Capitalizing on the current opportunities for Brazilian agriculture

Last year was a record-breaking year in many ways for the South American agricultural industry and one that set the stage for an even more transformative 2026.

Taking Brazil as a case in point, in 2025 its export value of agricultural goods amounted to $169.2bn – a 3% increase YoY – according to its Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.¹ At the start of this year, Brazil was also one of a number of Latin American countries to sign a major trade deal with the European Union.

The EU-Mercosur deal was 25 years in the making and will create a free trade zone of more than 700m people and approximately 20% of global GDP. Not only does the deal reduce trade barriers, it actively positions the continent and trading zone as the global hub for traceability, sustainability and supply chain innovation as European countries drive forward their climate-focused policy agendas in this area.

Now the detailed work begins ensuring policy alignment and securing a flow of innovation capital. South America must now manage twin imperatives – catering for soaring demand while satisfying the rigor of associated compliance. This sets the scene for intensified innovation and increased adoption of proven next-gen agricultural models.

Both are evidence that South America is doing more than just participating in the trade of consumable goods, it is now the driving force behind global food systems. Now in 2026, South American agriculture faces a defining moment – becoming the global epicentre of ag innovation, supply chain resilience transformation and climate-aligned commodities.

Global turbulence drives regional advantages

This agricultural dominance comes against a backdrop of fractious geopolitical manoeuvring, in part due to steep trade tariff increases. In summer 2025, Trump raised Brazil’s tariff rate to 50%, from 10%, meaning Brazil faced one of the highest tariff rates in the world.² Commodity markets reacted to the uncertainty, bringing into focus the need for South America to double down on innovation and accelerate sustainability and traceability initiatives in order to embed growth. It also underscored the need to look beyond traditional, more local trading partners.

A clear opportunity already on the table for the region is the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), a law drafted in June 2023 that requires companies to prove that certain commodities do not come from land deforested or degraded after 31 December 2020. Although the deadline for implementation has been consistently pushed back, it is now scheduled for 30 December 2026.

With European consumer packaged goods firms (CPGs) having to demonstrate adherence to this policy along with pursuing increased efficiency and streamlined supply chains, South American agriculture – already with its integrated, trustworthy traceability systems, and exceptional productivity owing to multiple annual tropical harvests and integrated land systems – is well aligned to provide support.

Innovation wins out

With South America increasingly the centre of research and development for biologicals, regenerative agriculture, robotics and AI in agriculture, it is also where next-gen solutions are taking shape. By embedding this resilience at the core of its proposition, the region can set itself up for long-term success despite unavoidable turbulence from external macro factors, including the stubborn local high interest rates and political uncertainty.

Foreign investors certainly see potential in the area with a strong performance for Brazil in 2025 – when Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows totalled $77.7bn, a 5% increase when compared with 2024. January 2026 alone recorded a significant $8.2bn in inflows. This represents a 23% increase compared to the same month in 2024 ($6.7bn).

This is in part due to Brazil’s efforts to attract investments that generate positive impacts on technology transfer and sustainability via public policies such as the New Industry Brazil (NIB) initiative and the Brazil Climate Investment Platform (BIP). Much of this capital has flowed into traceability platforms and biologicals – sectors where Brazil dominates in terms of scalability.

When it comes to biologicals, Brazil can safely be called the world’s biological proving ground with evidence of improved yields and reduced dependence on chemical agricultural products. The country’s agricultural biologicals market size was valued at $914.2m in 2025 and is projected to reach $1,332.75m by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 4.28% from 2026 to 2034.³ Row crops account for 72% of biological use, especially soy and corn, where biological inputs improve yields and help meet residue standards in export markets.³

Infrastructure such as Embrapa – Brazil’s national research and development institute – also sets the right conditions for success. It is one of the world’s most advanced public ag‑innovation institutions, and its digital agriculture expansion is accelerating in 2025 to 2026.

With programmes ranging from the low-carbon agriculture plan ABC+, to the $95bn Harvest Plan that supports producers large and small, all interventions are designed to scale sustainable production and support the country’s regenerative and biological market advantage.⁴

Against this backdrop, World Agri-Tech São Paulo is set to gather 600 global leaders in the agriculture space on 23-24 June 2026 at the Hotel Unique. This seventh annual summit will focus on scaling sustainable agriculture, innovative finance, bio-technologies, and AI-driven efficiency in South America.

The event brings together senior decision makers from CPGs, producers, tech providers and VCs as well as representatives from government bodies and academics in agri-food, and serves as a catalyst for partnership, investment and innovation.

Uniting a powerful group of key stakeholders including global food brand CEOs and start up founders, the two-day programme features key notes from Silvia Massruhá, the President of Embrapa, alongside other key agribusiness executives, delivering high-impact strategic insights.

Delegates will also attend expert panels, interactive roundtables, start-up showcases, curated networking sessions, 1:1 meetings and deep-dive workshops, all designed to unlock the full potential of South America’s agri-tech ecosystem.

The reality of South American agriculture is changing – the global population is growing, and it is South America that will feed it. At a time of great climate, economic, and geopolitical unpredictability, the continent needs to establish itself as the world’s supplier of competitive, sustainable, and traceable commodities.

World Agri-Tech agenda highlights for…

The 2026 programme has been designed to respond to the opportunities now facing different parts of the value chain – and to help unlock some of the solutions to current challenges. Each delegate segment has a bespoke, curated offer as follows:

CPGs

In terms of agenda highlights, CPG leaders will attend the Opening Plenary: How South America is Re‑Shaping Global Commodity Systems to discuss how nature positive commodity systems are being verified, and why South American supply chains are increasingly resilient. The panel Next-Gen Livestock Systems: Productivity, Compliance & Profitability will cover deforestation‑free sourcing and emissions reduction in the animal protein supply chain.

Farmers and producers

Not-to-be missed sessions for the farming community include Scaling Biological Crop Protection fireside chat, and relevant panel discussions include Commercializing Regenerative Ag and an examination of ROI in Robotics & Automation.

Traders

For global commodity trading firms, focus topics will be legislative compliance, traceability and logistics optimisation as well as the Next-Gen Livestock Systems panel.

Founders and investors

Start-ups can look forward to meeting VCs, and taking advantage of this flagship opportunity to pitch to agribusiness giants, investors and traders at the Start-Up Showcase. For their part, investors shouldn’t miss Radar AgTech Market Intelligence (Embrapa + IICA) and the opportunities to identify Latin America’s hottest AgTech deal flow.

Now, more than ever, the importance of collaboration in South American agribusiness is as clear as day – objectives and challenges are shared and can only be overcome with strategic partnerships. The summit is the one time a year the whole South American agroecosystem is together in one room – don’t miss the chance to have your voice heard.

Delegates will leave with the data and strategic insights as well as the connections to ensure they are fully prepared for this transformational year for South American agriculture.

Secure your seat at World Agri-Tech São Paulo for two days of unmissable discussions and networking opportunities that will define this crucial year for South America. Super Early Bird pricing ends 30 April.

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