#Sementis: the best month with 10 new deals

#18 - August in LATAM - Sementis

Holaaaa, Oláaaaa, Helloooo

The Olympics are over, but we continue to root for the Latin Americans in the Paralympics!

And we have a new Sementis edition! Yeah, August is the month with more agfoodtech new deals so far (10!), and here I bring more news, events, publications and much more! Hope you enjoy it and have a great weekend!

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And, before we start, I would like to ask you to sign up for the Newsletter for free, just to support my work.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are solely my own and don’t necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities I represent.

Let's go!

Topics we will cover:

• 🤝 New Startups Deals

• 🌱 Ag

•  🍇 Food

• 🌤️ Climate

• 💡 General News

• 👩🏻‍💻 Publications

• 🗓️ Events

• 💼 Job Openings

• 💬 Quote of the Month

• 👀 Before you go…

• Agroforestry Carbon receives R$1.1 million through crowdfunding

• B4A raises R$ 3 million to bring DNA soil analysis to the cerrado

• BemAgro raises R$ 15 million from Suzano and Atvos

• Bready raises R$ 600 thousand to invest in research and development

• Buzzfly raises R$4 million

• Cellva ingredients raises R$8.5M and aims for international expansion

• Husqvarna buys InCeres to create smart machines

• IDGeo raises R$6 million with CVC from Banco do Brasil

• Meu Pescado acquires Vai Aqua to boost digital education in the aquaculture sector

• Pet Delícia  raises R$2.5M and breaks record in crowdfunding

• ADM teams up with agtech FBN to connect regenerative producers to buyers

• Ajinomoto will buy green ammonia from Yara

• Agrivalle, Bayer, BRF, GAPES and Produzindo Certo launch the first regenerative agriculture consortium in Latin America

• Agrogalaxy takes another R$30 million from Aqua Capital

• Agrolend obtained a BBB+ rating from Moody’s and has already raised R$300 million in LCAs

• AgroSoft 4.0 was selected by one of the largest agricultural development programs in Brazil, HUB CNA

• BDMG opens registration for free training in regenerative agriculture

• Biotrop "takes R$ 100 million out of its pocket" to triple production

• Celeiro launches automated risk analysis platform for credit in agribusiness at Expointer

• Citrosuco, ECCON Soluções Ambientais and Reservas Votorantim launch new methodology to remunerate sustainable agricultural practices

• Claro Brasil to invest R$10 million in 5G and generative AI research project

• Cocriagro Hub gains national expansion

• Comfort confinement launches brand to compete in the biofertilizers market

• CRM Agro: Rural management tool stands out at the Agrobrasília Hackathon

• Embrapa and IICA formalize partnership for Africa and COP30

• Fama wants to show that ag can be pop in the climate with SLC

• Fine Instrument Tecnhnology (FIT) changes palm oil production in Brazil

• Forest.bot develops robot that plants up to 1,800 seedlings per hour

• GoSolos highlights soil genetic analysis at cotton congress

• Harven and Rural Ventures join forces to strengthen the digital transformation of agriculture

• John Deere invests $10 million in climate technology startup

• LandPrint serves financial institutions, corporations and producers with a solution that assesses environmental impact

• JBS fund in Amazonia: Excluding small producers could make agribusiness unviable

• McKinsey: Organics, WhatsApp and cash payments: The “mind” of the farmer, according to McKinsey

• Milhão, which has Amaggi as a partner, will pay a premium for regenerative corn

• Reg.IA initiative brings together Agrivalle, Bayer, BRF, Produndo Certo and Gapes for sustainable soy

• Patria creates fertilizer holding and is already targeting acquisitions to grow five times by 2030

• Raízen: biomethane arrives by December (but needs to be monetized further)

• Scheffer sets foot in commercial production of biologicals

• SLB has plans for Brazil's "carbon negative" ethanol

• SLC: Drones and high technology help save R$90 million in the harvest

• The Yield Lab to pay €100,000 for sustainable solution in dairy sector

• Traive wants to give analysts an AI to call their own

• Trans Ova arrives in Brazil with an eye on Latin America

• TIM's route to reaching 20 million connected hectares

• Typcal seeks to put Latam on the mycoprotein map

• Yvy close to closing a R$300 million investment in agtech Solinftec

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• Brazilian biomass market could reach US$60 billion by 2040, estimates Mckinsey

• Brazil has a low-carbon fertilizer. But it needs to break into the market

• Brazil puts 5G at the heart of smart agriculture

• India accelerates decarbonization program and may benefit Brazilian ethanol

• Investment in agriculture gene editing grew 206% YoY in H1 2024, hinting at sector recovery and new momentum

• The question that remains unanswered: what will not change in the agribusiness of the future?

• The role of technology in the management and mitigation of non-agricultural risks

• With almost R$2 billion in investments, wheat ethanol promises to advance in Rio Grande do Sul

• Why agricultural innovation is a pillar for climate resilience?

• ACOM Sistemas - FoodTech that boosts bars and restaurants arrives in the Northeast 

• Assaí Atacadista and Connecting Food come together to redistribute food and avoid waste

• BRF will pay for regenerative soy with a price premium

• Central Cercecera de Colimbia (CCC): Owner of Andina bets on doubling supply in Colombia to win the beer market

• FoodCo.: learn about the trajectory of the startup that has already impacted 35,000 food service entrepreneurs in Brazil

• Food To Save supports the 36th edition of McDia Feliz

• Illycafé, Lavazza and Starbucks invest in Cuban and Peruvian coffee to diversify global supply

• Mercado Different launches virtual assistant for kitchen support

• Nestlé: an “agricultural” plan to decarbonize the chain (and attract producers)

• Nestlé has developed a new coffee in Brazil – with the climate in mind

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• Latin American caviar leaders expect first sales rebound in years

• Banco ABC’s route to decarbonizing its portfolio – and boosting customers

• BNDES Garagem launches free cycle to support impact businesses

• BNDES grants R$160 million loan to Mombak, startup that sells carbon credits

• Doma wants to put the Amazon on the Canadian stock exchange

• Oxygea wants to close the year with up to 12 deals and a focus on deep tech

• Systemica (BTG investment) bets on agroforestry and carbon credits

• World Bank launches innovative bonds to reforest the Amazon

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• Amazon forest receives final of biodiversity 'scavenger hunt' - with prize of US$ 10 million

• Brazil must cut emissions by 92% by 2035, says proposal

• Climate startups resume funding

• Looking for Brazilian companies candidates for decarbonization

• Norwegian company partners for green ammonia production in Porto do Açu

• Roubini, Dr. Apocalypse, takes a look (also) at the climate

• Why the Amazon was 'all in' with our carbon credits

General:

• Ag & forestry carbon services face testing times after raising less than $10m in H1 2024

• Brazil has 10 of the 16 most active CVCs in Latin America

• Brazil-Chile Business Forum strengthens business opportunities

• Brazilian startups selected for Web Summit Lisboa will undergo cutting-edge training in search of connection with the European market

• Export Day: business mission in Uruguay expected to generate US$11 million in business

• GRIDX: Argentine biotech VC unites scientists with entrepreneurs

• Latina women contribute US$1.3 billion to the US GDP and “are a source of resilience”

• Seedstars Capital and iThink VC Partner for Latin American Tech Startups

• The consequences for Latin America if the digital gaps against AI are not closed

• The world needs an extra Brazil in cultivated land by 2030, says McKinsey partner

• Venture capital investment more than doubles in Q2 in Brazil

Highlights:

1. Harven and Rural Ventures launch Digital Transformation and Innovation in Agribusiness Course

I’m honored to be part of this initiative that aims to educate to educate people about technology and innovation in agriculture.

I’ve already explained here that Ag Innovation needs people. Yes, despite the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), robots, drones and automation, agriculture needs people. Humans!

And it’s a great pleasure to be together with some great professionals (and Sementis readers!) in this course, as Mirella Lisboa, Fernando Rodrigues, Andrei Golfeto, Andreísa Flores and Letícia Martinez.

Portuguese only: know more about this course.

• Agrotech Index

• CB Insights - State of CVC Q2 2024

• CEPAL - Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2024: low growth trap, climate change and employment dynamics

• McKinsey - The Brazilian consumer today

• SlingHub - Corporate investments in the Brazilian ecosystem

Call for Startups:

• 🇺🇾 Sep, 09: Converge INIA and BID

• 🇧🇷 Sep, 22: Holambra Cooperative - Innovation Challenge

• 🌎 Sep, 30: Acelera LATAM

• 🇧🇷 2025, Jan: OASIS FIT Acceleration

Courses:

• Harven and Rural Ventures: Digital Transformation and Innovation in Agribusiness

Upcoming events:

• 🇧🇷 Sep, 10: Brazil Livestock Forum

• 🇧🇷 Sep, 17-18: Top Farmers National Meeting

• 🇧🇷 Sep, 16-20: São Paulo Tech Week

• 🇧🇷 Sep 18: Cubo Conecta

• 🇧🇷 Sep, 24-26: Expomeat

• 🇧🇷 Sep 12 - Artificial Intelligence in Agribusiness

• 2024 LATAM Events Full List

• 🌎 Latam - Somewhere’s customer (food, agriculture, and biotech industry) - Strategy and Operations Associate

• 🇦🇷 Outlier - Agriculture Expertise Sought for AI Training

• 🇧🇷 AGCO Company - Director of Business Development Precision Planting

• 🇧🇷 BemAgro - P.O. Forestry Solutions

• 🇧🇷 dsm-firmenich- Digital Customer Success Analytics Analyst

• 🇧🇷 IDH - Country Director

• 🇧🇷 Kynetec - Global Account Manager

• 🇧🇷 PwC - Senior Innovation Analyst - Startups | Senior Associate

• 🇧🇷 re.green - Agriculture Intensification Specialist

• 🇧🇷 Solinftec - Investor Relations Specialist

• 🇧🇷 Traive - Product Marketing Manager

• 🇧🇷 Trimble - Senior Marketing Specialist - Trimble Advanced Positioning LATAM

• 🇧🇷 Ubyfol - Transformation Specialist

• 🇨🇴 Conservation International - Technical Director, Sustainable Coffee

• 🇨🇴 The Nature Conservancy (TNC) - Regenerative Ranching and Agriculture Project Manager

• 🇨🇷 Produce Pay - ESG Manager

• 🇲🇽 Zetus - Restaurant Systems - Sales Manager - Gerente de Ventas Foodtech

• 🇵🇪 Technoserve - Program Director, Regenerative Agriculture Program

• 🇵🇪 responsAbility Investments AG - Assistant- Sustainable Food Debt in Lima, Peru

• 🇻🇪 Agrotendencia - Digital Marketing Manager

“Only those who dream too much will fail to achieve their goals. Those who try to take a step that is bigger than their legs can handle. Those who believe that things are easy. All things are difficult, they need to be fought for.” - Silvio Santos (Rest in peace 🙏)

Meme of the Month

We can do it! 💪🙋‍♀️

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That's it, folks! If you want to share some news from your company or project in this Newsletter, you can send it to me. 🤗

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Saludos,

Juh Chini, a dreamer

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