Demetra Agroscience, a startup that manufactures biological agricultural inputs and develops products from bacterial metabolites, has received an investment of 2.000.000 BRL from Didaciebe (Centro Integrado de Educação Brasil Europa), which maintains the Faculty of Technology, Sciences and Education and is part of a group that includes other educational and research institutions and the Estância Águas Virtuosas farm, which grows coffee and macadamia.
The amount invested will be used to structure the bio-factory, register products, and organize the company's commercial team. This was the second investment round. The first was made by venture builder WBGI, with 260.000 BRL, which also provided administrative and financial support, as well as a structure for developing the activities.
Demetra and its main product are the result of the research conducted by its CEO, Renato Zapparoli, who has been working on third-generation biological products for more than 25 years. “We have developed bio-inputs from bacterial metabolites. Unlike previous biologics, third-generation ones are not made with living organisms, which increases their efficiency and shelf life, besides requiring no refrigeration and being more compatible with chemicals,” explains Zapparoli.
The bio-input developed by the startup is currently being registered and has already shown excellent results as a bio-fungicide, bio-bactericide, and bioinsecticide in efficacy tests conducted by the company, in addition to improving the productivity of some crops. “The results in coffee show excellent control of coffee berry borer, rust, and halo blight.”
One of the farms that tested the product was Estância Águas Virtuosas, owned by Claudio Romualdo, who also heads the investment group. “The results impressed us very much and, combined with Renato’s credibility as a researcher and WBGI’s credibility as the first investor, we were certain we were doing good business. In addition, we believe that the future of agriculture requires sustainable and innovative solutions, and the development of a product that combines pest control with a fertilizer is completely aligned with our values and our strategy of commitment to ESG criteria,” says Romualdo.
