Brazil's Krilltech wins $4.14M Finep grant to build nanopesticide pilot plant
What's the deal? Brazilian agtech Krilltech has secured a US$5.76M (≈$4.14 million) economic subsidy from FinepDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, the government's Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos, to develop a new generation of nanotechnology-based pesticides. The grant will fund a pilot plant to produce nanoherbicides, nanofungicides, and nanoinsecticides.
What's the endgame? The 36-month project marks Krilltech's entry into Brazil's crop protection market, moving beyond its roots in nanotech fertilizers. The plant — to be built in the Center-West region, at a site still undecided — will transfer patented lab work into industrial processes, validating formulations before any commercial rollout.
Why nanotech? Krilltech wants to make existing molecules more efficient while cutting their environmental footprint. Among the compounds under study is glyphosate, Brazil's most widely used herbicide; one research track will assess how the formulations affect beneficial soil microbes that aid nutrient uptake and pest control.
The project runs with three federal universities: the University of Brasília (UnB), the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Krilltech CEO and UnB professor Marcelo Rodrigues, who leads the research, said the company aims to develop defensives "with better performance and more compatible with the biological processes that sustain agricultural productivity" (translated from Portuguese).
The stakes: Krilltech is targeting a market dominated by multinationals. Brazil's crop protection sector moved US$25.2B in the 2024/2025 season, according to consultancy Kynetec Brasil. "The pilot plant will allow us to advance with a Brazilian technology, with potential for industrial production and commercialization," said marketing director and partner Everton Molina (translated from Portuguese).
The signal: The grant fits a broader Finep push to build Brazil's domestic crop-input base. The agency has also backed Rovensa NextDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → with US$11.5M for biosolutions R&D and Vittia with up to US$39.1M for biological technologies. Krilltech's payoff hinges on whether the pilot can validate its formulations and clear the path to regulatory approval and commercial production.
Read more: grupoopus.com
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
