AgTech Valley emerges in Brazil as a hub for bio-input innovation

Brazil is developing an ‘AgTech Valley’ in the São Paulo region, an innovation hub comprising over 1,000 agribusiness-focused companies, research institutions, and investors. The ecosystem focuses on creating technologies specifically suited for tropical farming, with a primary emphasis on bio-inputs.

Bio-inputs utilize living microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria, to act as natural pest predators, disease shields, and nutrient delivery systems for plants. This movement aims to reduce the agricultural sector's reliance on imported chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Companies like Genica, founded in Piracicaba in 2015, are leading this shift by combining artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, and DNA sequencing to identify microorganisms with specific agricultural functions.

The region benefits from close proximity to major research entities, including the University of Sao Paulo (USP) and Embrapa. Scientists at USP’s Piracicaba campus are currently studying plant genetics and proteins to strengthen crops against drought and disease, exploring ways to stimulate natural plant defense systems.