MetaBIX, the Uruguayan Startup Revolutionizing Disease Prediction in Farm Animals

Using artificial intelligence, hardware, and biotechnology, the company monitors airborne infections, helping to control the spread of diseases such as avian flu, salmonella, and influenza.

“Undoubtedly, having technology prepared for a potential new pandemic is crucial for any country, regardless of its location on the map.” This is how Laura Maccio, co-founder of metaBIX Biotech, describes the mission of the Uruguayan biotechnology startup in an interview with Tribu. Founded in 2022 by a multidisciplinary team, its primary goal is to innovate in the prediction and prevention of diseases in farm animals.

To achieve this, metaBIX focuses on environmental analysis technology, leveraging artificial intelligence, specialized hardware, and advanced biotechnology to assess airborne infection pressure. This enables early alerts at least two weeks before infectious outbreaks occur.

Although still young, the startup is positioning itself as a key player in microbiological risk management for the agricultural sector. It currently has an almost fully secured $1 million funding round, along with imminent support from a U.S. investment fund to facilitate its soft landing in the North American market.

“We may still secure additional funding, as we are applying for nearly $3 million in U.S. grants. Later, we will directly prepare for our Series A round by the end of 2026 or in 2027. So, for early-stage investors, the time to enter is now because after this, we will go straight to Series A,” explains Maccio.

This will mark another milestone for a startup that has managed to turn the limitations of its home country’s agricultural sector into an advantage. “Uruguay’s poultry and pig farming industries are very small markets because the country does not export these raw materials on a large scale, unlike cattle. These are very restricted markets but excellent for conducting pilot projects and learning from their results,” adds Maccio.

For this reason, metaBIX started its pilot operations in Uruguay and Ecuador, a market with similar characteristics. Today, its focus is on scaling sales in Brazil and launching its first pilot projects in India and the United States as part of its strategy to expand into high-value, high-demand markets. “A single medium-sized poultry farm in India represents a third of Uruguay’s entire poultry production,” she points out.

Results

According to Maccio, metaBIX’s equipment is capable of detecting pathogens such as field influenza, mycoplasmas, salmonella, bordetella, viral bronchitis, and avian flu. In one case, two poultry producers in Uruguay—one specializing in breeding birds and the other in laying hens—were facing severe losses and unable to identify the source of the outbreak.

“Conventional methods were tested, and even the Ministry of Livestock collected samples without reaching a conclusion. Our technology, however, was able to determine that the problem was caused by a coronavirus: avian bronchitis, variant 23, which emerged in Asia years ago and later spread to Brazil, causing significant damage,” she explained.

Furthermore, Maccio states that the startup offers affordable prices for clients thanks to its low-entry barrier policy. This allows metaBIX to develop new products, such as advisory services for health insurance.

For the metaBIX team, disease prevention is only the beginning.