Here are the startups selected for the 6th round of the Sustainable Soy for the Cerrado Program
Six new initiatives will join the program's portfolio and receive technical and financial support to develop their solutions
Biotecland, BioUs, ByMyCell, Cyan, Reforest Latam and Verde Novo are the startups selected in the sixth and final round of the Sustainable Soy for the Cerrado Program (PSSC), born of a partnership between PwC AgTech Innovation and the Land Innovation Fund, with strategic support from Cargill, CPQD, Embrapa and Embrapii. The six new members will receive up to USD 50,000 each from the Startup Finance Facility to develop their solutions, plus technical and scientific support from a team of researchers selected for the Cerrado Fellowship, and direct contacts with rural landowners active in the For Farmers Program.
The projects chosen in this cycle offer solutions for climate sensing, soil recovery and metagenomic analyses, native seed collection and ecological landscape restoration, biotechnology and bio-inputs, all of which both enhance crop areas and conserve the Cerrado's native vegetation. The new participants will join the 28 startups selected in the program's first five rounds, broadening the scope and diversity of innovative solutions for sustainable, deforestation- and conversion-free agriculture in the biome.
For the first time in the PSSC's history, half of the solutions selected into the program's portfolio will have female leaders (ByMyCell, Cyan, VerdeNovo). Another first for this cycle is the participation of an Argentine company, Reforest Latam, which will be tailoring its technology for disseminating seeds in remote areas to work with species native to the Cerrado. "Helping to engage and diversify the players in the agricultural supply chain is one of the ways the Fund works," says Ashley Valle, director of the Land Innovation Fund. "Encouraging the participation of multiple voices contributes to more equitable, sustainable and inclusive agriculture," she adds.
The Sustainable Soy for the Cerrado Program fosters the design, development, and delivery of innovative solutions favorable to sustainable development in the Cerrado, a biome that saw a 43% increase in deforestation in 2023, according to official INPE data. In this round, all participating startups have presented innovative solutions directly applicable in the field, particularly for soil recovery and ecological restoration.
"This round’s initiatives draw cutting-edge research closer to advances in sustainable agriculture, with solutions that combine growing demand for food with key conditions on international climate and environmental agendas," says Ashley Valle.
On Wednesday, April 17 at 11am, the startups selected for the latest round of the Sustainable Soy for the Cerrado Program presented their proposals in an online event, broadcast live on the PwC AgTech Innovation's YouTube channel. Three participants from earlier rounds – Bioflore, Grão Direto and Já entendi– shared partial results of their own projects in biodiversity, traceability, and professional training, respectively, which they also implement with strategic support from the Program's partners.
PSSC - 2024 Edition:
In this new edition of the Program, Cargill will be responsible for adding market value by validating and evaluating startups' solutions, as well as offering support through events and workshops, engaging with farmers, and bringing entrepreneurs and farmers closer together. Embrapa will provide ongoing expert support for the development of solutions, and will participate in analyzing proposals, mentoring and masterclasses.
The Brazilian Company for Industrial Research and Innovation (Embrapii) will bridge gaps separating startups and entrepreneurs from research centers to develop the selected projects, while also co-funding specific initiatives with grants. One of Embrapii's units, the Telecommunications Research and Development Center (CPQD) will support entrepreneurs working with Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Connectivity, IoT and other technologies within its area of expertise.
Startups participating in the PSSC have access to a team of Cerrado Fellowship researchers for technical and scientific support and also connect with participants in the For Farmers Program to share ideas, as well as business and cooperation opportunities. The program's innovative design enables several kinds of partnerships among participants. "The intersection joining For Farmers, the Cerrado Fellowship, and funding from the SFF, the presence of three of the country's leading research and development institutions – Embrapii, CPQD and Embrapa – and support by a trader like Cargill, place this program on the frontier of innovation within our business ecosystem," adds Dirceu Ferreira Júnior, COO of PwC AgTech Innovation and a partner at PwC.
Results achieved:
Since its launch in March 2021, the Sustainable Soy for the Cerrado Program has received more than 320 applications from 17 Brazilian states, as well as the Federal District. During these six rounds, 34 startups were selected to join the program's portfolio, with solutions covering entire farms, from crop areas to standing forests. Of this total, 24 projects by 28 startups received grants from the Startup Finance Facility (SFF), a unique management and promotion initiative to develop, test and implement innovative solutions. Another USD 480,000 was also leveraged in matching funds and technical-scientific support for startups.
Here are the startups selected in the 6th round:
Biotecland: The startup uses microalgae that fix atmospheric carbon in the soil and produce plant growth-promoting chemicals to reduce desertification and raise yields on farms. The aim is to use this technology in soy production as an alternative to chemical fertilizers in order to improve crop yields and regenerate degraded areas, through practices aligned with regenerative agriculture and environmental conservation principles. Its participation in the Program gives it direct access to a network of researchers and farmers in the Cerrado, with opportunities to exchange knowledge and refine their solution to meet this biome’s needs.
BioUs: The company uses agricultural waste to produce bioinoculants and biofertilizers able to improve soil fertility and promote plant growth, increasing a crop's tolerance to climate change. They use organic carbon from agricultural waste to halve the cost of producing bioinputs for crops. Participation in the PSSC will enable it to consolidate this biotechnology approach and to leverage biofactories, by scaling up the solution for small and medium-sized farmers through partnerships with agricultural associations and cooperatives.
ByMyCell: This applied genomics startup offers DNA extraction services, library assembly and bioinformatics analysis to map microorganisms and pathogens present in the soil, for both cultivated and conserved areas. By participating in the PSSC, the company plans to apply and validate its technology to analyze soil conditions in the Cerrado, helping reduce the use of chemical inputs and strengthening inclusive and sustainable agriculture. The startup's goal is to create a platform adapted to the needs of the soil and of crops grown in the Cerrado by collecting samples, designing models to recommend agricultural practices, and refining the algorithm to analyze the region's microbiota.
Cyan: This climate sensing company plans to develop an environmental monitoring platform designed to prevent and mitigate forest fires and to promote environmental conservation in the Cerrado, mainly on soy plantations. The solution uses advanced sensing and monitoring technology to identify risk areas and issue instant alerts to firefighting teams. It can also provide detailed information on the location and severity of fires, along with optimal routes for rapid response by emergency teams.
Reforest Latam: The forest restoration startup uses artificial intelligence data analysis, biotech seed technology and drones to efficiently disseminate native seeds in remote areas. The solution aims to restore degraded ecosystems quickly, efficiently, and economically, mitigating climate change and conserving biodiversity. Participation in the PSSC allows the startup to expand into Brazil, particularly into the Cerrado, a region heavily impacted by deforestation, with direct access to researchers and experts to refine this technological solution and then test it in loco with participating growers in the For Farmers Program.
Verde Novo: The company's work involves strengthening networks of native seed collectors, and boosting ecological restoration systemically with large-scale sowings to restore the Cerrado biome. The startup offers training to traditional communities in seed collection and quantifies socio-environmental impact indicators for entire landscapes. Verde Novo's aim is to establish new connections among the many players in agricultural chains and to model regenerative agriculture solutions in collaboration with farmers, researchers and other entrepreneurs in the Sustainable Soy for the Cerrado Program.