Brazil’s Agrion Raises $50 Million to Support Sustainable Agriculture

The Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), managed by Pegasus Capital Advisors, has committed up to $50 million to Agrion Agrisolutions, a Brazilian agricultural innovator. This investment will support Agrion’s expansion in producing eco-friendly organo-mineral fertilizers, which align with sustainable agricultural practices and the principles of a circular economy.

Agrion’s efforts aim to address the environmental challenges posed by Brazil’s sugarcane industry, a sector comprising over 400 mills that significantly impacts the country’s marine ecosystems. The use of chemical fertilizers in sugarcane cultivation has been linked to nutrient pollution in coastal waters, which endangers marine life and coral reefs. Agrion’s fertilizers, developed from sugarcane waste products such as vinasse and filter cake, are designed to reduce this pollution by improving nutrient management and promoting the recycling of by-products.

Dale Galvin, Managing Director of GFCR, emphasized the importance of this investment in mitigating the environmental impact of agricultural waste on coastal habitats and coral reefs. The initiative aligns with GFCR’s broader goal of supporting projects that contribute to marine ecosystem resilience.

Currently, Agrion operates a facility in Tupaciguara in collaboration with Aroeira, producing around 60,000 tons of fertilizers annually. The investment will facilitate the expansion to up to 20 new plants over the next decade, underscoring the commitment to reducing pollution and enhancing sustainable agricultural practices across Brazil. Agrion’s CEO, Ernani Judice, highlighted the significance of this capital infusion, which will allow the company to scale operations, particularly in Brazil’s Northeast Region, home to the South Atlantic’s only coral reef ecosystem.

Agrion’s focus on gradual release organo-mineral fertilizers and other sustainable products is expected to reduce the environmental footprint of Brazil’s sugarcane production. The collaboration between GFCR and Agrion aims to positively impact Brazil’s marine ecosystems and coastal communities, reinforcing the link between sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship.