Brazil AgTech Report: Robot Ramp-Up, Dairy Dealflow, Fertilizer Friction, Bioinputs Battle
#32 BAR Brief
Welcome to this week’s Brazil AgTech Report.
Curated news from the frontline of Brazil’s AgriFood and Climate Tech ecosystem
Summary
Brazil’s bioeconomy is blooming — and tech is taking root. This week’s highlights show a country leaning hard into climate-smart growth, rural fintech, and data-driven ag. From Embrapa’s new biofactory to Huawei’s farm cameras and Solinftec’s US$58M robot ramp-up, the innovation pipeline is buzzing.
AgTech saw action from Nexat’s mega-machinery debut in Bahia to Swap’s entry into rural credit. AI is now saving 50% on sugarcane herbicides, and Starlink is connecting more farms—though two-thirds still remain offline.
Climate Tech stories include Evolua Etanol’s pivot to corn, Nitro’s biologicals boom, and the fertilizer lobby’s call for regulatory speed. On the FinTech front, Rio Bravo and Minas Gerais state both unveiled new ag funds, signaling a structural shift in how rural projects are financed.
Meanwhile, Brazil made a historic leap on the global stage with its new aftosa-free status, even as bird flu warnings and dairy consolidation bring mixed signals. Add in JICA’s rare direct equity move in Agrolend, and it’s clear: the future of farming in Brazil is getting faster, greener, and smarter.
🧭 Table of Contents
AgTech
🧪 Embrapa Opens Biofactory
💳 Swap Targets Rural Credit
🚜 Nexat’s Monster Machine Debuts
🌐 Huawei & VirtuEyes Connect Farms
Climate Tech
🌽 Evolua Bets on Corn Ethanol
🧫 Nitro’s Bioinput Bet Hits US$200M
⏳ Fertilizer Industry Urges Speed
FinTech
🏦 Rio Bravo Launches Agro Fund
🌾 Minas Gerais Plans US$30M Fiagro
Funding
📡 Solinftec Raises US$58M Series D
💼 JICA Backs Agrolend
Macro & Markets
🥩 Brazil Free of Aftosa (No Vaccine)
🐔 Bird Flu Case in Rio Grande do Sul
🥛 Dairy Sector Gains Investor Appeal
🛰️ Starlink & Roads Drive Connectivity
🌾 AgTech
Embrapa inaugurated a new bio-inputs facility in Brasília to accelerate research and local production of biopesticides and biofertilizers. The biofactory is designed to reduce Brazil’s dependency on imported inputs and provide farmers with sustainable tools against pests and soil degradation. It will also support startups and public-private partnerships in the sector. read more
Swap, a B2B embedded finance platform, is moving aggressively into agri-credit. The fintech aims to streamline rural payment operations for cooperatives, tradings, and ag-retailers by offering its “Banking-as-a-Service” infrastructure. The company has already facilitated over 1 million credit operations in other sectors and sees agribusiness as its next growth vertical. read more
Nexat, the German manufacturer of next-gen ag machines, officially launched operations in Brazil at the Bahia Farm Show. Known for its 230-ton “monster machine,” the company promises higher yields and fuel savings by integrating planting, spraying, and harvesting into a single robotic platform. The rollout will focus on major grain-producing regions. read more
Huawei and VirtuEyes announced a new rural connectivity project using AI-powered sensors and cloud-linked cameras. The partnership will pilot digital monitoring of farms and livestock in Goiás and São Paulo, offering precision data on water, temperature, and pasture conditions. The project hopes to prove a scalable model for connected, tech-first farms. read more
🌱 Climate Tech
Evolua Etanol, a joint venture between Vibra Energia and Copersucar, is shifting its strategy to prioritize corn-based ethanol as a key renewable fuel. The company cites rising demand, better logistics, and competitive margins as core reasons for the pivot. Evolua plans to expand processing capacity and invest in biogas and circular energy solutions to complement its portfolio. read more
Nitro, a major Brazilian agrochemical group, crossed the US$200 million annual revenue mark in ag inputs and opened a new biofactory focused on biologicals. The facility strengthens its presence in the fast-growing bio-inputs space and supports national efforts to reduce synthetic fertilizer use. It’s also part of Nitro’s broader bet on climate-smart agriculture. read more
Brazil’s Fertilizer Industry Association (ANDA) is urging faster regulatory approvals for biofertilizers. Companies argue that current delays are blocking innovation and limiting Brazil’s ability to reduce its dependence on imports. The call for reform comes amid surging interest in climate-aligned and lower-carbon fertilizer alternatives. read more
💸 Funding
Solinftec closed a US$58 million Series D round led by YVY Capital, with participation from Rise Ventures. The ag-robotics pioneer aims to scale its “Solix” platform globally, delivering autonomous, solar-powered field monitoring and spraying. Existing investor Blue Like an Orange also remains on the cap table, having participated in earlier rounds. The funding will support expansion across the Americas, with Brazil and the U.S. as priority markets. read more
JICA, Japan’s international cooperation agency, made a strategic equity investment in Agrolend, the São Paulo-based digital ag bank. The partnership underscores growing interest from development institutions in agri-fintech models that serve small and mid-sized farmers. It also marks one of the first direct JICA investments in a Brazilian agtech. read more
🧾 FinTech
Rio Bravo, a leading Brazilian asset manager, has launched its first agriculture fund in partnership with the São Paulo state government. The new vehicle will focus on structured credit for farming projects and could pave the way for further expansion into AgriFintech. Rio Bravo is already studying verticals like ag marketplaces and rural lending platforms. read more
Minas Gerais state is planning a US$30 million Fiagro (agribusiness investment fund) to channel private capital into rural infrastructure and agribusiness development. The state is following in the footsteps of Paraná, which launched its own state-backed Fiagro earlier this year and set a precedent for sub-national funds targeting the agri sector. Minas aims to support small and mid-sized producers with long-term capital and attract institutional investors to local projects. read more
🌍 Macro & Markets
Brazil has been officially recognized by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as free of foot-and-mouth disease (aftosa) without vaccination. This historic upgrade could unlock premium market access for Brazilian beef and pork and lower sanitary barriers in key export destinations. read more
A new case of avian flu (H5N1) was confirmed in a backyard flock in Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul. Although not commercial poultry, the Ministry of Agriculture is ramping up biosecurity protocols to protect Brazil’s export status. So far, international markets remain open. read more
Brazil’s dairy sector is gaining strength, with consolidation, vertical integration, and tech adoption reshaping the industry. Experts say the time is ripe for investors and policymakers to look closer at milk, yogurt, and cheese as engines of rural growth and nutrition. read more
Starlink and improved highways are driving rural connectivity, but two-thirds of Brazilian farms still lack reliable internet. A new report highlights how logistics and satellites are closing the gap—but calls for faster deployment to unlock the full potential of precision agriculture. 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.
Hi Kieran, saw your post on Brazil agtech and (although not Brazilian) I thought you may enjoy my most recent post about Nitricity - creating fertilizer without all the trade offs - https://optimistictech.substack.com/p/optimistic-tech-newsletter-nitricity?r=y2n2m