Symbiomics is a biotechnology company focused on developing high-performance biological products containing efficient microbes for multiple applications in agriculture. Our mission is to develop creative solutions in the field of biologicals using cutting-edge scientific knowledge to create products that sustainably increase agricultural productivity. We value our team as a central part of this process! Every team member is encouraged to be bold in their ideas, challenge dogmas and explore new ways to solve big problems. We believe that a collaborative and dynamic environment is essential for innovation.

WHO YOU ARE

• Share Symbiomics’ mission and vision for a more sustainable future!
• Motivated by new challenges and have a drive for innovative ideas that directly impact global agricultural issues.
• Looking for an emerging company that allows you to achieve great goals.
• Team player who knows how to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Aware of the responsibility of delivering excellent work!

ABOUT THIS JOB

We are looking for a professional to join the Nitrogen Fixation Division and work on the development of next-generation biological products aimed at improving plant nutrition. The candidate will have access to Symbiomics’ culture collection and platform to assist in the design and validation of enhanced microorganisms that increase crop productivity while helping to lower the excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer in agricultural practices. Their key responsibilities will be:

• Contribute to the design and implementation of molecular microbiology strategies to obtain bacteria with enhanced plant growth-promoting traits.
• Prepare and organize materials, supplies, and reagents necessary for microbiological analyses and laboratory experiments, including sterilization procedures and preparation of culture media, solutions, consumables, and other materials.
• Assist in the planning, preparation, and execution of bacterial inoculation assays in plant systems as well as in vitro
• Perform activities involving the handling of microbiological cultures, including reactivation, cultivation, storage, and growth monitoring.
• Support the execution of experimental protocols, ensuring the proper recording of procedures and results.
• Assist teams in daily activities to ensure high standards of scientific quality and compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), protocols, and safety principles.
• Contribute to the company’s success with new insights and ideas!

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS

• Degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Agronomy, Microbiology, or related fields, or professional experience in any of these areas. (Just prove to us that you know what you’re doing!)
• Experience with culture media and solution preparation as well as procedures of bacterial handling, storing and reactivation.
• Experience with basic molecular biology techniques, such as DNA/RNA extraction and manipulation, PCR, DNA electrophoresis, restriction enzyme digestion, etc.
• Strategic planning skills and ability to solve problems, critical thinking, and sense of autonomy.
• Knowledge of general procedures and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) involving microbiology and molecular biology.

It’s a plus:

• Proven practice in handling microorganisms capable of promoting plant growth, especially nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
• Experience in plant inoculation assays and evaluation of plant-associated beneficial microorganisms.

INFORMATION

Department: R&D

Workplace: Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

WHAT WE OFFER

• Food, meal, and transportation allowances, along with other benefits.
• Health insurance.
• Competitive salary aligned with the market and based on experience.
• A diverse, dynamic, and innovative work environment, with access to cutting-edge technologies.
• The opportunity to work in a highly qualified, engaged, and collaborative team.

HOW TO APPLY

Fill out the form and attach your resume here.

The post Laboratory Technician I (Molecular Microbiology) first appeared on SYMBIOMICS.

December 9, 2025 (Florianópolis, SC, Brazil)

The global biologicals market is experiencing a period of rapid expansion and consolidation. In 2024, according to data from U.S.-based market intelligence firm DunhamTrimmer, the sector was estimated at US$ 14 billion, with biological control products accounting for approximately 60% of this value. Projections indicate that the market is expected to reach nearly US$ 20 billion by 2027, growing at an average annual rate of 13%. This growth reflects the increasingly solid integration between chemical crop protection products and biological inputs: a trend driven by the search for more sustainable and efficient solutions for pest and disease management in agricultural systems, particularly large-scale crops such as soybean, corn, and sugarcane.

Recognizing this potential, Ballagro, a company specialized in the development of biological and nutritional solutions, and Symbiomics, a biotechnology company focused on the development of next-generation biological products, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at creating new biological control products. The agreement provides for the exchange of the companies’ microorganism portfolios. Microbial resources from both organizations will be explored in an integrated manner, accelerating the discovery of new technologies. Under this model, Ballagro will gain access to Symbiomics’ proprietary platform, enabling faster and more precise development of high-performance products containing robust microorganisms.

For more than 20 years, Ballagro has contributed to the advancement of biological control. The company is recognized for its innovative approach and for offering a portfolio of biological and nutritional solutions that are 100% synergistic, high-performing, and developed to serve a wide range of crops. Ballagro operates with its own infrastructure, high quality and technology standards, and a strong commitment to sustainability, playing a key role in integrated pest management and delivering increased profitability to farmers across Brazil. “Our work is guided by continuous innovation. The partnership with Symbiomics will allow us to explore new frontiers, such as understanding microbial DNA for the joint development of a new generation of biological inputs. We strongly believe in Symbiomics’ technologies: they have a highly qualified team, state-of-the-art infrastructure and equipment, and a forward-looking mindset. By combining our experience in biological inputs with a young, dynamic company focused on new solutions, we will rapidly build innovative, high-technology products,” says Lecio Kaneko, Strategic Development Manager at Ballagro.

Symbiomics has been actively developing high-performance biological products built on cutting-edge technologies such as genome editing and artificial intelligence. “The partnership with Ballagro represents a new collaboration model for us, in which the Symbiomics platform will be applied to create products based on the microbial resources of both companies. With our tools, the development process can be two to five times faster than traditional methods. In addition to accelerating the research cycle, the partnership with Ballagro strengthens our technological capabilities and adds the company’s industrial and commercial experience to transform these discoveries into solutions available to farmers,” explains Jader Armanhi, COO and co-founder of Symbiomics.

Speed of development is one of the key differentiators of the partnership in a market that is expanding rapidly but still lacks innovation. As a result, the ability to generate effective and innovative solutions provides a strong competitive advantage. In the global context, Latin America has gained prominence in the biologicals sector, with Brazil holding a leading position both in treated area and adoption rate. The country is expected to increase its share of the global market from 20% in 2021 to 29% in 2029, consolidating its position as the main hub of the sector. According to ANPII Bio, the Brazilian market reached R$ 5.7 billion in the 2023/2024 crop season and is expected to exceed R$ 9 billion by 2030, representing growth of approximately 60% over the decade.

“Today, Brazil has more than 600 registrations of microorganism-based biological crop protection products with the Ministry of Agriculture, covering only 18 genera and, within these, around 45 species. These figures reveal a market concentration around a limited group of active ingredients, often recurring across different products and target pests. Our goal, together with Ballagro, is to use the best available tools to isolate and identify robust microorganisms with high competitiveness against the native microbiota of plants and soils, giving rise to new products with strong market potential in Brazil and globally,” concludes Rafael de Souza, CEO and co-founder of Symbiomics.

ABOUT SYMBIOMICS

Symbiomics is a Brazilian biotechnology company. Founded in 2021, its goal is to globally transform agriculture with next-generation biological products. The company develops high-performance solutions to sustainably increase agricultural productivity, with less environmental impact. The products contain microorganisms used for multiple applications such as plant nutrition, biocontrol, carbon sequestration, and biostimulants. The company’s Research and Development department works with cutting-edge advancements in genomics, microbiomes, and data analysis to enhance agricultural crop productivity through multiple approaches such as biofertilization, increasing resilience to environmental stress, and biological control. More information at: www.symbiomics.com.br and www.linkedin.com/company/symbiomics/.

ABOUT BALLAGRO

For more than 20 years, Ballagro has contributed to the advancement of biological control. The company is recognized for its innovative approach and for offering a portfolio of biological and nutritional solutions that are 100% synergistic, high-performing, and designed to serve a wide range of crops. Ballagro operates with its own infrastructure, high standards of quality and technology, and a strong commitment to sustainability, playing a fundamental role in integrated pest management and delivering greater profitability to farmers throughout Brazil. More information at: https://ballagro.com.br/.

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The post Ballagro and Symbiomics announce partnership to drive innovation in biological crop protection first appeared on SYMBIOMICS.

Symbiomics is a biotechnology company focused on developing high-performance biological products containing efficient microbes for multiple applications in agriculture. Our mission is to develop creative solutions in the field of biologicals using cutting-edge scientific knowledge to create products that sustainably increase agricultural productivity. We value our team as a central part of this process! Every team member is encouraged to be bold in their ideas, challenge dogmas and explore new ways to solve big problems. We believe that a collaborative and dynamic environment is essential for innovation.

WHO YOU ARE

• Share Symbiomics’ mission and vision for a more sustainable future!
• Motivated by new challenges and have a drive for innovative ideas that directly impact global agricultural issues.
• Looking for an emerging company that allows you to achieve great goals.
• Team player who knows how to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Aware of the responsibility of delivering excellent work!

ABOUT THIS JOB

We are looking for a Research Scientist to join the Nitrogen Fixation Division and work on the development of next-generation biological products aimed at improving plant nutrition and tolerance to environmental stresses. The candidate will have access to Symbiomics’ culture collection and platform to assist in the design and validation of enhanced microorganisms that increase crop productivity while helping to lower the excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer in agricultural practices. Their key responsibilities will be:

• Design, optimize and apply precision gene editing techniques to engineer bacteria for enhanced plant growth-promoting traits.
• Design, build and test synthetic genetic circuits in model and non-model microorganisms.
• Implement and execute phenotypic and functional characterization assays of engineered genetic circuits, including in vitro and in planta
• Develop and lead research projects, from conception to completion, including designing project timeline, establishing deliverables and milestones, constructing risk assessment matrices and outlining progress report to leadership.
• Engage in strategic discussions with external partners and stakeholders, contributing with technical support and the identification of new partnership opportunities.
• Contribute to the implementation of novel approaches and scientific development strategies within the field of Synthetic Biology, anticipating trends and proposing innovations to Symbiomics’ technological platform.
• Assist teams in daily activities to ensure high standards of scientific quality and compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), protocols, and safety principles.
• Maintain organized and detailed records of protocols, experiments and results.
• Contribute to the company’s success with new insights and ideas!

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS

• Master’s and/or PhD degree in a relevant field to this position, such as Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology or related fields, or professional experience in any of these areas. (Just prove to us that you know what you’re doing!)
• Extensive experience with cloning and genetic construct assembly.
• Broad, hands-on experience in the design, optimization and execution of precision genome editing tools applied to microbial genetic engineering.
• Strong background in the design, construction and testing of genetic circuits.
• Strategic planning skills and ability to solve problems, critical thinking, and sense of autonomy.

It’s a plus:

• Proven practice in handling microorganisms capable of promoting plant growth, especially nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
• Experience with genome editing of non-model and gram-positive microorganisms.
• Experience in plant inoculation assays and evaluation of plant-associated beneficial microorganisms, especially diazotrophs.

INFORMATION

Department: R&D

Workplace: Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

WHAT WE OFFER

• Food, meal, and transportation allowances, along with other benefits.
• Health insurance.
• Competitive salary aligned with the market and based on experience.
• A diverse, dynamic, and innovative work environment, with access to cutting-edge technologies.
• The opportunity to work in a highly qualified, engaged, and collaborative team.

HOW TO APPLY

Fill out the form and attach your resume here.

The post Research Scientist in Synthetic Biology (Strain Engineering) first appeared on SYMBIOMICS.

October 24, 2025 (Florianópolis, SC, Brazil)

Symbiomics, a biotechnology company dedicated to developing biological products for agriculture, was one of the winners of the Southern Region stage of the 2025 Finep Innovation Award, an initiative of the Brazilian Funding Authority for Studies and Projects (Finep). The ceremony, held at the headquarters of the Federation of Industries of the State of Santa Catarina (FIESC), in Florianópolis, marked the return of the award after a 10-year hiatus.

The initiative celebrates projects that strengthen Brazil’s innovation ecosystem and transform knowledge into impactful technological solutions for society. First held nationally in 1999, the Finep Innovation Award recognizes initiatives that drive the country’s scientific and technological development. In the 2025 edition, Finep evaluated 3,000 projects supported between January 2023 and December 2024, from which 144 projects are competing in regional stages, distributed across eight categories including sustainable agribusiness, health, digital transformation, and other fields.

Symbiomics was awarded in the “Sustainable Agro-Industrial Chains” category for its ongoing project focused on developing an innovative bioinput based on a synthetic microbial community (SynCom) designed to enhance phosphorus bioavailability for plants. The solution increases the accessibility of this essential macronutrient in the soil and has the potential to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in economically important agricultural systems. “The rationale behind this project is to leverage Symbiomics’ proprietary platform to discover beneficial microorganisms derived from Brazilian biodiversity, capable of making soil phosphorus available to plants in a more sustainable way,” explained Jader Armanhi, COO and co-founder of the company, alongside Rafael de Souza (CEO).

The technology under development has the potential to decrease the use of phosphate-based chemical fertilizers, while boosting crop productivity and reducing dependence on chemical inputs – a strategic advance for the sustainability and competitiveness of Brazilian agribusiness. The project is supported by Finep through its Economic Subsidy for Innovation program, under the Intellectual Property Commercialization Support Initiative.

“The recognition granted by Finep is a very meaningful endorsement of the path we are building at Symbiomics. This project reflects the dedication of a highly qualified team committed to bringing cutting-edge science to the field with excellence. I feel honored to lead this initiative and excited for the next steps and outcomes,” said Mariana Ramos, project coordinator, who received the award from Luiz Antonio Elias, President of Finep.

The award reinforces the recognition of Symbiomics’ commitment to developing high-impact innovation. Symbiomics and the other regional winners will now compete in the national stage of the Finep Innovation Award. The final winners will be announced in December, during a ceremony to be held at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília.

ABOUT SYMBIOMICS

Symbiomics is a Brazilian biotechnology company. Founded in 2021, its goal is to globally transform agriculture with next-generation biological products. The company develops high-performance solutions to sustainably increase agricultural productivity, with less environmental impact. The products contain microorganisms used for multiple applications such as plant nutrition, biocontrol, carbon sequestration, and biostimulants. The company’s Research and Development department works with cutting-edge advancements in genomics, microbiomes, and data analysis to enhance agricultural crop productivity through multiple approaches such as biofertilization, increasing resilience to environmental stress, and biological control. More information at: www.symbiomics.com.br and www.linkedin.com/company/symbiomics/.

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July 28, 2025 (Florianópolis, SC, Brazil)

The development of new biological products has experienced strong growth in recent years. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), between 2020 and 2024, 631 new inoculants were registered – representing approximately 87% of the current total. Today, Brazil has approved 737 products, distributed among 67 companies authorized for activities such as production, import, commercialization, or export of inoculants. However, most of these solutions are based on the same biological components, with little introduction of new microbial strains or species over the years.

Government data shows that products based on microorganisms of the Bradyrhizobium genus account for approximately 62% of registrations, while those formulated with strains of Azospirillum brasilense represent around 10% – highlighting the predominance of a few species in the Brazilian market. “Most biological products launched use similar or even identical technologies and strains. At Symbiomics, our work is to discover new microorganisms with multiple applications. We are developing a new generation of biologicals to offer the market innovative and effective alternatives for the field,” says Rafael de Souza, CEO and co-founder of Symbiomics.

To accelerate the availability of these new biologicals, Symbiomics has entered into a commercial partnership with Nitro, a Brazilian multinational operating in the agricultural inputs sector since 2019. Nitro offers solutions for plant nutrition and physiology and is already among the main companies in the sector. “Our focus on innovation is what sustains this accelerated growth. In this context, we believe that combining Brazilian biodiversity with our expertise in industrial biotechnology will be one of the central pillars in delivering a robust portfolio to our customers,” comments Celso Santi Junior, R&D Manager at Nitro.

Founded in 2021, Symbiomics develops high-performance biological products for agribusiness, focusing on tackling one of today’s greatest challenges: increasing productivity sustainably in response to the growing global demand for food. Both companies received funding from Finep in 2024 to advance research and studies in the sector. Now, they are joining forces to accelerate the development and availability of innovative biological products to Brazilian farmers.

The companies also aim to diversify the key crops targeted by these biologicals. Most inoculants currently registered in Brazil focus on legume crops, especially soybeans (415 products) and beans (87 products). The goal is to develop biologicals for non-leguminous plants, such as corn (81 products) and sugarcane (6 products). Another objective is to work on plant nutrition in regions subject to greater climatic stress, such as the Cerrado. These areas, which suffer from droughts and high temperatures, were once considered unsuitable for large-scale cultivation until advances in agricultural technology – such as soil acidity correction with limestone and the use of chemical fertilizers – enabled large-scale production from the 1970s onwards. Today, the biome accounts for 60% of Brazil’s agricultural production and is vital for the country’s food security.

However, much of the chemical inputs used in Brazilian agribusiness, such as fertilizers and pesticides, are largely imported. According to the National Association for Fertilizer Dissemination (ANDA), Brazil is the largest importer of fertilizers in the world, and in 2023, imports reached a record 39.4 million tons of synthetic fertilizers. “Brazilian agribusiness depends on importing chemical products that are essential for food production. This has a major impact on producers – fertilizers alone account for about 50% of costs. Offering plant nutrition solutions developed in Brazil will reduce farmers’ high expenses and enable a more sustainable activity,” adds Rafael.

In this context, biological products are key to managing agricultural systems in these regions, as they provide a more sustainable alternative for farmers and, in some cases, reduce the use of chemical inputs. This makes it one of the most promising markets in agribusiness, growing at an average annual rate of more than 16%. According to the National Association for the Promotion and Innovation of the Biological Industry (ANPII Bio), in 2024, the biological inoculants market handled around 18.3 million liters/kilograms, corresponding to revenues of approximately R$ 527.5 million (Brazilian reais). These figures refer only to member companies of the association, indicating that the total market is potentially even larger.

The partnership will also make the process of developing new solutions faster. While under traditional methodologies a new biological product can take up to 10 years to reach the market, the two companies expect that together, this timeframe will be reduced by up to two-thirds. The first products are expected to be launched within 2 to 3 years.

ABOUT SYMBIOMICS

Symbiomics is a Brazilian biotechnology company. Founded in 2021, its goal is to globally transform agriculture with next-generation biological products. The company develops high-performance solutions to sustainably increase agricultural productivity, with less environmental impact. The products contain microorganisms used for multiple applications such as plant nutrition, biocontrol, carbon sequestration, and biostimulants. The company’s Research and Development department works with cutting-edge advancements in genomics, microbiomes, and data analysis to enhance agricultural crop productivity through multiple approaches such as biofertilization, increasing resilience to environmental stress, and biological control. More information at: www.symbiomics.com.br and www.linkedin.com/company/symbiomics/.

ABOUT NITRO

Nitro is a Brazilian multinational with nearly 90 years of history, operating in the agricultural inputs, chemical specialties, and industrial chemicals segments. The company entered the agricultural sector in 2019 and, in just five years, has established itself as one of the top three companies in plant nutrition and biologicals in the industry. Nitro has six production units in Brazil and four Research and Development centers, in addition to distribution centers, international operations, and its corporate headquarters in São Paulo (SP).

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The post Agricultural companies join forces to develop biological solutions for plant nutrition first appeared on SYMBIOMICS.

June 25, 2025 (Florianópolis, SC, Brazil)

Symbiomics, a biotechnology company that develops high-performance biological products for agriculture, today announced the completion of its Series A funding round to scale its operations, accelerate the development of novel products, and expand its commercial partnerships. The round is led by Corteva Agriscience through its investment platform, Corteva Catalyst, launched in mid-2024. In addition to the multinational, the Series A round includes investments from Arar Capital, Cazanga, MOV Investimentos, and The Yield Lab Latam.

The Brazilian company is the first to receive an investment from Corteva Catalyst in the country. “Corteva’s investment represents an important recognition of Symbiomics as a company committed to developing innovative technologies for agribusiness,” said Rafael de Souza, co-founder and CEO of the company. “More than that, it is a significant step toward a more sustainable agriculture. The Series A funding will allow us to accelerate our developments and strengthen partnerships across the sector,” he added.

Symbiomics’ proprietary platform enables the analysis of thousands of microorganisms in search of the most robust strains, with greater efficiency and precision than traditional methodologies. It also incorporates gene editing and molecular discovery technologies, main drivers for the next generation of biological products. Targeting a biologicals market expected to reach US$ 3.1 billion by 2030, Corteva Catalyst is making its first investment in Brazil by backing Symbiomics’ ability to deliver remarkably novel solutions.

Founded in 2021 and initially supported by Vesper Biotechnologies, the Brazilian biotech had already raised R$ 15 million in funding from Arar Capital, Cazanga, Ecoa Capital, MOV Investimentos, and The Yield Lab Latam. The funding allowed Symbiomics to conduct its first proof-of-concept studies, grow its team, open its proprietary laboratory, and build out its development platform for biologicals. “With the Series A, we’ve reached a new stage globally, solidifying Symbiomics as one of the most leading innovators in agribusiness. This growth will increase our capacity to create innovative biological products, reach new partners, and deliver our solutions to farmers,” explains Jader Armanhi, co-founder and COO of Symbiomics.

Symbiomics has established partnerships with several companies in the agricultural sector to co-develop innovative biological solutions. The first products resulting from these collaborations are already in the testing phase, with market launch expected within the next three years.

ABOUT SYMBIOMICS

Symbiomics is a biotechnology company. Founded in 2021, its goal is to globally transform agriculture with next-generation biological products. The company develops high-performance solutions to sustainably increase agricultural productivity, with less environmental impact. The products contain microorganisms used for multiple applications such as plant nutrition, biocontrol, carbon sequestration, and biostimulants. The company’s Research and Development department works with cutting-edge advancements in genomics, microbiomes, and data analysis to enhance agricultural crop productivity through multiple approaches such as biofertilization, increasing resilience to environmental stress, and biological control. More information at: www.symbiomics.com.br and www.linkedin.com/company/symbiomics/.

ABOUT CORTEVA AGRISCIENCE

Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) is a global pure-play agriculture company that combines industry-leading innovation, high-touch customer engagement and operational execution to profitably deliver solutions for the world’s most pressing agriculture challenges. Corteva generates advantaged market preference through its unique distribution strategy, together with its balanced and globally diverse mix of seed, crop protection, and digital products and services. With some of the most recognized brands in agriculture and a technology pipeline well positioned to drive growth, the Company is committed to maximizing productivity for farmers, while working with stakeholders throughout the food system as it fulfills its promise to enrich the lives of those who produce and those who consume, ensuring progress for generations to come. More information at: www.corteva.com.

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December 14, 2023 (Florianópolis, SC, Brazil)

The Yield Lab Latam has just announced its 21st investment in Latin America. Considering the rapid growth in the biologicals market worldwide, this is the fund’s first investment in biotech in Brazil, the country which has experienced the highest growth and use of this type of technology. The supported company is Symbiomics, a Brazilian biotechnology startup developing sustainable and high-performance solutions for agribusiness.

Investments in this sector have been increasingly relevant. The biological products market for agriculture is experiencing significant growth, pushed by an increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices. According to CropLife Brasil and S&P Global studies, the bioproducts market for agriculture will reach R$ 17 billion by 2030. However, the available range of products today is predominantly first generation, with technologies and microbial characteristics quite similar to each other. Meanwhile, a next wave of innovation is expected, with products integrating new microorganisms and new advances in genetics and data analysis, especially through the use of artificial intelligence. The Yield Lab, by investing in Symbiomics, is betting on this promising future, promoting the company position as a protagonist in the bioinputs market transformation.

Founded in 2021 by Rafael de Souza and Jader Armanhi, the biotech startup builds next-generation disruptive technologies, based on natural microorganisms belonging to Brazilian biomes, prospected by the company during expeditions across the country. “Our R&D department works with the most advanced technology available in the market in genomics, microbiome and data analysis, developing solutions in plant nutrition, biocontrol and biostimulants, used to increase agricultural productivity with the lowest environmental impact”, says COO Jader Armanhi.

Recently, Symbiomics entered into a global partnership to develop technologies for biological products with Stoller do Brasil, a Corteva Agriscience group company, which supports producers with more efficient and higher productivity plants. The biologicals market is one with the fastest growing in agriculture with projections indicating the segment may reach US$ 18.5 billion in revenue globally by 2026.

The Yield Lab Latam (TYLL) has extensive experience in Latin America investing in early-stage high potential startups established in the region and facing multiple challenges in the agri-food industry. TYLL has already invested in more than 20 AgriFoodTech startups portfolios in this area and, over the last six years, has built a relevant map of 1,900 companies focused on the sector.

“We are super excited to partner up with Symbiomics and such a relevant line up of co-investors, with a clear view on how we can add value to the company leveraging our local, regional and global networks and helping them scale their business and impact. The company is doing amazing work towards biodiversity characterization of critical Brazilian biomes that would lead to conservation efforts and on the other hand developing a new generation of biologicals for different purposes that aids in the transition to a more sustainable food production, from the most exciting market in the world for this industry: Brazil”, said Camila Petignat, partner of The Yield Lab Latam.

Symbiomics is also part of the Vesper Ventures portfolio, a venture builder fund focused on advanced biotechnology in agriculture and healthcare. The new investment – together with the already invested amounts by Vesper itself (in pre-seed), MOV Investimentos, Baraúna Investimentos and Ecoa Capital – will be applied in R&D to boost the startup’s pipeline. “TYLL’s entry represents much more than just a financial investment. It is a relevant partnership with a global fund connecting us with the entire AgriFoodTech ecosystem, allowing new business opportunities and opening paths for the company’s internationalization”, concludes the biotech’s CEO, Rafael de Souza.

ABOUT SYMBIOMICS

Symbiomics is a biotechnology startup. Founded in 2021, its goal is to globally transform agriculture with next-generation biological products. The company develops high-performance solutions to increase agricultural productivity sustainably, with less environmental impact. The products contain microorganisms used for multiple applications such as plant nutrition, biocontrol, carbon sequestration, and biostimulants. The company’s Research & Development department works with cutting-edge advancements in genomics, microbiomes, and data analysis to enhance agricultural crop productivity through various means such as biofertilization, increasing resilience to environmental stress, and biological control. Learn more at: www.symbiomics.com.br. Follow the startup at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/symbiomics/.

ABOUT THE YIELD LAB LATAM

The Yield Lab Latam is the AgriFoodTech venture capital manager with the largest presence and experience across Latin America. Founded in 2017, it is made up of teams working across the entire spectrum of innovation in food and agriculture, from farm to table. Invests in high-potential early-stage startups based in Latin America that face the multiple challenges presented by the agri-food industry. The Yield Lab Latam generates support programs for portfolio companies, from governance, talent, commercial strategy, escalation, fundraising, among others.

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The post Brazilian biotech receives investment from The Yield Lab Latam to expand its operations in the biological market first appeared on SYMBIOMICS.

The researcher and agronomist Solon Cordeiro de Araujo is the new member of the Symbiomics’ Advisory Board, a startup that developsnext-generation biological products for agriculture. Araujo is one of the greatest pioneers in the development of inoculants in Brazil, contributing to the dissemination of the Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) in crop plants such as soybean. The ex-president and current consultant of the Brazil National Association of Inoculant Producers and Importers (ANPII), Araujo has more than 50 years of experience in research, production, and sales of biological products. Having participated in the creation and launch of the first inoculants in the country, he now joins Symbiomics for the development of a new generation of this technology.

The startup uses state-of-the-art knowledge and tools in the field of genomics and bioinformatics to build synthetic microbial communities that have beneficial effects for agricultural crops, such as drought tolerance and a more efficient nutrient acquisition. This is possible due to the latest advances in understanding plant–microorganism interactions and the wide range of benefits these organisms could provide. This knowledge, however, has not generated many products for application in the field. Symbiomics seeks to change this scenario.

“I had already been following and noticing these new movements and tools, such as the ‘omics’. It is a fantastic opportunity to participate in the beginning of this new phase of agricultural microbiology in Brazil”, says Araujo.

The researcher points out that this is a new way of thinking about these technologies, in which microorganisms and the roles they play are seen as part of an agroecosystem and no longer isolated.

Solon joins other great scientists and managers who are already on the startup’s board, such as Gerhard Bohne, former CEO of Bayer Crop Science Brazil, agricultural research division of Bayer, and Paulo Arruda, researcher at Unicamp (University of Campinas) and coordinator of several research projects in the field of biotechnology, having been co-founder and Scientific Director of Alellyx Applied Genomics, a pioneering Brazilian biotechnology company in applied plant genomics, founded in 2003.

“Solon has extensive expertise in the inoculant market, accumulating experience in several areas of the sector, from research and development to production and marketing. We are extremely pleased with his presence in our team. His background and contributions will be crucial for the direction of Symbiomics as a company”, adds Jader Armanhi, co-founder of the company.

The announcement of Solon Cordeiro de Araujo to Symbiomics’ Advisory Board reinforces the company’s commitment to becoming a worldwide reference in the market of the biological products, developing innovative products and technologies.

ABOUT SYMBIOMICS

Symbiomics is a biotechnology startup focused on the development of high-performance biological products containing efficient microorganisms for multiple applications in agriculture and its environmental impact. Symbiomics’ unique platform features the most advanced tools in microbiome, gene editing, and data analysis to isolate and select the best microorganisms for biotechnological application. The startup’s products are being developed to increase crop productivity in a sustainable way. Learn more at: www.symbiomics.com.br.

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Symbiomics, a startup focused on developing next-generation biological products applied to agriculture and the environment, announced today the nomination of Gerhard Bohne as a member of the company’s Advisory Board. With more than 35 years of experience in the agricultural market, Bohne has led operations in organizations in the agricultural sector, having been CEO of Bayer Crop Science Brazil, in the multinational’s agricultural division. Throughout his career, he has accumulated several leadership roles in Brazil and worldwide, holding positions in the areas of R&D, marketing, sales, and operations. He has been acting as an advisor for over 7 years, currently serving as a member of the Boards of Directors and Advisory Boards of emerging companies in the field of biotechnology and agriculture.

Bohne’s nomination is part of the startup’s strategy to leverage its growth and positioning in the market of biological products with disruptive technologies.

“I am very proud to be part of the history of Symbiomics, which is contributing with innovation and research into next-generation biological products to boost the sustainability of agriculture”, Bohne comments.

Bohne will be part of the startup’s Advisory Board, which today already has Paulo Arruda as a member. Arruda is Professor of Genetics at the University of Campinas (Unicamp) where he coordinates major projects in biotechnology, having been co-founder and Scientific Director of Alellyx Applied Genomics, a pioneering Brazilian biotechnology company in applied plant genomics, founded in 2003.

Symbiomics has as founding partners two researchers in the area of study involving the impact of beneficial microorganisms on the development and health of plants, Rafael Souza and Jader Armanhi. The startup focuses on developing technologies based on the interaction between plants and microorganisms to increase crop productivity.

BOOSTING NEXT-GENERATION BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Symbiomics has been working on the next-generation biological products, which are those developed with the most advanced technologies in the field of microbiome. In recent years there has been considerable progress in understanding the interaction between plants and microorganisms, which opened a new market for microbiome-based products. The global market for products based on microorganisms for agriculture is expected to reach over US$ 11 billion by 2025. In Brazil, this is one of the fastest growing sectors in agriculture, with a rate above 30% in the last year.

Advanced genomic sequencing techniques and data analysis have shown that microbial communities associated with plants, the so-called microbiome, have a direct impact on plant yield. Sets of bacteria and fungi help plants to absorb nutrients present in the soil, tolerate drought events, protect themselves against pests and diseases, among other activities. These attributes significantly contribute to reducing the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and emissions of harmful gases to the environment.

Despite this great advance, few products have been launched using this type of knowledge and technology. Symbiomics has been committed to solving this problem by translating the latest information in the field of microbiome studies, gene editing, and data analysis into robust and innovative products for the market.

“We are excited to count on the expertise of great agricultural market leaders such as Gerhard. We are sure that his strategic vision and positioning on the agricultural market will be of great value to accelerate the consolidation of Symbiomics technologies in the market”, adds Rafael de Souza, co-founder of the startup.

The addition of Gerhard Bohne to the Symbiomics’ Advisory Board strengthens the company’s commitment to becoming a worldwide reference in the market of biological products, developing innovative products and technologies.

ABOUT SYMBIOMICS

Symbiomics is a biotechnology startup focused on the development of high-performance biological products containing efficient microorganisms for multiple applications in agriculture and the environment. Symbiomics’ unique platform features the most advanced tools in microbiome, gene editing, and data analysis to isolate and select the best microorganisms for biotechnological application. These products are being developed to increase crop productivity in a sustainable way. Learn more at: www.symbiomics.com.br.

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