Agro will certainly have its Big AgTechs, and nano sensors promise to integrate their umbrella

Never in my life I have been so happy to be wrong as I am now.

In 2020, still as CEO of Agro100, I was very afraid that covid-19 would damage the environment for innovation and the creation of new companies in agribusiness. At the height of the crisis, the only thought I had was to protect the cash and employment of my employees, and every innovation I could imagine, both for Agro100 and for my vision as an investor in startups, took a back seat.

But I wasn't counting on something that was obvious right up that during the pandemic, the greatest acceleration of digital transformation the world has ever seen would take place.

Startups, with their more agile and flexible solutions, began to help doctors treat patients who couldn't go to their offices or hospitals; helped teachers reach students; and small businesses, like thousands of restaurants and small entrepreneurs, found a way to grow during the crisis.

It was a year in which we also saw online fitness programs explode and virtual events debuted with large audiences beyond the screens.

The crisis and consolidation in history, we had several examples of companies that were more agile and more efficient in the market and were later incorporated. The Big Techs (Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google, the Big Four) now dominate many facets of our lives, but it's undeniable that they didn't get there alone. They've acquired hundreds of companies over decades to propel them to become the tech giants we know today.

Keeping an eye on the movement that can take place ahead, I have dedicated more and more time to get to know the disruptive technologies that are currently being built by startups in agribusiness space, it calls my attention such as advanced manufacturing, robotics, the blockchain, and Big Data, in addition to credit solutions, have grown exponentially.

These are trends on the market's radar, as well as nanotechnology, which has fascinated me, and now even more so with nano sensors. Nanotechnology, nano sensors, and their competitive potential.

Today, I chose to talk more about TNS Nano, not for its specific products, but for its nano sensor technology for agribusiness, which was a surprise to me. I confess I have never seen anything like it in the startups I've studied so far. TNS Nano has been in the Brazilian bio and nanotechnology market since 2009. It was born and raised in the so-called "Island of Innovation", Florianopolis (SC), and gradually conquered industries such as textiles, polymers, paints, and ceramics, with nano and micro particles with antimicrobial action. In 2018, it entered agribusiness, selling its first solutions.

With nanotechnology in focus, it first invested in the seed treatment market based on innovative chemical technologies. After all, it is in the early stages of plant development that they are most vulnerable, like any other living being, and they need a hand to ward off any risk of contamination. At that time, TNS Nano also invested in the fertilizer market, aiming at the development of healthier plants, which have a lower incidence of diseases and production losses.

In 2021, all TNS Nano initiatives aimed at the Agro market were structured in a new business unit, REVELLA TECNOLOGIA LTDA, a spin-off that consolidates the existing knowledge and structure to expand and innovate with an exclusive focus on the Agribusiness market.

Back to nano sensors, this technology will bring a great differential for the agriculture of the future, and startups that are developing products in this line will have a competitive edge, because by increasing the assertiveness in the identification of contaminants, we will increase efficiency and, consequently, productivity in agriculture.

Nanotechnology for the protein industry, whether animal or vegetable, is still very susceptible to contamination by bacteria, such as those of the Salmonella genus, and this pathogen is responsible for numerous symptoms of indisposition for humans and even mortality if not treated in time. Therefore, every day, thousands of analyzes for the presence and absence of Salmonella are carried out all over the world, whether for environmental control of farms, for control of finished products, or even for raw material reception control, such as milk and soy.

Using a nano biosensor, what TNS Nano is proposing is the rapid identification and detection of Salmonella. The startup does this with the Revella Test, which combines gold nanoparticles with DNA molecules. These molecules, single strands of DNA, act as ligands between the cell walls of Salmonella and the nanoparticles, in a very specific way, as if they were antibodies, according to information from the startup itself.

As differentials of this technology, I see:

• Visible detection of the result; Result from 12h or less.
  

• Agility and low cost to identify the pathogen;
  

• Reduction of large volumes of biological material disposal generated in the usual process.
  

• Increased productivity in laboratories;
  

• Reduced cost of analysis.
  

Many sensors and devices that help us in decision making are already being used in the field and in precision agriculture, with emphasis on the:

- Optical sensors, such as spectrometers (used to measure soil characteristics, such as moisture, compaction, etc.).

- Thermal sensors, which help us to identify infrared radiation, to estimate productivity and vegetative development.

- Electrical sensors, which allow us to analyze the physical and chemical properties of the soil through electrical conductivity, measuring soil moisture, number of ions, etc.

For those who innovate, being aware of the "weak signals" in the market is fundamental and if, as I said here, nanotechnology is still in its childhood in Brazil, nano sensors are in the gestation phase.

And it doesn't end here! The potential of nanotechnology is not restricted to nano sensors, as they can also be used to increase productivity and efficiency in the field. Like Folium and Arbo, products based on copper and silver nanoparticles that significantly increase plant growth and product yield, with gains of more than 30%, while also supporting protection environment with sustainability.

Seeing Revella exploit this potential with a line of products that bring the benefits needed to adopt a disruptive new technology strengthens my perception that the big innovation in agribusiness will come from agtechs, soon to be Big Techs. And keeping an eye on this movement is fundamental for us, professionals, and for large companies that want to be leaders in the sector, to also set up our umbrella.