Hi, I’m Kieran Gartlan, Managing Partner at The Yield Lab Latam, ranked second in the world last year for AgTech investments. If you’re interested in learning more about Brazil’s AgTech opportunity, feel free to reach out.
In Brazil AgTech news this week, Embrapa launches two disease-resistant cotton varieties, Tarken introduces a conversational AI assistant for agricultural credit, biological inputs reach 46.2 million treated hectares, JBS opens its protein-development platform to other food companies, and Mignow takes its agricultural enterprise automation technology to the US.
In Climate Tech, wind power supplies almost all the electricity used by seven ADM soybean-crushing operations, Amanco signs its largest Brazilian irrigation contract, and the government proposes a record US$10.9 billion budget for its Climate Fund in 2027.
In Funding & M&A, Mombak launches an Amazon reforestation fund that could mobilize US$200 million, Minerva Foods acquires a stake in grain marketplace Grão Direto, and Coasul moves to incorporate Codepa in a major Paraná cooperative consolidation.
And in Macro & Markets, Nutrien exits agricultural retail in São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul, a temporary US beef quota creates a new export opening for Brazil, and Uruguay offers Brazil access to its unused Chinese beef quota.
AgTech
Embrapa Launches Disease-Resistant Cotton Varieties
Tarken Brings Conversational AI to Agricultural Credit
Biological Inputs Reach 46.2 Million Treated Hectares
JBS Opens Protein-Development Platform to Food Companies
Mignow Takes Agricultural Enterprise Automation to the US
Climate Tech
Wind Power Cuts ADM’s Soy-Crushing Emissions
Amanco Signs Its Largest Brazilian Irrigation Contract
Brazil Proposes US$10.9 Billion for its Climate Fund
Funding & M&A
Mombak Launches US$200 Million Amazon Reforestation Fund
Minerva Foods Acquires Stake in Grão Direto
Coasul and Codepa Plan Paraná Cooperative Consolidation
Macro & Markets
Nutrien Exits Agricultural Retail in Two Brazilian States
US Beef Quota Creates Export Opening for Brazil
Uruguay Offers Brazil Its Unused Chinese Beef Quota
AgTech
Embrapa Launches Disease-Resistant Cotton Varieties — Embrapa and Lyntera have launched two transgenic cotton varieties combining high yields with resistance to nematodes, ramularia and other major diseases. BRS 510 B2RF and BRS 810 B3RF can produce approximately 7.3–7.6 tonnes per hectare in first-season planting and could reduce crop losses and fungicide use in Brazil’s main cotton regions. Source: Embrapa
Tarken Brings Conversational AI to Agricultural Credit — Tarken has launched Estrategista, an AI assistant that lets agribusinesses query internal credit and commercial data using natural language. The company says its platform supports US$2–4 billion in monthly credit approvals across more than 1,000 businesses, giving the new tool a potentially large role in agricultural lending decisions. Source: AgFeed
Biological Inputs Reach 46.2 Million Treated Hectares — Brazilian farmland treated with biological products increased 18.3% to 46.2 million hectares during the first half of 2026, according to CropLife Brasil. Sales rose 9.6% to US$364 million, with particularly strong growth in bionematicides and inoculants. The figures suggest that biologicals are moving beyond product development towards broad commercial adoption. Source: AgFeed
JBS Opens Protein-Development Platform to Food Companies — JBS has created Genu-in Solutions, a white-label platform offering product formulation, testing, regulatory support and manufacturing to companies developing high-protein foods. The business will use collagen, gelatin and other animal-derived ingredients to help outside brands create higher-value products, starting with a snack containing 44% protein. Source: The AgriBiz
Mignow Takes Agricultural Enterprise Automation to the US — Brazilian technology company Mignow is targeting the US agricultural market after using AI to automate SAP modernization for companies including Amaggi, SLC, Coopercitrus and Citrosuco. In one Brazilian cooperative deployment, the company says it cut invoice-processing time from more than five minutes to approximately 20 seconds. Source: AgFeed
Climate Tech
Wind Power Cuts ADM’s Soy-Crushing Emissions — ADM’s share of the Babilônia Sul wind complex now supplies almost all the electricity used by seven soybean-crushing operations across Brazil. The company estimates that the arrangement avoids 19,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually and reduces processing costs by approximately US$1.20 per tonne, connecting lower emissions with stronger crushing margins. Source: AgFeed
Amanco Signs Its Largest Brazilian Irrigation Contract — Amanco Wavin will provide 57 kilometres of piping for 28 center-pivot irrigation systems at Fazenda Tronco in Minas Gerais under a contract worth more than US$2 million. The farm expects irrigation to increase soybean yields by approximately 20%, although 19 of the planned pivots still require environmental approval. Source: AgFeed
Brazil Proposes US$10.9 Billion for Fundo Clima — Brazil’s proposed 2027 budget would allocate a record US$10.9 billion to the country's Climate Fund, 28% more than this year. The fund is becoming an important source of concessional capital for reforestation, corn ethanol, biomethane and other low-carbon projects, although actual lending has consistently fallen short of the amounts authorized. Source: Capital Reset
Funding & M&A
Mombak Launches US$200 Million Amazon Reforestation Fund — Mombak has completed the first close of Amazon Reforestation Fund II, which aims to raise US$160 million in equity and has secured approval for a US$40 million credit line from the country's Climate Fund. The reforestation fund will restore degraded pasture with native Amazon forest and generate carbon-removal credits, although the amount raised at first close was not disclosed. Source: Capital Reset
Minerva Foods Acquires Stake in Grão Direto — Minerva Foods has acquired an existing investor’s stake in digital grain marketplace Grão Direto, becoming the first livestock company in its shareholder group. The investment could connect digital grain trading with feed procurement, livestock production and commodity intelligence. It was a secondary transaction, meaning Grão Direto received no new capital, and the value was not disclosed. Source: AgFeed
Coasul and Codepa Plan Paraná Cooperative Consolidation — Coasul plans to incorporate Codepa, creating a cooperative group with combined annual revenue of approximately US$1.3 billion and 19,000 members. The transaction would bring together grain storage, agricultural inputs, credit, poultry processing and technical services, but still requires approval from members and Brazil’s competition authority. Source: AgFeed
Macro & Markets
Nutrien Exits Agricultural Retail in Two Brazilian States — Nutrien will end direct agricultural-input retail and distribution in São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul while retaining operations in Goiás, Minas Gerais and Tocantins. The withdrawal reflects continuing pressure on margins and credit across Brazil’s input-distribution sector and could create opportunities for regional dealers and cooperatives. Source: The AgriBiz
US Beef Quota Creates Export Opening for Brazil — A temporary 300,000-tonne expansion of the US low-tariff quota for lean beef could help Brazil more than triple shipments between September and November, according to Agrifatto. Brazil has approximately 50 approved processing plants and is well positioned to supply a market facing its smallest cattle herd in 75 years. Source: The AgriBiz
Uruguay Offers Brazil Its Unused Chinese Beef Quota — Uruguay has offered Brazil access to the unused portion of its Chinese beef-import quota after Brazilian exporters exhausted their own 2026 allocation. The arrangement could reopen space in Brazil’s largest beef market, where above-quota shipments face tariffs totalling 67%, but it still requires approval and implementation by China. Source: CNN Brasil
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.