The State of São Paulo Leads the the AgTechs in Brazil
The National Health and Agrifood Quality Service of Argentina has confirmed two cases of paralytic rabies in cattle in the provinces of Corrientes and Misiones, highlighting the severity of the outbreak in Misiones, where the disease had not been recorded for 15 years. Transmitted by hematophagous bats, the disease is a zoonosis that causes progressive paralysis and death in animals, leading the agency to activate emergency protocols including mandatory vaccination in risk zones, control of bat populations, and rigorous epidemiological monitoring. (Senasa)
Corn Sworn Export Declarations (DJVE) reached an all-time record in March 2026, totaling 6,837,585 tonnes. This volume represents a significant 134% growth compared to the same period in 2025, reflecting the dynamism of the export sector and a landscape of increased predictability and production incentives in the country. This performance places March exports 75% above the average of recent years. (Ministry of Economy)
The digital platform API-CoPADi, the result of a five-year cooperation between Brazil and Japan, was presented as a strategic solution to integrate agricultural data on soil, climate, and productivity, promoting interoperability between different systems and machinery in the field. Based on Embrapa’s AgroAPI infrastructure and inspired by the Japanese WAGRI model, the tool adds value to Brazilian agribusiness by facilitating access to high-quality information, supporting farmer decision-making, and enabling the traceability of sustainable practices. Beyond the technology itself, the proposal to create the CoPADi Consortium aims to establish a secure and transparent ecosystem for the governance of these digital assets, guaranteeing data sovereignty for farmers and strengthening the competitiveness of agtechs and the productive sector through a standardized and secure conceptual base. (Embrapa)
Starting April 1, 2026, new Funrural tariffs established by Supplementary Law No. 224/2026 will take effect, increasing the tax burden on gross revenue from rural commercialization. For Individual farmers, the total rate rises from 1.5% to 1.63%, while for Corporate farmers, the total index increases from 2.05% to 2.23%; contributions to SENAR remain unchanged at 0.2% and 0.25%, respectively. (Federation of Agricultural Workers of the State of Santa Catarina)
The soybean harvest for the 25/26 season in the State of Mato Grosso reached 99.74% of the area, projecting a record production of 51.51 million tonnes, driven by the valuation of market indicators. The biodiesel sector is the main protagonist of this demand, with Mato Grosso’s production in February 2026 reaching 195,343 m3 (+114.38% annually), which pushed the price of soybean oil to US$ 1139,23/t. This scenario is reinforced by high oil prices, which increase the competitiveness of biofuels, and by the expectation of expanding the mandatory blend to B16, ensuring the absorption of the record supply and sustaining co-product prices in the state. (Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics)
Emater of the State of Rio Grande do Sul projects a strong recovery of fish farming in the state for Holy Week 2026, with expectations to market over 2.8 thousand tonnes of fish across the state, generating approximately US$ 14.6 million. In the Central region, sales are expected to reach 140 tonnes (US$ 640.5 thousand), a significant growth compared to the 95.6 tonnes in 2025, signaling a recovery from losses caused by floods in previous years. The survey, conducted across the state’s 497 municipalities, indicates that freshwater species dominate the supply, with grass carp leading in volume and revenue, and traíra (wolf fish) being the most sought after by consumers. The fish will be distributed through nearly 7 thousand points of sale, including rural properties, fairs, and fishermen’s residences. (Emater/RS)
The Government of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, through the Secretariat of Environment, Development, Science, Technology, and Innovation (Semadesc) and the Environmental Institute of State of Mato Grosso do Sul (Imasul), has issued the Installation License for the Pioneiras Starch Ethanol Plant, to be built in Jaraguari with a projected investment of US$ 58 million. The unit will have the capacity to process 500 tonnes of corn or sorghum per day, aiming for an annual production of up to 200 thousand m3 of ethanol. (Semadesc)
The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) has approved a US$ 193.5 million loan for RRP Energia Ltda., of the Piccini Group, to implement a corn ethanol plant in Tapurah, Mato Grosso, with a processing capacity of over 1 million tonnes of grain per year. The project anticipates an annual production of up to 459 million liters of ethanol, alongside strategic co-products such as DDGS (Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles) and crude corn oil, featuring an integrated thermoelectric plant for energy self-sufficiency. (BNDES)
The Crop Bulletin from Emater of the State of Rio Grade do Sul indicates the soybean harvest in the State has reached 10% of the 6.6 million hectares, with an estimated average productivity of 2,871 kg/ha and heterogeneous development due to irregular rainfall. Grain corn has reached 73% of the harvested area (average of 7,424 kg/ha) and silage corn has reached 75%, both showing localized losses due to water restriction, while rice advances to 35% of the area with a projected yield of 8,744 kg/ha. In the bean sector, the harvest is nearing completion with a productivity of 1,781 kg/ha—impacted by high temperatures and flower abortion in regions such as Caxias do Sul, with only 4% of the areas harvested to date. (Emater/RS)
Artificial Intelligence in the agribusiness in the State of São Paulo has established as a strategic tool for productive efficiency, capable of reducing post-harvest losses by up to 30% and increasing revenue for one-third of the sector’s companies, according to PwC. The state leads the segment in Brazil, hosting 43.2% of the country’s AgTechs, driving innovations coordinated by the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply and institutes such as the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC) and the Agribusiness Research Centers (APTA). The key initiatives include the use of interactive avatars for rural education, predictive analysis platforms with 92% accuracy, geolocation via the Rural Routes program, and the use of AI to accelerate the validation of the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR). (Agência SP)
The Ministry of Agriculture has concluded negotiations with Turkey to ensure the continuity of an alternative route for Brazilian exports, bypassing restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. The measure involved the creation of a new Sanitary Veterinary Certificate, which meets Turkish requirements for the direct transit or temporary storage of animal products destined for the Middle East and Central Asia without the need to cross the Persian Gulf. (MAPA)
The Government of the State of São Paulo has created the Livestock Animal Health Defense Fund (Fundesa-PEC), a strategic mechanism for full compensation to ranchers in cases of sanitary slaughter required to contain foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks. Following the suspension of vaccination in 2024, the fund consolidates the state’s status as a disease-free zone without vaccination—a requirement for high-value international markets—and will be funded by semi-annual contributions from farmers. The initiative aims to ensure financial predictability for the sector, which has already recorded 21% growth in production value and accounts for US$ 623 million in meat exports in the first two months of the year. (Agência SP)
Targeted productive microcredit recorded a significant advancement in the 1Q2026 across the North and Midwest regions, reaching up to 40% of the total volume of operations carried out in the entire previous year. In the Midwest, the “Pertinho da Gente” (Close to Us) program totaled US$ 3.2 million in operations, with a vast predominance in livestock, while in the North, the Constitutional Fund for Northern Financing (FNO) has already invested US$ 30.6 million, surpassing the total amount moved by the region in 2025. (Ministry of Integration and Regional Development)
The Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming (MDA) has coordinated with the Brazilian Federal Revenue Office to maintain the current social security tax (Funrural) for over 4 million family farmers, exempting them from the 10% linear increase stipulated by Supplementary Law No. 224/2025. The measure, which takes effect on April 1st, 2026, clarifies that “special insured” status holders (segurados especiais) are legally excluded from the tax hike applied to the employer sector (setor patronal), ensuring financial predictability and legal certainty for the 2026 harvest. (MDA)
The Secretariat of Environment and Infrastructure of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Sema) highlighted innovation in the rice supply chain with the launch of a US$ 1.1 million public notice for Payment for Environmental Services (PES). The program, presented by Secretary Marjorie Kauffmann during a panel, establishes a new logic for public policy by financially rewarding farmers who adopt sustainable practices, such as efficient water management and soil conservation, verified by the Gold or Silver categories of the Rice Environmental Seal. (Sema RS)
On this Wednesday (April 1st, 2026), André de Paula took over the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture, replacing Carlos Fávaro, who returns to his seat in the Senate. With a career marked by six terms as a federal congressman and experience as the Secretary of Rural Production in Pernambuco, André de Paula leaves the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture to take on this new challenge within the Federal Executive branch. (MAPA)
The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) has approved US$ 79.6 million in financing for Suzano through the program BNDES Mais Inovação, aimed at industrial modernization and the acceleration of its Research, Development, and Innovation (R&D&I) plan. The investment is split into US$ 54.1 million for the acquisition of high-tech equipment, such as Internet of Things (IoT) and remote monitoring, and US$ 25.4 million for 49 innovation initiatives ranging from forest genetics to pulp and paper production. Aligned with the New Industry Brazil guidelines and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the operation seeks to enhance both productivity and sustainability. (BNDES)
Exports of Chilean table grape for the 2025-2026 season are expected to decrease by 8%, totaling an adjusted volume of 57.4 million boxes (8.2 kg each) due to atypical rainfall in late March. According to the Frutas de Chile committee and the Uvanova association, red varieties such as Crimson and Red Globe were the most affected by moisture sensitivity, while white grape crops and varieties like AutumnCrisp, Timco, and Allison were largely preserved or protected. Despite the loss of approximately five million boxes compared to initial projections, the Chilean industry has reinforced its commitment to rigorous quality control. (FreshFruit)
The Government, under the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, has released over US$ 105.7 million in incentives for 31,767 white and yellow corn farmers across eight states, covering the marketing of nearly 2.5 million tonnes from the 2025 cycles. The initiative by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development focused on simplifying regulations to ensure direct and swift payments, benefiting states such as Guanajuato and Jalisco, while also extending subsidies to wheat and rice farmers. Additionally, the government established a commitment with Sinaloa farmers for the April–May harvest, setting a base price of US$ 65 per ton for up to 3.5 million tonnes, aimed at regulating the market, eliminating intermediaries, and strengthening the country’s food sovereignty. (Government of Mexico)
The Ministry of Agricultural Development has intensified sanitary defense protocols in Bocas del Toro following the confirmation of the first case of bovine rabies in 2026 in the Changuinola district. Emergency measures include strict control of animal movement, support for vaccination in outbreak areas, and the strategic capture of hematophagous bats (Desmodus rotundus), the primary transmitters of this zoonosis. Under the coordination of Dr. Faustino Sánchez and in cross-border cooperation with Costa Rica, the agency has also reinforced sanitary education programs and epidemiological monitoring. (MIDA)
The Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation, in collaboration with the Regional Government of Puno, has established a strategic action plan focused on strengthening family farming and boosting regional productivity. The interventions cover critical areas such as land titling, access to the Agricultural Catastrophe Insurance, financing lines, and the reinforcement of sanitary agriculture. Furthermore, the project prioritizes water security and irrigation infrastructure to optimize water availability, while also integrating territorial planning and environmental sustainability to ensure comprehensive and lasting rural development in the region. (Midagri)
Peruvian agricultural exports kicked off 2026 with 8.4% growth in January, totaling US$ 1.33 billion, driven by expansion across 14 regions – most notably in the highlands (Sierra) and the coast. Led by products such as grapes, blueberries, coffee, and quinoa, exports had massive spikes in locations such as Moquegua (+718.1%) and Apurímac (+607.6%), consolidating Peru as a strategic supplier to over 130 markets, with the US and the Netherlands as the primary destinations. After exceeding US$ 15 billion in sales in 2025, the ministry projects the sector will reach up to US$ 16 billion by the end of 2026, strengthening the global presence of Andean fruits and grains. (Midagri)
The Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI) has announced an investment exceeding US$ 19.3 million to implement 20 modernized irrigation projects in 2026, aiming to upgrade the agricultural sector and benefit over 800 rural families. The interventions, which include sprinkler, drip, and multi-gate systems, cover various regions such as Cusco, Huánuco, and Junín—with a special focus on Arequipa, which accounts for 10 projects and an allocation of over US$ 9.6 million to optimize the cultivation of grapes, garlic, quinoa, and avocados. Beyond physical infrastructure, the program focuses on strengthening water management and providing technical assistance. (Midagri)
The Government has announced a package of emergency measures to mitigate the impact of the nearly 30% spike in oil prices driven by Middle East conflicts, focusing on fuel-intensive agricultural sectors such as cereals, rice, and oilseeds. The actions include the nationwide expansion of the National Guarantee System (SIGA Agro) with reduced rates, the creation of facilitated credit lines by the National Development Agency (ANDE), and special refinancing conditions from the Bank of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (BROU), allowing outstanding balances from the current harvest to be deferred until 2027. (Ministry of Agriculture)
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