Brazil AgTech Report: Parasite Precision, Forest Funding, Irrigation Infusion, Tariff Truce.
#54 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, LumenEra is advancing a nanotechnology-based alternative for parasite control in livestock, while Revella Tech earned international recognition for its transparent agricultural sunscreen. Justoken (Agrotoken`s holding company) is targeting rapid growth as traceability pressures rise, and new research highlights how AI, computer vision, and satellite data could unlock better decisions on farms.
In Climate Tech developments, Switzerland doubled its support for the Amazon Fund at COP30, Nestlé and Embrapa formalized a partnership to accelerate regenerative agriculture, and PepsiCo and Yara expanded their global low-carbon potato program into Brazil. Embrapa spotlighted Brazil’s low-carbon farming systems, while CPI’s The Lab endorsed nine new climate-finance vehicles targeting more than US$425 million in emerging markets.
On the funding front, foreign investors intensified their bets on Brazil with a US$200 million irrigation project with SLC Agrícola, while BNDES projected up to US$15 billion in sustainable investments through its new climate call. IKEA announced a €100 million Brazil investment with BTG Pactual's TIG fund, BASF and Farmtech prepare US$100 million in farm credit, and Itaú BBA begin evaluating a new ESG-linked credit line focused on livestock.
In broader market moves, the U.S. removed tariffs on coffee and beef, while Brazil approved DDG and sorghum exports to China and recorded its first physical grain-derivative delivery in over 15 years. The government launched a public consultation for a national SAF program, and a new joint venture will develop 55,000 hectares of irrigated coffee in Minas Gerais.
🧭 Table of Contents
AgTech
LumenEra develops sustainable parasite-control tech for livestock
Revella Tech wins award in Spain for transparent agricultural sunscreen
Justoken aims to triple revenue in 2026 as Bunge pushes for traceability
AI and computer-vision tools from energy sector could help Brazil Ag
AI-powered remote sensing maps small coffee farms with high precision
Climate Tech
Switzerland doubles its support for the Amazon Fund at COP30
Nestlé and Embrapa sign COP30 pact to scale regenerative agriculture
PepsiCo and Yara launch low-carbon potato project in Brazil
Embrapa spotlights Brazil’s low-carbon farming system at COP30
CPI’s The Lab endorses nine climate-finance solutions targeting US$425M
Funding
Canadian PSP backs US$200M irrigation project with SLC Agrícola
BNDES projects US$15B in sustainable investments from new climate call
IKEA announces €100M Brazil investment with BTG Pactual TIG
BASF and Farmtech to offer US$100M in credit to farmers
Itaú BBA evaluates new ESG credit line tailored for livestock
M&A
Raízen sells Continental mill to Grupo Colorado for US$150M
Granja Mantiqueira acquires U.S. egg producer
Macro & Markets
Trump removes tariffs on coffee and beef, easing pressure on Brazilian exporters
Brazil approves DDG and sorghum exports to China
Brazil records first physical delivery of a grain derivative in over 15 years
Brazil opens public consultation to create national SAF program
Santos e Dias and Ruiz Coffees to develop 55,000 hectares of irrigated coffee
AgTech
LumenEra develops sustainable parasite-control tech for livestock – Brazilian startup LumenEra, a science-based spin-off linked to the National Institute for Science and Technology in Nanotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture (INCT NanoAgro), is developing a nanotechnology solution to control cattle parasites without conventional chemical products. The technology uses plant-derived compounds encapsulated in biodegradable nanoparticles to increase effectiveness while reducing environmental impact. Early field tests suggest strong potential to lower losses from tick infestations and improve animal welfare. read more
Revella Tech wins award in Spain for transparent agricultural sunscreen – Revella Tech, a startup based at the CELTA incubator in Santa Catarina, has gained international recognition after reaching the finals of the Agritech Startup Forum at Expo Agritech Málaga. The company presented Revella WL-04, described as Brazil’s first liquid and transparent agricultural sunscreen for plants. The biodegradable film forms an invisible layer over leaves and fruits, protecting crops from excess solar radiation and heat stress without blocking photosynthesis. read more
Justoken aims to triple revenue in 2026 as blockchain traceability expands – Argentine agtech Justoken, formerly Agrotoken, plans to triple its annual revenue from about US$4 million to roughly US$12 million as it scales its blockchain-based grain traceability platform. The company expects to monitor up to 10 million tons of grains through partnerships with traders, cooperatives, and logistics operators. A new agreement with Bunge will track 1 million tons of soybeans bound for Asian markets, strengthening compliance with emerging global traceability rules. read more
AI and computer-vision tools from electric sector could help Brazil Ag – Technologies originally developed to monitor power lines, rivers, and forest areas are being adapted for agriculture, bringing advanced AI and computer vision to detect pests, diseases, and water stress directly in the field. Researchers at the Lactec research center say algorithms that identify fallen trees or native species can be trained to analyze crop leaves for early signs of damage, enabling faster decisions and more efficient input use. The tools can operate in real time with edge-processing cameras, reducing dependence on cloud connectivity and expanding on-farm precision monitoring. read more
AI-powered remote sensing maps small coffee farms with high precision – A new Brazilian methodology using satellite time-series data and machine-learning algorithms can accurately map small and fragmented coffee plots — areas typically invisible to large-scale surveys. The technique combines Sentinel-2 imagery with Random Forest and XGBoost models to classify four key phenological stages with 77–95% accuracy. Researchers say the approach helps identify productivity zones, support climate-adaptation planning, and improve access to credit by making smallholder assets visible. read more
Climate Tech
Switzerland doubles its support for the Amazon Fund at COP30 – Switzerland announced it will double its contribution to the Amazon Fund to over $10 million, reinforcing international confidence in Brazil’s environmental governance ahead of COP30. The new commitment will expand financing for forest protection, sustainable rural development, and community-led conservation projects. read more
Nestlé and Embrapa sign COP30 pact to scale regenerative agriculture – Nestlé Brasil and Embrapa have signed a cooperation agreement to accelerate regenerative agriculture, focusing on soil health, biodiversity, and low-carbon systems. The partnership was announced at COP30 and aims to scale best practices across Nestlé’s supplier base in coffee and cocoa. Joint research, new monitoring metrics, and field pilots will support producers in transitioning to more resilient and climate-smart production systems. read more
PepsiCo and Yara launch low-carbon potato project in Brazil – PepsiCo and Yara are expanding their global partnership with a new low-carbon potato initiative in Brazil. The project combines optimized fertilization, regenerative soil practices, and digital tools to reduce emissions in potato value chains. Early trials have shown gains in soil structure and reductions in nitrous oxide emissions, with Brazilian growers joining pilots already active in Europe and North America. read more
Embrapa spotlights Brazil’s low-carbon farming system at COP30 – Embrapa hosted a COP30 panel on Brazil’s ILPF system (crop–livestock–forestry integration), highlighting its role in expanding regenerative production and reducing emissions across the country’s biomes. The session brought together speakers from Embrapa, Suzano, John Deere, Bradesco, Syngenta, and Rede ILPF to discuss how integrated systems improve soil health, increase productivity, and sequester significant amounts of carbon over time. With more than 17 million hectares already using ILPF, experts say the model gives Brazil a unique edge in climate-smart agriculture. read more
CPI’s The Lab endorses nine climate-finance solutions targeting US$425M – Climate Policy Initiative’s, The Lab, announced nine new climate-finance instruments designed to mobilize up to US$425 million across emerging markets. The selected solutions focus on smallholder resilience, regenerative agriculture, forest protection, and nature-based carbon markets. The 2025 cohort includes blended-finance mechanisms, community equity models, and climate-risk insurance tools. CPI says the goal is to turn high-potential concepts into investable products that can scale globally. read more
Funding
Canadian PSP backs US$200M irrigation project with SLC Agrícola – Canadian pension fund PSP Investments is behind the US$200 million financing package for SLC Agrícola’s large-scale irrigation expansion in Bahia and Maranhão. The long-term project will add more than 20,000 hectares of irrigated cropland using pivots, deep wells, and reservoir systems designed to reduce climate risk and boost productivity in high-value crops. The investor is structuring the deal through a dedicated vehicle that secures long-term land-use rights rather than equity. read more
BNDES projects US$15B in sustainable investments from new climate call – BNDES estimates that its new public call for climate-focused financing could mobilize roughly US$15 billion in sustainable investments across Brazil over the coming years. The program aims to attract projects in renewable energy, low-carbon agriculture, forest restoration, green logistics, and climate resilience, with banks and private funds expected to co-invest alongside the development bank. read more
IKEA announces €100M Brazil investment with BTG Pactual TIG – IKEA’s investment arm, INGKA, is entering Brazil with a €100 million committment to BTG Pactual’s TIG fund to accelerate renewable energy and sustainable forestry projects. The initiative includes investments in solar generation and managed forest assets, aligning with IKEA’s strategy to scale clean energy and climate-positive materials across its supply chain. read more
BASF and Farmtech to offer US$100M in credit to farmers – BASF and Farmtech have partnered to make around US$100 million in input credit available to Brazilian farmers through the end of the crop season. The program will finance seeds, crop protection, and biologicals, with streamlined onboarding and flexible payment terms designed to ease cash-flow pressure. Farmtech oversees digital credit operations and risk assessment, while BASF contributes its product portfolio and commercial outreach. read more
Itaú BBA evaluates new ESG credit line tailored for livestock – Itaú BBA is studying the launch of a dedicated ESG-linked credit line for the livestock sector, aiming to reward producers who adopt low-carbon practices, full traceability, and pasture recovery systems. Executives say the bank is evaluating sustainability indicators that can be verified at scale, including deforestation-free sourcing and improved animal-welfare metrics. read more
M&A
Raízen sells Continental mill to Grupo Colorado for US$150M – Raízen has sold its Continental sugarcane mill in Colômbia (São Paulo state) to Grupo Colorado in a deal valued at roughly US$150 million. The transaction is part of Raízen’s strategy to streamline its asset base and focus on more competitive mills and its expanding bioenergy platform. For Grupo Colorado, the acquisition strengthens its position in the heart of Brazil’s sugarcane belt and adds new crushing capacity ahead of upcoming harvests. The deal now awaits regulatory approval before closing. read more
Granja Mantiqueira acquires U.S. egg producer – Granja Mantiqueira, Latin America’s largest egg producer, has acquired Hickman’s Family Farms in the United States, marking its first major international expansion. The deal adds more than 10 million laying hens to Mantiqueira’s operations and strengthens its footprint in specialty and cage-free segments. The Brazilian egg company, which recently sold a 50% equity stake to beef giant JBS, plans to integrate genetics, nutrition, and automation systems across the two markets to boost efficiency and diversify revenue. read more
Macro & Markets
Trump removes tariffs on coffee and beef, easing pressure on Brazilian exporters – The U.S. has announced it is lifting import tariffs on coffee, beef and other food products, offering immediate relief to exporters and improving competitiveness in both markets. More details on the decision are awaited, but the move is expected to strengthen margins for producers and increase shipments heading into 2026 as trade flows normalize. read more
Brazil approves DDG and sorghum exports to China – Brazil has authorized the export of DDG (distillers dried grains) and sorghum to China, opening a new channel for byproducts from the country’s fast-growing corn-ethanol industry. The agreement is expected to boost demand for Mato Grosso producers and strengthen Brazil’s position in global feed markets. read more
Brazil records first physical delivery of a grain derivative in over 15 years – Brazil has logged its first physical settlement of a grain derivative contract since 2009, a milestone for the country’s maturing futures market. The delivery via new exchange Balcao Agricola do Brasil (BAB) involved a contract for 1,800 ton of corn delivered in Rondonopolis, in Mato Grosso. read more
Brazil opens public consultation to create national SAF program – The government has launched a public consultation to design a national Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) program, aiming to scale domestic biofuel production and attract new investment. The framework will set certification rules, production targets, and financing mechanisms aligned with global decarbonization efforts. read more
Santos e Dias and Ruiz Coffees to develop 55,000 hectares of irrigated coffee – A new joint-venture named Jacurutu Coffee, created by Santos e Dias (through its agricultural division) and Ruiz Coffees, will develop up to 55,000 hectares of fully irrigated arabica coffee in João Pinheiro, northern Minas Gerais. The project includes center-pivot irrigation, deep wells, mechanized planting, and a production plan targeting 2.6 million bags over the next decade. Santos e Dias contributes land and infrastructure, while Ruiz Coffees leads agronomy and export strategy. 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.
Excellent analysis! The insights on AI and computer vision for farm decisions are fascinating. As someone deeply interested in AI, I see immense potential for practical optimisation. This report brilliantly highlights a crucial evolving tech landscape.