Brazil AgTech Report: Carbon from Space, Cacao Superfarm, Climate Capital Rising, Amazon Biotech Leap
#27 BAR Brief
Curated news from the frontline of Brazil’s Ag and Climate Tech ecosystem
Summary
In this week’s Brazil AgTech Report, Apoena Biotech is unlocking the biodiversity of the Amazon to develop bio-inputs for commercial crops, while SaveFarm’s AI is automating targeted spraying decisions on Brazilian farms. SOL by RZK is embedding AI across its AgTech services to diversify revenues, and drone-enabled native tree mapping is scaling across the Amazon.
In Climate Tech, a new regenerative agriculture fund led by Vox Capital is raising US$100 million to finance transitions on Brazilian farms. The Carbono Xingu project, backed by EMBRAPA, is using NASA technology to measure soil carbon across productive landscapes. SLC Agrícola and Agro Penido are piloting their own soil carbon quantification initiatives, while CO₂ removal startup UNDO — winner of Frontier’s global carbon competition — will invest its prize funds in Brazil.
On the funding and business side, BASF is pushing for a “five crop” model in Brazil with tropical-adapted inputs and shorter crop cycles, and cacao producer Moisés Schmidt is building what may become the world’s largest cacao farm, targeting 10,000 hectares within the next decade. Fertilizer firm Rifertil filed for judicial recovery with US$125 million in debt, reflecting persistent financial pressure in Brazil’s agricultural input market amid FX and credit volatility.
In trade and policy, Brazil and Chile signed a cooperation agreement on digital agricultural certification, and sugarcane output expanded in the drought-hit North and Northeast due to higher sucrose concentrations. A trade war between the U.S. and China is redirecting soy and beef demand to Brazil and Argentina. Abiove president André Nassar is calling for a modernization of the Amazon Soy Moratorium to incorporate geospatial data and sustainability certifications.
📚 Table of Contents
AgTech
🧬 Apoena Biotech taps Amazon biodiversity for bio-inputs
🚁 Drones and AI revolutionize native tree mapping in the Amazon
🛰️ SaveFarm’s AI optimizes targeted spraying on Brazilian farms
🤖 SOL by RZK bets on AI to diversify AgTech revenue streams
🌾 SENAR Goiás launches new training center for digital agro era
Climate Tech
🪴 Fund seeks US$100M to finance regenerative ag in Brazil
🛰️ Carbono Xingu project uses NASA innovation to measure farm carbon
🌱 SLC and Agro Penido pursue soil carbon quantification opportunities
🌳 Re.green launches major biome restoration project with top investors
🏆 CO₂ removal startup UNDO wins prize and plans to invest in Brazil
Funding & Business Moves
🏛️ BASF betting on five-crop trend to strengthen Brazil agro presence
🍫 Brazilian farmer building world’s largest cacao farm
🏦 Rifertil enters judicial recovery amid $125M debt
M&A, Trade & Policy
📜 Brazil and Chile sign agreement on digital agricultural certification
🛢️ Despite drought, North and Northeast expand sugar & ethanol output
⚔️ Trade war boosts Brazil and Argentine agribusiness exports
🛡️ Abiove president calls for modernization of soy moratorium
AgTech
🧬 Apoena Biotech taps Amazon and Noronha biodiversity for bio-inputs
Brazilian startup Apoena Biotech, specialized in biological solutions for agriculture, is pioneering the use of biodiversity from the Amazon and the remote island of Fernando de Noronha to develop next-generation bio-inputs. By exploring natural microorganisms and biological compounds, the company aims to create sustainable products that reduce chemical dependence while boosting crop productivity. read more
🚁 Drones and AI revolutionize native tree mapping in the Amazon
Vertech, in partnership with IDESAM and Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental, is deploying new drone and AI technologies to transform how native tree populations are mapped in the Amazon. High-resolution imaging combined with machine learning enables rapid, large-scale surveys of forest composition — a critical tool for conservation, carbon projects, and sustainable land management. read more
🛰️ SaveFarm’s AI optimizes targeted spraying in Brazilian farms
SaveFarm is bringing precision agriculture to the next level. Their AI solution identifies exactly which areas of a field require spraying, reducing pesticide use, cutting costs, and minimizing environmental impact. The company’s technology leverages satellite imagery, machine learning, and agronomic models to enable smarter and more sustainable input management. read more
🤖 SOL by RZK bets on AI to diversify AgTech revenue streams
SOL by RZK is accelerating its investment in AI technologies to broaden its AgTech offerings and open new revenue opportunities. The company plans to integrate AI into farm management systems, offering predictive insights, operational efficiencies, and customized solutions to farmers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses across Brazil. read more
🌾 SENAR Goiás launches new training center for digital agro era
SENAR Goiás has opened a new agro training center focused on automation, smart farming, and precision agriculture. The initiative aims to accelerate workforce readiness for Brazil’s rapidly digitizing agro sector, offering professional development for farmers and technicians. read more
Climate Tech
🪴 Fund seeks US$100M to finance regenerative agriculture in Brazil
A new fund backed by Vox Capital, CBI, and reNature is targeting US$100M to support regenerative agriculture transitions in Brazil. The fund aims to unlock environmental and economic returns by financing producers adopting sustainable practices that restore soil health and biodiversity. read more
🛰️ Carbono Xingu project uses NASA innovation to measure farm carbon
Launched by EMBRAPA and supported by the Xingu Indigenous Land Association, the Carbono Xingu project applies NASA-calibrated satellite tech to measure carbon in agricultural soils and forests. The project aims to generate credible carbon data to inform sustainable land-use strategies. read more
🌱 SLC and Agro Penido pursue soil carbon quantification opportunities
Agribusiness giants SLC Agrícola and Agro Penido are developing soil carbon baselines to participate in future carbon markets. Their pilots aim to validate regenerative practices as revenue streams through verifiable carbon credits. read more
🌳 Re.green launches major biome restoration project with top investors
Brazilian startup Re.green, founded by former Mombak executives and backed by Vox Capital, MOV, and Mauá Capital, has launched its first large-scale biome restoration project. The initiative focuses on regenerating degraded land with native species linked to carbon markets. read more
🏆 CO₂ removal startup UNDO wins prize and plans to invest in Brazil
CO₂ removal startup UNDO, winner of Frontier’s global carbon competition, announced plans to invest its prize funds to scale operations in Brazil. UNDO specializes in natural and engineered carbon capture methods to accelerate climate solutions. read more
Funding & Business Moves
🏛️ BASF betting on five-crop trend to strengthen Brazil agro presence
BASF is betting on the evolution of up to five harvests per year in Brazil with the development of seeds for shorter crop cycles and the use of AI for better testing of climate and disease resistant technology. With farmers increasingly seeking to maximize land productivity across multiple planting seasons, the global chemical giant is positioning itself with tailored products for tropical conditions and new shorter crop cycles. read more
🍫 Brazilian farmer is building the world’s largest cocoa farm
In Brazil’s Cerrado, producer Moisés Schmidt is transforming cocoa production with plans for a 10,000-hectare mega-farm. Unlike traditional systems planting 300 trees per hectare, Schmidt is planting 1,600 trees per hectare, all precision-irrigated and highly fertilized. He projects Brazil could reach 500,000 hectares of high-density cocoa, potentially making it the world’s second-largest producer behind Ivory Coast. Major chocolate companies like Barry Callebaut, Mars, and Cargill are already setting up partnerships and test fields in the region. read more
🏦 Rifertil enters judicial recovery amid $125M debt
Rifertil, a Brazilian fertilizer company, has filed for judicial recovery (similar to bankruptcy protection) with a debt load of roughly US$125 million. The move highlights continued financial pressures in the agricultural input sector, exacerbated by rising costs, FX volatility, and competitive market dynamics. read more
M&A, Trade & Policy
📜 Brazil and Chile sign agreement on digital agricultural certification
Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) and Chile’s Ministry of Agriculture have signed a cooperation agreement focused on electronic certification for agricultural products. The initiative aims to modernize and streamline trade flows between the two countries, enhancing transparency, efficiency, and traceability in agri-exports. read more
🛢️ Even amid drought, North and Northeast expand sugar & ethanol output
Despite severe drought conditions, Brazil’s North and Northeast regions managed to grow their sugarcane production in 2024–25. Higher sucrose concentrations boosted sugar and ethanol yields, showcasing regional resilience and technological improvements in cane breeding and farm management. read more
⚔️ Trade war boosts Brazilian and Argentine agribusiness exports
The ongoing trade tensions between China and the U.S. continue to benefit Brazil and Argentina. With buyers seeking alternative suppliers, South American ag exports — from soy to beef — have gained market share, reinforcing the region’s importance in global food security dynamics. read more
🛡️ Abiove president calls for modernization of soy moratorium
The president of Abiove (Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries) has called for a modernization of the Amazon Soy Moratorium. The proposal seeks to incorporate new tools such as geospatial data and sustainability certification, arguing that updates are needed to better balance conservation goals with production realities. 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. All views, opinions, and commentary expressed are strictly his own.