Agtech partner of Embrapa will present green nanotechnology to the European ecosystem

The startup Krilltech, created from a partnership between the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and the University of Brasília (UnB), will represent Brazil in the international phase of “Global Tech Innovator 2021”, promoted by KPMG. The nanotechnological biofertilizer resulting from joint work and which improves the development of various crops will be presented to the global ecosystem alongside technologies from 15 countries, between the 1st and 4th of November in Lisbon-Portugal.

By winning the national stage of the event, the agtech secured a stand and platform for exposure at the Web Summit as well as credentials to present its business at the conference and at the organizer's events. In the local phase, ten startups from different sectors of the economy competed with Krilltech, which received a good evaluation when presenting the potential of green nanotechnology. 

Born to scale the technologies developed from the active ingredient developed in 2018 and called Arbolina, in March this year the agtech already obtained registration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) for the manufacturing unit, set up in Camaçari/BA , and is already earning money. 

This is more or less how, in a few words and with some numbers, the startup has gained opportunities to present its venture in global ecosystems. The “Global Tech Innovator 2021” jury, composed of representatives from Microsoft and Editora Globo S/A, evaluated the issues of disruption and innovation, market potential, customer adoption, market and marketing traction and long-term potential. 

Conquest

“The award is the crowning achievement of work that began more than seven years ago. Our revolutionary technologies would not have emerged without the partnership with Embrapa and UnB”, celebrates Diego Stone, co-founder of Krilltech. He highlights the potential economic impact of the mass adoption of technology on the Brazilian Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which could be 2%, and 10% on agricultural GDP, in the order of R$ 150 billion, according to projections. 

Embrapa's director of Innovation and Technology, Adriana Martin, assesses that winning a place in the international stage of the event reinforces the potential of open innovation and cooperation between research institutions and agtechs. Martin also highlighted the economic impacts for the productive sector and the social benefits of sustainable technology resulting from cooperation. 

The director congratulated researchers from Embrapa Hortaliças, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and the UnB Chemistry Institute who were part of the multidisciplinary team that synthesized and tested the active principle - which has given rise to nanoproducts that improve crop performance without generating toxic waste. “Krilltech arrives with cutting-edge technology to solve a real problem, not only in Brazil, but anywhere in the world. The combination of Embrapa and Krilltech shows part of the path that many other agro startups have at their disposal”, points out the president of Private Enterprise at KPMG, Jubran Coelho. 

Exchange initiatives with global ecosystems open up opportunities for nascent companies, “as the volume of investment and acceleration programs are at full speed”, he says. Coelho agrees with the director when highlighting that open innovation is an ally to meet the ongoing challenges of generating economic and socio-environmental value. He highlights the strength of Brazilian agriculture and the growth of agtechs dedicated to the sector.

More achievements

By participating in the Virtual Cross-Incubation Program for Brazilian Ventures in South Africa, Krilltech was among the four best-performing startups, being selected to showcase the venture at the South Africa Innovation Summit, which was held this week in Cape Town.  

The Program was a joint promotion between the Brazilian Embassy in South Africa, the National Association of Entities Promoting Innovative Enterprises (Anprotec), the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae), the Department of Science and Innovation of South Africa (DSI) and the South African Technological Innovation Agency (TIA), with the support of the Innovation Diplomacy Program of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to organizers of the initiative.

United Arab Emirates - Agtech was also chosen by Apex-Brasil (Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency) to represent the country at the GITEX Technology Week 2021 fair, which will be held in Dubai in person, between the 17th and 22nd of October . The organization selected the ten startups that will participate in the event, based on the more than one hundred registered in the selection process.

During the fair - which is part of the Internationalization Mission of GITEX Future Stars 2021 aimed at startups - news from companies in the United Arab Emirates and around the world will be presented. The Conference brings together buyers from the world's fastest growing technology markets - the Middle East, North Africa and Asia.

To find out more about the research and the partnership, visit here e here.

Visit here presentation in English about Krilltech.