness faces shortage of skilled professionals on and off the farm
AgTech
Iara launches subscription-based irrigation model – Founded two years ago by former Valmont executives Hiran Moreira and João Rebequi and Cogny’s Marcelo Godoy, Iara offers a subscription model that combines equipment rental and full-service irrigation management. The company has invested about US$4M to install 26 pivots across Goiás, Bahia, Pará, Piauí and Minas Gerais, plus a project in Argentina, covering 2,800 hectares. Iara plans to deploy another US$3M next year, reaching 40 pivots and nearly 4,000 irrigated hectares by late 2026. The model targets mid-sized farms that face high upfront costs and limited access to financing. read more
Neosilos automates grain classification with cameras and AI – NeoSilos has raised US$800K from public innovation agencies to build prototypes of its automated grain-classification system, which measures soy and corn quality using high-resolution cameras and AI. The solution aims to retire manual eyeballing and standardize grading across warehouses and grain buyers. Early adopters include Cocamar, Lar, Frísia and Inpasa, which are using the system to reduce disputes and speed up intake operations. The platform analyzes impurities, defects and moisture with accuracy above 90 percent, delivering results within minutes. read more
Climate Tech
Embrapa signs India partnership to advance tropical dairy genetics and R&D – Brazil and India signed a cooperation agreement to deploy Embrapa’s tropical dairy-farm management technologies in India. The partnership involves Indian groups Leads Agri Genetics, LeadsConnect and B.L. Kamdhenu Farms, and Brazilian partners Fazenda Floresta and DNAMARK. Embrapa will gain access to India’s genomic and phenotypic databases, helping improve prediction models and accelerate genetic gains in both countries. The initiative targets India’s low-yield herds, averaging 5 liters per day, and opens opportunities to export Brazilian genetics. read more
Tivio launches fund to convert degraded farmland – Asset manager Tivio, backed by Bradesco and Banco BV, has created a US$60M fund to buy degraded farmland in Brazil and restore it for productive agriculture. The vehicle will acquire 10 to 20 properties totaling 12,000 to 15,000 hectares, invest in soil recovery, infrastructure and technology, and then resell the farms after three to five years. Tíivio contributes management expertise while AGBI leads operational recovery. The strategy targets investors seeking exposure to farmland appreciation and regenerative agriculture, a segment expected to expand as Brazil accelerates land-use recovery programs. read more
M&A and Funding
Ceres Investimentos attracts BTG acquisition interest – BTG Pactual has requested CADE approval to buy up to 49.9 percent of Ceres Investimentos, a fintech-style asset manager focused on financing agricultural inputs. Since 2019, Ceres has originated more than US$1.2B in agro assets with default rates below 1 percent, expanding its client base from 23 to 382. Combined with BTG Asset Management’s operations, the bank’s agro vertical would reach a US$1.4B portfolio supported by over 190 specialists. BTG, which manages roughly US$230B in total assets, views Ceres as a key avenue for growth in ag finance. read more
Braza Bank and Onda Finance partner to bring stablecoins to rural Brazil – Onda Finance and Braza Bank are introducing stablecoin-based international payments for agribusiness, targeting farmers and exporters who face delays and high costs in cross-border transactions. Using the real-backed BBRL stablecoin, operations that once took days are now settled instantly. Early clients include producers moving up to US$2M per month, with expectations of surpassing US$40M monthly within six months. One importer in the Northeast shifted to stablecoins to guarantee delivery of more than 40 containers of seafood. read more
Wallerius Seguros acquires Ativa Agro to expand into agribusiness services – Wallerius Seguros, a brokerage based in Rio Grande do Sul, has acquired 100 percent of Ativa Agro, an insurance broker closely linked to one of Brazil’s major irrigation-pivot manufacturers. Following the acquisition, the operation will remain fully dedicated to agribusiness and will run under a new brand, Wallerius Agro Corretora de Seguros. read more
Harmony raises US$6.2 million to build infant-formula research center – Harmony Baby Nutrition has secured US$6.2M to establish Brazil’s first dedicated research center for infant formulas. The facility will develop products closer to human milk, addressing a long-standing gap in the national market. Located within the Senai complex in Belo Horizonte, the center will support clinical trials, pilot production and ingredient development, with a focus on plant-based and allergen-free formulations. read more
OCP outlines US$13 billion global fertilizer investment strategy with relevance for Brazil – Moroccan fertilizer giant OCP has announced a global US$13B investment plan centered on green ammonia and renewable energy, aiming to cut emissions across its fertilizer chain. Brazil, OCP’s largest market, remains central to the strategy through expanded blending capacity, tailored nutrient solutions and closer ties with local distributors. The company plans to scale production using green hydrogen powered by solar and wind, replacing fossil-based ammonia over time. read more
Macro & Markets
China to decide on beef safeguard measures in January – China, which buys half of Brazil’s beef exports, will decide at the end of January whether it will apply safeguard measures on imported beef. The ruling could reshape Brazil’s 2026 cattle market, since any restriction or slowdown in Chinese demand would pressure domestic prices. Analysts also point to tighter Brazilian cattle supply, higher feed and pasture-recovery costs and increased global competition from Australia and the United States, all of which add uncertainty to next year’s price outlook. read more
Agribusiness faces shortage of skilled professionals on and off the farm – A new survey by the FESA group shows that agribusiness companies are struggling to fill positions both in field operations and corporate roles. The biggest gaps appear in technical functions such as machinery operators, irrigation managers and livestock technicians, as well as in sales, logistics and agribusiness administration. Employers cite rapid technological adoption, expansion of production areas and competition with other industries as key drivers. The shortage is more acute in remote regions where relocation is difficult, and companies expect recruitment pressure to intensify in 2026 as digital agriculture and bioinputs expand. 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.