Innovation and entrepreneurship in agribusiness: accelerated growth will be reflected in a new census of startups

The positive performance of Brazilian agribusiness, even during the period of economic recession, is being accompanied by the strong expansion in the number and quality of new technology-based companies focused on innovation for agribusiness. With data collection still underway for the 2nd AgTech Startups Brasil Census, it is possible to conclude that the growth of the agro startups ecosystem is significant.

It is now possible to say that in its second edition, the unprecedented survey in Brazil produced in partnership by AgTech Garage and the Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, from the University of São Paulo, will present an increase of more than 150% in less than 2 years in the number of startups focused on agribusiness. While the 2016 mapping showed the existence of 75 of these companies in Brazil, just the startups that participate in the Agtech Garage network, this total already totals almost 200. There is no doubt among the organizers: the final number to be announced in June will be even higher .

 “We are going to show the world the maturity and relevance of the Brazilian agricultural startup ecosystem,” says the director of AgTech Garage, José Tomé. He highlights that the second edition of the Census will be more complete and impactful, gathering vital data for agriculture initiatives. promotion of startups focused on agribusiness.

Data collection for the second edition of the Census began in April, through questionnaires filled out online, which will be evaluated and tabulated in May. The final numbers of the mapping, which has national coverage, will be released in June and will include a table with the Brazilian panorama of startups distributed by area of ​​activity and an infographic based on the responses obtained from all ventures.

The base already mapped for the first edition of the Census will be the starting point, according to the professor at the Department of Genetics at Esalq and one of the survey coordinators, Mateus Mondin. “The first Census opened the eyes of entrepreneurs, investors, government and agencies to the world. The data was presented at several events throughout Brazil and the world, which led to many entities organizing themselves to develop ways of encouraging agtech entrepreneurs.”

For Mondin, the second Census will be more impactful, increasing international visibility for Brazil's agtech ecosystem and Brazilian startups. “The new report will be distributed globally, which will attract even more eyes around the world. We will no longer be seen just as a consumer market, but as protagonists, within the select group of agro technology providers”, he concluded.

The new Census follows a global trend of mapping the activities of agro startups. This is a format adopted by prominent institutions, such as the market intelligence analysis platform using CB Insights technology, based in New York, the Startup Nation Central in Israel and, more recently, the The Seed Projects, which mapped startups in Africa. The expectations of the organizers for the Census are clear: it will be the most detailed and complete picture of the moment and evolution of Brazilian agro startups.