The 10 agtechs that have had the most impact on Brazilian agribusiness in the last 5 years

Since 2021, I have been taking the risk of predicting which Brazilian agtechs will have the greatest impact on agribusiness, based on factors such as disruptive technologies, market penetration, entrepreneurship, and the founders' management capabilities. This exercise is not easy and requires a mix of intuition, trend analysis, and conversations with the founders themselves. My goal has always been to share these technologies with you, showcasing the potential of our entrepreneurs and the incredible world of Brazilian agribusiness.

I never tire of repeating in my texts and lectures that what we are experiencing in Brazilian agribusiness is very similar to what the United States went through with the emergence of Silicon Valley or what China is currently experiencing with the artificial intelligence revolution. We need a strategic plan as a country, strengthening the sector where we are most competitive. This requires a robust government plan, strong leadership, and investments in disruptive technologies.

This year, I decided to take a different approach. Instead of predicting the future, I chose to evaluate the results of my past predictions. To do so, I turned to two artificial intelligence tools: the well-known ChatGPT (https://chatgpt.com) and DeepSeek (https://www.deepseek.com), which has recently gained prominence. I asked both the same question:

"Based on technological advances and innovations in Brazilian agribusiness over the past five years, which were the 10 agtechs that had the most impact and disruption in this sector?"

Below, I share the responses I received, followed by a comparative analysis and reflections on the future of the sector.

What Do These Agtechs Have in Common?

All 16 agtechs listed—since some appeared on both platforms—share a central objective: helping farmers solve their main challenges in a simple and efficient way. The problems they aim to address include:

• Increased productivity;

• Reduction of environmental impact;

• Improved operational efficiency;

• Risk reduction and mitigation;

• Cost reduction;

• Precision in planning and decision-making;

• Easier access to credit;

• Transparency and trust in commercialization;

• Crop monitoring;

• Digitalization of processes.

It sounds easy, but it isn't. Today, Brazil has over 1,800 agtechs, all striving to position themselves alongside farmers. However, they face the same challenges as any entrepreneur in the country: the infamous "Brazil cost," slow and bureaucratic legislation, lack of access to capital, and a shortage of qualified labor.

Surprises and Hits

I'm pleased to see that most of the agtechs I predicted in previous years made this list. However, some surprises emerged:

1. Dronagro: I had previously mentioned Sars Drones, which operates in the same segment. I believe drone use in agriculture will grow significantly in the coming years.

2. Certeza Rural: Instead, I had projected Safe Trace, which also focuses on traceability.

3. Biosmart: I wasn’t familiar with it, but I had mentioned other companies in the same sector, such as Openeen, Superbac, and Solubio.

4. Strider and Cropwise: Both are part of Syngenta Digital, highlighting how major companies acquire promising agtechs. I had mentioned Tarken, founded by the same entrepreneur as Strider.

Reflections and the Future

I am very pleased to see that other agtechs I have mentioned in previous articles, such as Seedz, Traive, Agrorobotica, Goflux, and Aliare, among others, continue to rise and occupy a prominent place in Brazilian agribusiness. However, I must also acknowledge my mistakes—some companies I predicted did not succeed, and those that are no longer active may need to reassess their value proposition.

As an expert in innovation and technology, I believe the future of Brazilian agribusiness will be shaped by key trends:

1. Sustainability: The demand for low-impact environmental solutions will drive the growth of agtechs focused on biotechnology and ecological practices.

2. Digitalization: The adoption of IoT, AI, and big data will continue to expand, benefiting companies that offer integrated digital solutions.

3. Global Expansion: Agtechs with internationalization potential will have a competitive advantage.

4. Public Policies: Government incentives for sustainable and digital agriculture can accelerate sector growth.

″A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor″. 

The coming years will be challenging but also full of opportunities. As an entrepreneur and innovation enthusiast, my role is to help companies strategically position themselves, contributing to a more efficient, and sustainable, and competitive agribusiness sector.

Brazil has everything it takes to be the world's breadbasket, and agtechs will be fundamental players in this journey. Let's navigate this future together!