Hi, I’m Kieran Gartlan, Managing Partner at The Yield Lab Latam, one of the region’s top AgriFood and Climate Tech VC funds. If you’re curious to learn more about Brazil’s AgriTech Revolution, feel free to reach out here, or on LinkedIn. I’m always happy to share what I’m seeing on the ground.

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Summary

In AgriTech news this week, Embrapa introduced a simple drinker adaptation that reduces cross-suckling in calves, while Sou AgroSoluções expands its back-office platforms serving megaclients such as Amaggi, BASF, and AgroGalaxy. Embrapa and Latina Seeds launched a high-yield forage sorghum hybrid designed to boost livestock productivity and forage stability.

In Climate Tech developments, Brazil’s dairy sector emits roughly half the global average per liter of milk, according to Embrapa. Lab-grown leather startup Moondo opened a $4 million round via the EqSeed crowdfunding platform, while biologicals leader Biotrop grew 23% and targets more than $200 million in revenue in 2026. Embrapa also demonstrated a system that converts swine waste into potable-quality water, and rice ethanol gained traction as a tool to manage surplus stocks.

On the funding and M&A front, iFood invested US$ 1 million in drone company Speedbird Aero as part of its push into autonomous delivery. MBRF structured a FIDC to deploy $75 million into Paraná’s poultry and pork chain, while JBS continues to expand logistics capacity at the Port of Itajaí following renewed investment.

In Macro & Markets, orange juice exports to the European Union jumped 55% in January. New U.S. tariff rules position Brazil as a relative trade beneficiary, the first corn DDG shipment reached China, agricultural aviation expanded with its first autonomous aircraft, and Embrapa deepened scientific cooperation with South Korea.

Table of Contents

AgriTech

• Simple drinker device reduces cross-suckling in calves
• Sou AgroSoluções bets on back-office ag management
• Embrapa and Latina Seeds launch high-yield forage sorghum

Climate Tech

• Brazilian milk shows lower carbon footprint than global average
• Lab-grown leather startup opens $4M round on EqSeed
• Biotrop grows 23% and targets $200M+ revenue milestone in 2026
• Embrapa tech turns pig waste into potable water
• Rice ethanol proposed as outlet for surplus stocks

Funding & M&A

• iFood invests US$ 1 million in drone logistics startup Speedbird
• MBRF raises FIDC to deploy $75M in Paraná expansion
• Under JBS management, Port of Itajaí reconnects to global routes

Macro & Markets

• Orange juice exports to EU jump at end of season
• Brazil seen as main beneficiary of new U.S. tariffs
• Brazil ships first corn DDG cargo to China
• Brazil’s ag aviation fleet grows 5% and registers first autonomous aircraft
• Embrapa signs scientific cooperation agreement with South Korea

AgriTech

Simple drinker device reduces cross-suckling in calves – Research found that attaching artificial nipples to water drinkers significantly reduces cross-suckling in group-raised dairy calves. In trials with 24 animals, cross-suckling occurred about five times per day with nipple drinkers versus roughly nine times with open buckets. The low-cost adaptation satisfies calves’ natural sucking instinct without affecting milk intake, water consumption, or weight gain, and may reduce health risks such as umbilical inflammation and future udder damage. read more

Sou AgroSoluções bets on back-office ag management – The Goiânia-based agtech is targeting revenue growth from roughly $450,000 to $1 million in 2026 by expanding its logistics and royalty management platforms. Its tools automate distribution tracking and biotech royalty reporting for major agribusiness clients. Operating without external funding, the company manages more than $200 million in royalties per crop cycle and is preparing to bring in its first strategic investor this year. read more

Embrapa and Latina Seeds launch high-yield forage sorghum – A new giant forage sorghum hybrid can exceed 80 tons per hectare in a single cut within up to 125 days. Reaching 4 to 5 meters in height, the cultivar offers strong regrowth capacity and resistance to major fungal diseases. Designed for both first and second crop cycles, it supports rising livestock feed demand and can also be used for biogas and energy production. read more

Water drinkers with nipples lets calves satisfy their natural sucking instinct

Climate Tech

Brazilian milk shows lower carbon footprint than global average – A new study by USP university and Embrapa, supported by Cargill, found that Brazil’s dairy sector emits 1.19 kg of CO₂ equivalent per kilo of milk, less than half the global average of 2.5 kg. The research covered 28 farms across seven states using Life Cycle Assessment methodology, including feed production and manure management. Higher animal productivity helps dilute emissions per liter, with enteric fermentation accounting for 47% of total emissions and feed production 36.8%. Regional differences were significant, with the Pampa biome showing the lowest intensity. read more

Lab-grown leather startup opens R$4M round on EqSeed – Brazilian biotech Moondo launched a public raise of approximately $850,000 via EqSeed to scale its cultivated leather production. The company uses cellular cultivation to produce collagen-based leather without raising or slaughtering animals, initially targeting the luxury segment where margins can absorb early-stage biotech costs. Around 80% of the funds will go toward laboratory infrastructure, with the remainder allocated to IP and commercial validation. Founded in 2022, the startup positions itself as a Latin American pioneer in alternative leather production. read more

Biotrop grows 23% and targets $200M+ revenue milestone in 2026 – Biological inputs company Biotrop closed 2025 with revenue of approximately $180 million, up 23% year over year despite tighter credit conditions and weaker soy and corn prices. For 2026, the company aims to surpass $200 million as it expands in Brazil and internationally. The domestic biologicals market reached roughly $1 billion last season, while the global market is projected to hit $45 billion by 2032. Biotrop now covers more than 50 million hectares and continues investing heavily in R&D, including new bioherbicides and next-generation crop solutions. read more

Embrapa tech turns pig waste into potable water – Embrapa demonstrated that swine manure can be treated and transformed into potable-quality water using a multi-stage system combining solid-liquid separation, anaerobic biodigestion, biological nitrogen removal, and chemical phosphorus precipitation. The treated effluent meets Brazilian standards for discharge and reuse and, in demonstrative applications, was refined to drinking standards to showcase the technology’s potential. Originally developed to reduce environmental impacts and improve on-farm water reuse, the system highlights circular bioeconomy opportunities in high-density livestock regions. read more

Rice ethanol proposed as outlet for surplus stocks – Researchers and industry leaders in Rio Grande do Sul are debating ethanol production from rice as a long-term strategy to manage oversupply and stabilize farmer margins. With producer prices below production costs and inventories weighing on the 2025/26 crop, biofuel use is being studied as an alternative demand channel. Embrapa sees potential through targeted cultivars and innovation, though industry voices question rice’s energy efficiency compared to corn. Brazil’s rice output is projected near 11 million tons this season, down year over year, yet still pressured by global competition and lower prices. read more

Higher productivity lowers emissions per liter in Brazil’s dairy sector.

Funding & M&A

iFood invests US$ 1 million in drone logistics startup Speedbird – iFood invested US$ 1 million in Brazilian drone company Speedbird Aero to scale autonomous food delivery operations. The startup has operated pilot routes since 2021, including a four-kilometer corridor in Aracaju that reduces delivery times from roughly 30 minutes by road to about three minutes by air. After receiving permanent regulatory approval from Anac for remotely piloted flights over populated areas, Speedbird has completed around 2,000 deliveries and is preparing a Series B round as it expands into new metropolitan regions. read more

MBRF raises FIDC to deploy $75M in Paraná expansion – MBRF structured a FIDC to invest approximately $75 million in Paraná’s poultry and pork production chain, combining around $60 million from the company with roughly $15 million from state development agency Fomento Paraná. The vehicle will finance farm expansion and industrial upgrades at rates near 9.5% per year, below Brazil’s benchmark interest rate. About 30% of the funds will also support productivity and efficiency improvements in processing plants, reinforcing Paraná’s strategy to scale agroindustrial output. read more

Under JBS management, Port of Itajaí reconnects to global routes – One year after taking over operations, JBS Terminais reactivated the Port of Itajaí with 10 regular shipping lines, eight of them weekly, reconnecting Santa Catarina to Asia, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. The terminal handled 386,489 TEUs in 2025, reaching 93% of contracted capacity, following $44 million in investments to modernize infrastructure and expand refrigerated cargo capacity. The port now serves more than 3,000 clients and is projected to reach full operational capacity by the end of 2026. read more

Autonomous drone delivery expands last-mile logistics in Brazil.

Macro & Markets

Orange juice exports to EU jump at end of season – Brazilian orange juice shipments to the European Union totaled 50,300 tons in January, up 55% from the same month last year and marking the strongest month of the current 2025/26 season, according to Cepea/USP. Despite the rebound, cumulative exports for the season remain 4.6% below the prior year. Heavy January rains across São Paulo affected fruit quality and increased fungal incidence, pressuring spot prices, which fell from R$43 to R$41 per 40-kg box by month end. read more

Brazil seen as main beneficiary of new U.S. tariffs – A study cited by Global Trade Alert indicates Brazil will see the largest average tariff reduction among countries affected by the new 15% U.S. global tariff. The average rate on Brazilian goods is expected to fall 13.6 percentage points, restoring competitiveness in the U.S. market for products such as coffee, honey, and processed foods. Some Brazilian exports previously faced surcharges of up to 40%, and the new framework is expected to lower the effective average tariff to around 12.8%. read more

Brazil ships first corn DDG cargo to China – Brazil exported its first shipment of corn DDG to China following the opening of the Chinese market under a new bilateral sanitary protocol. The 62,000-ton cargo departed from the Port of Imbituba and was shipped by Inpasa. Brazil exported nearly 880,000 tons of DDG and DDGS in 2025, up 9.77% year over year, as ethanol co-products gain relevance in global feed markets. read more

Brazil’s ag aviation fleet grows 5% and registers first autonomous aircraft – The agricultural aircraft fleet expanded 5.2% in 2025, reaching 2,866 planes and servicing approximately 131 million hectares. The sector generates roughly R$7.89 billion in outsourced operations across leading states. A milestone this year was the regulatory approval of the country’s first autonomous agricultural aircraft, the electric Pelican, marking a step toward gradual modernization of aerial application. read more

Embrapa signs scientific cooperation agreement with South Korea – Embrapa formalized a memorandum of understanding with South Korea’s Rural Development Administration to expand collaboration in climate change, bioeconomy, biotechnology, digital agriculture, and artificial intelligence. The agreement includes joint research on mushroom cultivars adapted to tropical and subtropical conditions, as well as researcher exchanges and intellectual property guidelines, reinforcing Brazil’s role in global agricultural science partnerships. read more

Brazil’s ag aviation fleet expands, adding its first autonomous aircraft.

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.

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