Brazil AgTech Report: Carbon Rocks, Smart Collars, AI Farm Stack, Climate Capital, China Calls
#28 BAR Brief
Curated news from the frontline of Brazil’s Ag and Climate Tech ecosystem
Summary
Welcome to the Brazil AgTech Report. Last week’s news was dominated by Agrishow 2025, the country’s premier agricultural machinery event and a key barometer for rural sentiment and innovation. Belgo Arames introduced AI collars for cattle, Bayer launched a new “Made in Brazil” digital strategy, and Paraná state unveiled an autonomous crop-dusting aircraft. Embraer signaled its return to ag aviation, while Rural Summit 2025 announced Natu Seguros, Certificafé, and BemAgro as winners in the pre-Seed, Seed and Series A award categories.
In Climate Tech, Brazil signed its first biochar-based carbon credit deals, and Biomas launched a reforestation initiative backed by top financial institutions. Valley expanded its irrigation investments, and Koppert forecasted double-digit growth in biologicals. The STF reopened the Soy Moratorium debate, while the Treasury introduced new auctions to fund pasture recovery. With Brazil Climate Investment Week on the horizon, capital mobilization for climate solutions is firmly on the national agenda.
On the funding front, i4Sea raised $1.5M from KPTL to expand its climate risk platform, and SciCrop closed $200K from Rural Ventures as part of a larger raise to scale its AI-powered farm data integration tool.
In macro and markets, the state of São Paulo launched a new rural machinery credit program, and Agrishow’s president urged the federal government to cut subsidized interest rates below 10% in the next Plano Safra. The China Pavilion revealed a fast-track model for ag machinery sales, and Minerva and FAPESP committed $20M to launch a new livestock R&D hub. Meanwhile, ASA and Genial officially entered Brazil’s rural lending market with tailored offerings for cooperatives and growers.
🧭 Table of Contents
AgTech
🐄 Belgo Arames uses AI collars to monitor cattle
✈️ Paraná unveils autonomous crop-dusting plane
🌱 Bayer launches “Made in Brazil” digital ag strategy
🌿 Rural Summit 2025 selects Agrimatching winners
🛩️ Embraer returns to ag aviation with revitalized plans
Climate Tech
🌋 First biochar (rock dust) carbon credit deals signed
🌳 Biomas launches reforestation project with top-tier backers
💦 Valley expands smart irrigation investments
🧪 Koppert forecasts 15% growth in biologicals for 2025/26
📊 Brazil Climate Investment Week targets capital mobilization
🌾 STF reopens Soy Moratorium debate
🐄 Treasury launches new pasture recovery auctions
Funding
📡 i4Sea raises $1.5M from KPTL
💻 SciCrop closes $200K from Rural Ventures, aims for $1M+
Macro & Markets
🚜 São Paulo launches rural machinery credit program
🧾 Agrishow Hits Record High but Credit Costs a Concern
🐉 China Pavilion brings fast-paced business culture to Agrishow
🧬 Minerva & FAPESP invest $20M in livestock R&D center
🧾 ASA and Genial enter ag lending at Agrishow
🌾 AgTech
Belgo Arames uses AI collars to monitor cattle
In partnership with startup Instabov, Belgo Arames, a Brazilian steel wire company, launched smart collars that use AI to track cattle behavior, health, and location in real time. The system enables early detection of disease, enhances productivity, and supports animal welfare. read more
Paraná unveils autonomous crop-dusting plane
Paraná state is developing an autonomous aerial spraying aircraft in partnership with R&D federal funding body Embrapii and local universities. The new ag-aviation platform aims to increase precision, reduce labor costs, and modernize spraying operations across Brazil. read more
Bayer launches “Made in Brazil” digital ag strategy
At Agrishow, Bayer introduced a new digital strategy built entirely in Brazil. The initiative focuses on localized tools, faster go-to-market cycles, and deeper integration with regional agtech partners. The move is part of Bayer’s pivot from global platform replication to co-creation with local developers and producers. read more
Rural Summit 2025 awards Agrimatching winners
Held on the sidelines of Agrishow, the Rural Summit 2025 gathered investors, founders, and innovators to spotlight emerging AgTech solutions. Organized by Rural Ventures, The Yield Lab Latam, and Arara Seeds, the event hosted the Agrimatching challenge, awarding top startups across three stages. Natu Seguros won the pre-Seed category with its parametric insurance platform for small farmers. Certificafé took the Seed prize for its traceability system for sustainable coffee. BemAgro earned the Series A award for its AI platform that helps producers optimize productivity and credit access. read more
Embraer returns to ag aviation with revitalized plans
Embraer, Brazil’s leading aircraft maker, is planning a comeback in agricultural aviation with new upgrades to its Ipanema aircraft and a broader ag innovation strategy. The company is exploring new applications for aerial spraying, including drones and integrated crop service platforms, as part of its evolving vision for rural tech. read more
🌎 Climate Tech
First biochar (rock dust) carbon credit deals signed
Brazil’s first carbon credit deals using biochar from remineralizing rock dust have been signed by startups InPlanet and Terradot, marking a major milestone in regenerative agriculture. The credits stem from soil remineralization practices that enhance fertility while removing atmospheric carbon. These pioneering deals signal growing confidence in nature-based ag solutions and may pave the way for rock dust-based carbon removal to scale in formal markets. read more
Biomas launches reforestation project with top-tier backers
Biomas, a reforestation startup backed by institutions like Itaú, Santander, Rabobank, and Vale, has announced its first biome restoration project. Focused on restoring native forests in degraded areas, the initiative is part of a broader plan to mobilize large-scale private capital for ecosystem regeneration. read more
Valley expands smart irrigation investments
Valley, a global leader in irrigation, is ramping up its investment in telemetry, precision irrigation, and digital water management tools in Brazil. The company is responding to increased demand from producers facing climate volatility and pressure to optimize water use. read more
Koppert forecasts 15% growth in biologicals for 2025/26
Koppert, a leading global biological inputs company, projects a 15% increase in biological input sales for Brazil’s upcoming 2025/26 season, driven by higher adoption among soy and sugarcane producers. The company also stressed the need for faster testing protocols and better integration of biologicals into mainstream crop management and credit models. read more
Brazil Climate Investment Week targets capital mobilization
Brazil Climate Investment Week, set to take place next month in Sao Paulo, will bring together funds, public banks, development agencies, and startups to discuss mechanisms to accelerate climate finance. With a focus on blended capital structures and nature-based solutions, the event aims to unlock funding bottlenecks across the sector. read more
STF reopens Soy Moratorium debate
Brazil’s Supreme Court (STF) has reentered the long-running debate over the Soy Moratorium, a voluntary agreement among traders not to purchase soy linked to recent deforestation in the Amazon. The case has drawn attention as producer groups argue it restricts legal production, while environmental and consumer groups call for stricter enforcement. The outcome could reshape how soy supply chains are monitored and regulated. read more
Treasury launches new pasture recovery auctions
The Brazilian Treasury is preparing a new line of subsidized financing focused on degraded pasture recovery, responding to mounting pressure over land degradation. The auction-based mechanism is designed to allocate resources efficiently while incentivizing measurable environmental gains. This move aligns with broader federal efforts to reduce emissions and increase livestock productivity on existing land. read more
💰 Funding
i4Sea raises $1.5M from KPTL
Climate intelligence startup i4Sea closed a $1.5M round led by Brazilian VC firm KPTL. The company provides real-time ocean, climate, and weather forecasting to help agribusinesses manage climate risk. The investment will go toward expanding its modeling capabilities and client base in sectors like sugarcane, logistics, and port operations. read more
SciCrop closes $200K from Rural Ventures, aims for $1M+
Agtech startup SciCrop raised $200K from Rural Ventures to expand its InfiniteStack AI platform, which integrates diverse ag technologies—like telemetry, sensors, and planting data—into a single interface powered by a natural language chatbot. read more
📉 Macro & Markets
São Paulo launches rural machinery credit program
The government of São Paulo announced a new rural financing line for smallholders, aimed at boosting access to agricultural machinery. Structured with subsidized interest and supported by state-backed guarantees, the program is expected to stimulate regional equipment demand and help modernize small and mid-scale operations. The program also emphasizes sustainability-linked criteria and aligns with broader efforts to scale credit access outside of traditional federal lines. read more
Agrishow Hits Record High but Credit Costs a Concern
The Ribeirao Preto-based Agrishow 2025, closed with a record 195,000 visitors and more than 800 exhibitors, cementing its status as Latin America’s largest agricultural machinery event. Launched in 1994, the event has grown into a key showcase for farm innovation and a barometer for rural sentiment in Brazil. Despite strong commercial activity this year, Agrishow president Francisco Matturro expressed concern that persistently high interest rates are stalling investment in equipment and technology. He urged the government to cut subsidized credit rates to ensure that the momentum seen at Agrishow translates into long-term productivity gains. read more
China Pavilion brings fast-paced business culture to Agrishow
The China Pavilion at Agrishow 2025 featured more than 50 companies and a highly streamlined dealmaking model, highlighting a sharp contrast with the slower, relationship-driven approach common in Brazilian agribusiness. With plug-and-play machinery, direct pricing, and Mandarin-speaking staff, Chinese exhibitors targeted high-volume distribution and immediate orders. read more
Minerva & FAPESP invest $20M in livestock R&D center
Minerva Foods and public research foundation FAPESP are jointly investing $20M to launch Brazil’s first integrated research center for animal protein. Located at Esalq/USP in Piracicaba, the center will focus on six areas: field production, processing, product development, bioenergy, health, and innovation. It will also provide 100 scholarships and open partnerships with other leading universities. read more
ASA and Genial enter ag lending at Agrishow
Two major financial institutions, ASA Investments and Genial, announced their entry into rural credit at Agrishow 2025. ASA is targeting cooperatives and large-scale producers, while Genial is focused on financing machinery and precision ag tools for medium-sized farms. Their entry reflects the growing appetite among capital market players to tap into Brazil’s ag credit segment, especially as new risk models and data-driven tools expand the market beyond traditional banks. 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.