Apoena Biotech

What Apoena Biotech does

Apoena Biotech is a privately held Brazilian biotechnology company founded in 2018 and headquartered in Diadema, São Paulo. The company operates exclusively in a B2B model with two wholly-owned operating divisions: Apoena Agro, which supplies bioinputs (biofungicides, biostimulants, biofertilizers) to agricultural input companies, and Apoena Biocare, which develops postbiotics and biosurfactants for cosmetics and personal care manufacturers. The company's underlying technology is built on systematic bioprospecting expeditions across underexplored Brazilian biomes — the Amazon rainforest (Tapajós/FLONA), the Fernando de Noronha archipelago (Blue Amazon), and the Caatinga — yielding a proprietary microbial strain bank of more than 900 characterized microorganisms.

The technical platform combines molecular identification, omics techniques, in silico evaluation, and pre-industrial testing to transform environmental isolates into market-ready biological products. Its flagship commercial product, Forblend FS Premium — a multisite biofungicide composed of three proprietary Bacillus strains (B. velezensis DC81, B. velezensis DC88, B. pumillus DC61) — received regulatory registration from MAPA, ANVISA, and IBAMA in late 2025, with field trial data showing a 11.7 sacas/hectare soybean yield increment and 39-64% reductions in disease severity across multiple crops. Service offerings include bioprospecting, co-development, scale-up, and white-label solutions.

The business model combines one-time licensing/transfer of finished bioinputs to agro-industrial customers with professional services revenue from contract research and co-development. Pricing is quote-based and requires direct commercial engagement. The company reinvests 5% of annual revenue into bioprospecting and R&D, holds no disclosed external institutional funding, and serves only the domestic Brazilian market through direct enterprise field sales.

Name

Apoena Biotech

Legal name

Apoena Biotech

Website

https://apoenabiotech.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Apoena Biotech is a Brazilian B2B biotechnology company that biopropsects native microorganisms from Brazilian biomes to develop bioinputs for agricultural input companies and bioactive ingredients for cosmetics manufacturers, operating through two divisions: Apoena Agro and Apoena Biocare.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Biotechnology

NAICS

Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (32532), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Bio-based Fertilizers, Soil Amendments & Biostimulants (Digestate-derived, biochar-based inputs) (EUAAAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Enzymes & Industrial Biotechnology Inputs (Enzymes, Microbial Strains, Fermentation Aids) (EUAAAIAL), Probiotics & Digestive Health Supplements (CRADAGAF)

Keywords

• Agricultural bioinputs
• Bioprospecting services
• Microbial biofungicides
• Cosmetic bioingredients
• Biotechnology R&D

Headquarters

HQ city

Diadema

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. B2B Bioinputs Sales: Sale of finished bioinput products (biofungicides, biostimulants, biofertilizers) to agricultural input companies. The company delivers market-ready solutions ready for formulation and commercialization, reducing time-to-market for partners.
2. Contract Research and Co-development Services: Partnership services for developing customized bioactive ingredients aligned with specific formulation and market needs, including bioprospecting, co-development, scale-up support, and white label offerings

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Apoena Biotech develops and supplies market-ready biological inputs (biofungicides, biostimulants, biofertilizers) for the agricultural industry and bioactive ingredients (post-biotics, biosurfactants) for cosmetics and personal care manufacturers. The company sources these products from a proprietary bank of more than 900 microbial strains collected through bioprospecting expeditions in Brazilian biomes (Amazon, Caatinga, Fernando de Noronha), and delivers them through direct B2B sales plus co-development, scale-up, and white-label services.

Product overview

Apoena Biotech operates as a biotechnology company with two main business segments: Apoena Agro (agricultural solutions) and Apoena Biocare (personal care ingredients). The product portfolio centers on a microbial strain bank exceeding 900 strains from Brazilian biomes (Amazon, Caatinga, Fernando de Noronha), supporting development of bioinputs for agriculture including the flagship Forblend FS Premium biofungicide, as well as post-biotics and biosurfactants for cosmetics. Services include bioprospecting expeditions, co-development, scale-up, and white-label offerings for B2B clients in agricultural inputs and personal care/cosmetic industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Forblend FS Premium: Multi-site biofungicide developed from a consortium of Bacillus bacteria (B. velezensis DC81, B. velezensis DC88, and B. pumillus DC61), approved for agricultural use by MAPA, IBAMA, and ANVISA for control of foliar diseases in soybeans, beans, sugarcane, tomatoes, and lettuce.

Products and services

• Forblend FS Premium Biofungicide Multi-site biofungicide composed of three exclusive Bacillus strains that act synergistically through bioactive metabolites, competition for space and nutrients, and formation of protective biofilm on leaf surfaces. Demonstrated 11.7 sacks/hectare yield increase in soybeans and significant disease severity reductions across multiple crops. Sold B2B to agricultural input companies for formulation and commercialization.
• Bioprospecting Service Structured expeditions through Brazilian biomes (Amazon, Caatinga, Fernando de Noronha) to access native microorganisms and bioactive compounds with industrial application potential, conducted with authorization from competent authorities (SisGen, SISBIO, ICMBio) and in compliance with the Nagoya Protocol. Delivered as a B2B service for partner companies.
• Co-development Service Partnership service to develop customized bioactive ingredients aligned with specific formulation and market needs for partner companies in the agricultural and cosmetics sectors.
• Scale-up Service Transition support of bioactive ingredients from laboratory development to industrial-scale production, ensuring stability, reproducibility, and performance for partner commercialization.
• White Label Service Ready-to-market biotechnological ingredients and formulations offered under partner brands for companies seeking to commercialize biotechnology solutions without in-house R&D investment.
• Post-biotic Ingredients Biotechnological post-biotic ingredients developed from Brazilian biodiversity for next-generation cosmetics, with applications in personal care formulations. Supplied to cosmetics and personal care manufacturers as B2B raw materials.
• Biosurfactant Ingredients Biotechnologically-derived biosurfactant ingredients for sustainable cosmetic and personal care formulations. Supplied to cosmetics manufacturers as B2B raw materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11.7 sacas per hectare soybean yield increment with Forblend FS Premium biofungicide
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Juliagro (Consultoria Juliagro)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with Consultoria Juliagro for conducting field efficacy trials of the Forblend FS Premium biofungicide across different Brazilian agricultural regions and crop systems. Juliagro conducted 2024 efficacy trials in four representative agricultural regions: Catalão (GO), Uberlândia (MG), Querência (MT), and Cristais Paulistas (SP), testing across soybean, bean, sugarcane, tomato, and lettuce crops under diverse management systems and edaphoclimatic conditions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Novonesis (formerly Novozymes BioAg): Global leader in enzyme and microbial solutions with a dedicated BioAg business selling biocontrol and biostimulation products. Comparable as a B2B supplier of microbial agricultural inputs, though at vastly larger scale and broader product breadth.
• Koppert Biological Systems: Dutch global leader in biological crop protection with broad microbial and biocontrol portfolio. Comparable as a mature B2B supplier of bioinputs to growers and agricultural-input companies.

Direct peers

• Pivot Bio: US-based company developing proprietary microbial nitrogen-fixing products for major row crops. Closely comparable to Apoena Biotech in using a proprietary microbial strain library to deliver B2B bioinput solutions that compete with chemical alternatives.
• Bioceres Crop Solutions: Argentina- and Brazil-focused agricultural biotechnology company developing biological inputs and microbial crop solutions, including acquired biocontrol assets (Marrone Bio). Directly comparable to Apoena Agro's positioning in biological crop protection for South American row crops.
• Symborg: Spanish microbial biocontrol company (now owned by Corteva) developing fungal and bacterial solutions for crop protection. Highly comparable to Apoena Biotech in microbial-based B2B biocontrol, including Brazilian market presence.
• Lallemand Plant Care: Division of Lallemand focused on microbial solutions for agriculture, including biocontrol and biostimulation products. Directly comparable to Apoena Biotech's Bacillus-based biofungicide and biostimulant portfolio.

Emerging players

• Ginkgo Bioworks: US cell engineering and biological R&D platform serving agricultural and industrial biotech customers. Comparable as a platform business monetizing proprietary biological assets across multiple end markets, including agriculture.
• Conagen: US synthetic biology and fermentation company producing specialty ingredients including biosurfactants and bioactives for personal care, food, and agriculture. Comparable to Apoena Biotech's bioprocess-driven ingredient business spanning cosmetic and agricultural applications.
• Geltor: US fermentation biotech producing animal-free proteins and post-biotic ingredients for the cosmetics and personal care market. Closely comparable to Apoena Biocare's biotech-based cosmetic ingredient strategy using biodiversity-derived post-biotics and biosurfactants.
• AgBiome: US biotech with a proprietary microbial strain collection (Genesis library) used to discover crop protection and crop nutrition products. Directly comparable to Apoena Biotech's bioprospecting-to-product model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Apoena Biotech