Brazil AgTech Report: Milk Mastery, Leather League, Diesel Deal, Summit Success
#56 BAR Brief
Welcome to this week’s Brazil AgTech Report. Curated news from the frontline of Brazil’s Agrifood and Climate Tech ecosystem
Summary
In AgTech news this week, a high-yield dairy farm in Minas Gerais is rewriting productivity limits with intensive management and data-driven genetics, while Embrapa’s new Fênix strawberry cultivar is doubling national seedling output and reducing reliance on imports. Oregon Tool, the US manufacturer, is also repositioning its Curitiba plant as it targets 30 percent growth in Latin America.
In Climate Tech developments, Brazil and Japan signed a long-term agreement to rehabilitate degraded pastures in the Cerrado, and Embrapa’s AgriZone became one of the most visited attractions of COP30 with its full carbon-zero demonstration farm. Discussions at the summit highlighted the need for better monitoring, adaptation tools and investment to scale regenerative systems, with former minister Roberto Rodrigues noting that COP30 exceeded expectations for Brazil.
On the M&A front, JBS Couros and Viva Leather will merge to form a billion-dollar global leather company with 31 plants, BE8 expanded again with a new biodiesel unit in Mato Grosso, and Koppert is seeking a minority investor after a year of declining revenue and tighter margins.
In broader market moves, the United States removed a 40 percent tariff on key Brazilian farm exports, the European Union is expected to postpone its anti-deforestation regulation to 2026 and Itaú BBA projected thinner margins across major crops for the 2025–2026 cycle.
🧭 Table of Contents
AgTech
High yield dairy farm in Minas hits four times the national average
Embrapa’s Fênix strawberry doubles seedling production and boosts yields
Oregon Tool revamps distribution to target 30% growth in Latam
Climate Tech
Brazil and Japan partner to restore degraded pastures in the Cerrado
Embrapa’s AgriZone one of the highlights of COP30
COP30 action agenda outlines solutions for the future of agriculture
Ag gains space in COP30 climate discussions, but investment remains a gap
Roberto Rodrigues says COP30 exceeded expectations
M&A
JBS and Viva merge to create a global leather giant
BE8 acquires another biodiesel plant in Mato Grosso
Koppert outlines challenges in attracting a minority partner in Brazil
Macro & Markets
US removes 40% tariff and reopens market for Brazilian agribusiness
EU expected to delay anti deforestation law by one year
Itaú BBA projects lower margins for all major crops in the 2025–2026 season
AgTech
High yield dairy farm in Minas hits four times the national average – Fazenda Sertãozinho in southern Minas Gerais produces a little over 6,000 liters of milk per day with 160 cows in lactation, reaching roughly 11,500 liters per cow per year, more than four times the Brazilian average of 2,362 liters, according to IBGE. Results come from a structured system that includes compost barn housing for young stock, free stall for lactating cows and Cow Watch collars that track health, heat stress and reproduction in real time. The farm also uses full herd genotyping to guide precision breeding and maintains a total herd of 300 animals. read more
Embrapa’s Fênix strawberry doubles seedling production and boosts yields – Embrapa’s BRS DC25 Fênix has rapidly expanded across Brazil after seedling production jumped from 2.5 million to 5 million units in just two years, with another doubling expected in 2026. The variety offers earlier fruiting, allowing a harvest window of up to seven months (June to December), which gives producers access to higher off season prices. Fruits average 23 grams, with firmer texture, better transport resistance and longer shelf life. With good crop management, yield potential reaches 1.2 kilograms per plant. read more
Oregon Tool revamps distribution model to target 30% growth in Latam – Oregon Tool, an American manufacturer of chainsaw chains and guides, plans to grow 30 percent in Latin America by 2028 and has begun repositioning its regional operations. The company is strengthening its distribution model and upgrading its Curitiba unit, the only chain factory located in the Southern Hemisphere. The goal is to reduce delivery times, expand technical support and improve product availability for forestry, landscaping and agricultural clients. Oregon Tool also intends to broaden its product mix to capture rising demand across Brazil, Chile and Colombia. read more
Climate Tech
Brazil and Japan partner to restore degraded pastures in the Cerrado – Brazil and Japan signed a 5 to 10 year cooperation agreement to recover degraded pastures across the Cerrado, aiming to increase livestock productivity while improving soil health and climate resilience. The partnership includes technical exchange, satellite monitoring of land degradation and joint research on low carbon production models. The initiative also supports Brazil’s broader strategy to scale regenerative agriculture in the biome during COP30, strengthening bilateral collaboration on science and sustainability. read more
Embrapa’s AgriZone one of the highlights of COP30 – AgriZone, Embrapa’s dedicated space for tropical agriculture at COP30, drew 24,469 visitors from 46 countries and became one of the summit’s most visited attractions. The area featured a full carbon zero demonstration farm planted specifically for the event, showing how ILPF, SAF systems, biological inputs and climate adaptation tools perform in real tropical conditions. Over 12 days, AgriZone hosted more than 350 events, received 40 official delegations and showcased technologies for low carbon production, food security and biofortified crops. read more
COP30 action agenda outlines solutions for the future of agriculture – Discussions at COP30 highlighted a set of measures aimed at preparing global agriculture for shifting climate and market conditions. The agenda emphasizes expanded investment in low carbon technologies, stronger adaptation strategies and more accurate monitoring systems to guide land use decisions. Experts also underscored the importance of early warning tools, resilient seed varieties and regenerative practices to reduce risk and rebuild soil health. read more
Ag gains space in COP30 climate discussions, but investment remains a gap – COP30 brought agriculture into the center of climate negotiations, with Brazil presenting its low carbon production models, soil restoration strategies and advances in measurement and traceability. Experts noted that producers are now seen as essential partners in climate mitigation and adaptation, yet investment flows remain far below what is required to scale proven solutions. The debate highlighted the urgency of blending public and private capital to fund regenerative projects, carbon monitoring systems and rural infrastructure. read more
Roberto Rodrigues says COP30 exceeded expectations – Former Agriculture Minister Roberto Rodrigues stated that COP30 delivered stronger results for Brazil than initially anticipated, highlighting the country’s leadership in food security, renewable energy and climate solutions. He noted advances in global recognition of low carbon agriculture and the importance of including producers in climate discussions. Rodrigues also emphasized the need for stable policies that reward efficiency, science based practices and long term sustainability. read more
M&A
JBS and Viva merge to create a global leather giant – JBS Couros and Viva Leather will merge their operations to form JBS VIVA, a new company with 31 factories and 11,000 employees across Brazil, Italy, Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico and Vietnam. The combined operation will have capacity to process more than 20 million leather pieces per year and is expected to generate more than US$ 1 billion in annual revenue. Viva was created less than two years ago through the merger of Viposa and Vancouros, and in the new structure JBS will hold 50 percent of the company while Viva’s shareholders retain the remaining 50 percent. read more
BE8 acquires another biodiesel plant in Mato Grosso – BE8, led by Erasmo Battistella, bought a biodiesel plant in Alto Araguaia that was operated by União Agroindustrial of Grupo MC Empreendimentos. The unit has capacity to produce 245 million liters of biofuel per year and is the companys first plant in Mato Grosso, raising BE8s total biodiesel capacity to 1.71 billion liters annually. The deal follows the 2024 acquisition of three Biopar plants in Mato Grosso, Piauí and Pará, and is aligned with a broader strategy that includes a wheat ethanol project and a biogenic CO2 supply agreement with Air Liquide. read more
Koppert seeks minority investor amid revenue drop – Koppert is looking for a minority partner in Brazil after a challenging year marked by shrinking margins, lower biologicals demand and reduced pest pressure, which hit sales during the 2023–24 corn cycle. The Dutch company mandated Itaú BBA to raise €100 million and stabilize operations after reporting 2024 revenue of approximately US$132 million, down nearly US$24 million from the previous year. EBITDA also turned negative, with a US$21 million loss in 2024 compared to a US$10 million profit the year before. Koppert aims to regain momentum through factory expansion, new biocontrol lines and a more efficient production model, projecting Brazilian revenue of US$560 million by 2029. read more
Macro & Markets
US removes 40% tariff and reopens market for Brazilian agribusiness – The US has removed a 40% import tariff that restricted several Brazilian agricultural products, reopening opportunities for beef, coffee and other high value exports. The decision followed technical negotiations on sanitary rules, quality standards and market transparency. One exception remains: instant coffee will continue to face the 40% tariff, limiting competitiveness in that segment. read more
EU expected to delay anti deforestation law by one year – The European Union is preparing to postpone implementation of its anti deforestation regulation (EUDR) to 2026, giving producers and importers more time to adjust to strict traceability requirements. The delay follows pressure from member states and supply chain actors concerned about verification capacity and potential trade disruptions. The extension is expected to ease near term friction for Brazilian exporters of coffee, beef and soy while maintaining the long term goal of tighter environmental oversight in global supply chains. read more
Itaú BBA projects lower margins for all major crops in the 2025–2026 season – Itaú BBA forecasts a broad margin squeeze across soybeans, corn, cotton, coffee and sugarcane due to weaker commodity prices, higher production costs and tighter credit conditions. Even efficiency gains and strong yields may not offset the combined impact of lower selling prices and rising operational expenses. The bank highlights the importance of crop diversification, financial planning and risk management tools as producers prepare for a more challenging cycle. 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.