The Next Generation of Agtech in Brazil

Agrosmart, a Brazilian startup founded in 2014, is leveraging artificial intelligence and sensor technology to help over 100,000 farmers across Latin America manage climate-related risks. The regional market for data-driven agriculture is projected to grow from $2.2 billion to $10.4 billion by 2033 as farmers seek to mitigate the impacts of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. This technological shift is particularly critical in Brazil, which has become the world’s second-largest adopter of agricultural technology amid record-breaking harvests and rising environmental scrutiny.

Agrosmart originated in Brazil’s Electronics Valley when founders Mariana Vasconcelos, Raphael Pizzi, and Thales Nicoletti developed a prototype sensor to optimize water management during severe droughts. Since its official launch with $42,000 in seed funding from Start-Up Brasil and Baita Aceleradora, the company has expanded its platform to monitor more than 48 million hectares and 90 different crops. The current suite of tools includes the BoosterPro app, which provides real-time soil moisture data and tailored weather forecasts, as well as corporate services that diagnose environmental and compliance risks for banks and insurance companies.

The practical benefits of these technologies are significant for individual operators, such as citrus farmer José Ricardo Rodrigues, who reports saving approximately $2,200 per month in electricity costs by avoiding unnecessary irrigation. Beyond cost savings, the technology serves as a critical safety net; during the 2024 floods in Rio Grande do Sul, Agrosmart’s alerts allowed farmers to accelerate harvests and evacuate properties before the disaster. Such efficiencies are vital as Brazil’s grain output has nearly tripled since the early 2000s, reaching a record 320 million tons in the 2022–23 cycle, even as the sector faces pressure to reduce its 70% share of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite the rapid growth of Brazil's agtech sector—which saw a 75% increase in companies to nearly 2,000 between 2019 and 2024—the industry faces hurdles such as rural connectivity and system fragmentation. Experts like Aurélio Favarin from Embrapa note that while satellite internet is addressing connectivity gaps, there is a growing demand for integrated platforms that consolidate disparate data points. Agrosmart has maintained its competitive edge through significant backing from SP Ventures, which invested $1.3 million in 2018, positioning the company as a survivor in a complex tropical agriculture environment where many foreign competitors have failed to adapt to local needs.