Brazil AgTech Report: Poultry Panic, Marfrig Mega Move, Starlink Soil, Crypto Buys Crop
#30 BAR Brief
Curated news from the frontline of Brazil’s AgriFood and Climate Tech ecosystem
Summary
Welcome to this week’s Brazil AgTech Report.
Two major headlines dominated Brazil’s ag landscape this week. First, avian flu disrupted poultry exports after Brazil confirmed its first commercial outbreak, prompting immediate trade suspensions from top buyers like China and the EU. Second, Marfrig’s US$1.2B bid to take full control of BRF signals a mega-merger that could reshape global protein markets.
On the tech front, Starlink’s partnership with CNH marks a major step in rural connectivity — beaming internet straight into tractors — while Falker rolled out a precision ag quadbike tailored for smallholders. Meanwhile, Indigo Ag launched its carbon credit program in Brazil, and FGV projected a 50% drop in emissions from soy, corn, and beef by 2050.
The capital markets didn’t stay quiet either. Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, surprised many with its majority acquisition of Adecoagro, a major agro-industrial player in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. And Amaggi made a strategic rescue of Los Grobo, deepening cross-border grain ties just as macro pressures intensify.
🗂️ Table of Contents
AgriFood Tech
🛰️ Starlink plugs in: CNH brings satellites to the farm
🛺 Falker goes off-road with quadbike for data-driven ag
🥜 Peanuts pop as São Paulo leads record harvest
Climate Tech
🌱 FGV charts path to 50% cut in carbon footprint
🧬 Indigo lands in Brazil with carbon credits + LATAM HQ
🍬 Corn ethanol cools as XP flags headwinds
M&A
💰 Tether goes agro with 70% stake in Adecoagro
🔀 Raízen exits ethanol mill in rare divestment
🥩 Marfrig makes its move to absorb BRF
🛢️ Amaggi rescues Argentina’s Los Grobo
Macro & Markets
🐓 Bird flu hits — Brazil halts poultry exports
🇨🇳 China commits $1B to SAF and farm investments
🚜 BAT praises Brazil ag, calls for vaping regulation
🥛 Danone backs dairy with supplier credit and quality drive
🌾 AgriFood Tech
🛰️ Starlink plugs in: CNH brings satellites to the farm
CNH Industrial has partnered with Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, to offer connectivity kits through its Case and New Holland brands. The goal is to deliver broadband access to remote rural areas where digital agtech has struggled to scale due to infrastructure gaps. By embedding Starlink into field machinery, CNH aims to boost adoption of precision agriculture and real-time analytics. The move positions CNH as a first-mover in integrating next-gen connectivity into the ag equipment value chain. read more
🛺 Falker goes off-road with quadbike for data-driven ag
Falker, a Porto Alegre-based company, is launching a four-wheeled electric quadbike aimed at transforming data collection on small and mid-sized farms. The vehicle is fitted with precision ag sensors and built to navigate challenging terrain, giving farmers a mobile platform to map soils, measure variability, and plan inputs more effectively. The product targets producers who can’t afford high-end machinery but need smarter tools to stay competitive. read more
🥜 Peanuts pop as São Paulo leads record harvest
Brazil’s peanut production hit a record high in 2024, with São Paulo accounting for the lion’s share of the surge. According to Embrapa and producer associations, improved seed technology and crop rotation with sugarcane helped push national output past 800,000 tons — a 15% year-over-year increase. Peanuts are increasingly seen as a profitable and resilient alternative in diversified farming systems, especially as export demand rises. read more
🌱 Climate Tech
🌱 FGV charts path to 50% cut in carbon footprint
A new study by FGV Agro projects that Brazil can reduce the carbon footprint of soy, beef, and corn by over 50% by 2050. The reduction hinges on scaling no-till practices, crop-livestock-forest integration, and forest protection policies. The analysis provides a roadmap for low-carbon agriculture and comes ahead of Brazil’s planned showcase at COP30. It also supports the business case for investing in regenerative transition pathways with measurable climate outcomes. read more
🧬 Indigo lands in Brazil with carbon credits + LATAM HQ
Indigo Ag has officially launched its carbon credit operations in Brazil, bringing the Terraton initiative into one of the world’s largest agricultural markets. Alongside this, the company is consolidating its Latin America and Europe leadership in São Paulo, signaling a strategic commitment to the region. Indigo offers verified carbon credits based on regenerative practices, targeting farmers and investors eager to tap into the nature-based climate economy. read more
🍬 Corn ethanol cools as XP flags headwinds
After a multi-year boom in corn ethanol investment, market conditions have begun to sour. According to a new analysis by XP Investimentos, the segment faces tightening margins due to falling corn prices, elevated freight costs, and regulatory uncertainty. New plants in Mato Grosso and Goiás are still coming online, but many investors are holding back amid shifting policy signals and a less favorable risk-return outlook. The report suggests the corn ethanol wave may be cresting — at least for now. read more
🔄 M&A
💰 Tether goes agro with 70% stake in Adecoagro
Tether, issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, made a surprising move into real assets by acquiring a 70% stake in Adecoagro, a major agricultural company operating across Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. The deal gives Tether exposure to land, food processing, and renewable energy assets — a bold pivot toward physical infrastructure in the Southern Cone. It also underscores a growing trend of crypto capital entering traditional agribusiness as investors seek real-world yield. read more
🔀 Raízen exits ethanol mill in rare divestment
In an unusual move, Raízen, a major Brazilian bioenergy company, has sold its sugar and ethanol plant in Leme (SP) for approximately US$85 million to Agromen and Ferrari. Agromen, traditionally focused on seed genetics, has been diversifying into bioenergy and low-carbon production systems. Ferrari, meanwhile, operates in sugarcane production and biomass energy, and plans to repurpose the facility to expand renewable fuel output. The deal marks a strategic shift for Raízen, signaling a pause in greenfield expansion in favor of portfolio optimization and debt restucturing amid more cautious biofuel market conditions. read more
🥩 Marfrig makes its move to absorb BRF
Marfrig, already the largest shareholder of BRF, has launched a US$1.2 billion offer to acquire the remaining 33% of shares it doesn’t yet control. If successful, the deal would fully merge two of Brazil’s biggest protein giants, consolidating operations in poultry, pork, and beef. Analysts say the move could unlock synergies in global logistics, branding, and feed supply — but may also face scrutiny from regulators and watchdogs. The deal represents one of the boldest M&A plays in Brazil’s agrifood space in years. read more
🛢️ Amaggi rescues Argentina’s Los Grobo
Amaggi, the Brazilian grain powerhouse, has stepped in to save Argentine agribusiness group Los Grobo by converting debt into a strategic equity position. The deal gives Amaggi operational influence in one of Argentina’s most recognized farm logistics and trading outfits, while rescuing Los Grobo from looming insolvency. It also expands Amaggi’s cross-border footprint, reinforcing its ambitions as a regional grain trade consolidator. read more
🌐 Macro & Markets
🐓 Bird flu hits — Brazil halts poultry exports
Brazil confirmed its first case of avian influenza in a commercial poultry facility in Rio Grande do Sul, leading to the culling of nearly 17,000 birds and immediate suspension of exports to China, the EU, Argentina, and Uruguay. While authorities stress the outbreak is contained, it has triggered concern across global markets, as Brazil is the world’s largest poultry exporter. The government activated emergency protocols and industry groups are calling for increased biosecurity to protect one of the country’s most valuable export chains. read more
🇨🇳 China commits $1B to SAF and farm investments
At the Brazil-China 2025 Summit, Chinese officials announced US$1 billion in new investments across Brazilian agriculture and green fuel infrastructure. The funding will target sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), soybean and corn production, and logistics partnerships, especially in the Cerrado. The deal reflects growing alignment between the two countries on food security and energy transition, and comes as Brazil seeks to deepen ties beyond its core soy and beef exports. read more
🚜 BAT praises Brazil ag, calls for vaping regulation
British American Tobacco (BAT) highlighted Brazil as a global benchmark for agricultural efficiency and sustainable supply chains during recent public comments. At the same time, the company urged lawmakers to regulate the booming — and currently informal — electronic cigarette market. read more
🥛 Danone backs dairy with supplier credit and quality drive
Danone is stepping up its dairy strategy in Brazil with a two-pronged push: a US$20 million credit facility through Banco do Brasil for small farmers and a new quality assurance program across its milk supply chain. The initiative aims to improve farmer resilience and product traceability while aligning with Danone’s global sourcing standards. It’s also a signal of how large food multinationals are using blended finance tools to de-risk supplier development. 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.
All views and opinions expressed are his own.