JETRO Global Connection -Accelerate Innovation with Japan-

Interview
From Fields to Futures: Sagri's Role in Elevating Developing Country Farmers

(Japan)
Nov 22, 2023

In the realm of sustainable agriculture, the journey of the Japanese agritech startup, Sagri, as they expand their presence into the dynamic Brazilian market, is guided by the vision and expertise of two remarkable individuals: Satoshi Nagata, Director of Sagri India, and Paulo Massahi Kajiwara, Partner at Dhaighan Consulting.

Mr. Satoshi, Mr. Paulo and JETRO São Paulo member (taken by JETRO)

Pioneering Sustainable Agriculture Through Advanced Technology

Sagri is a Japanese agritech startup with a mission to revolutionize agriculture through cutting-edge technology. Their innovative solutions leverage satellite imagery and AI technology to analyze soil conditions, optimize fertilizer usage, and reduce carbon emissions, ultimately promoting more sustainable farming practices. With a presence not only in their home country of Japan but also in India and over 10 developing nations, Sagri's impact is truly global. Their services currently benefit more than one million farmers in India, and Satoshi has ambitions to expand the business into the Latin American market.

Sagri pioneering technologies with AI x grid x Satellite (from Sagri HP)

Sagri's Roadmap to Success in the Brazilian Farming Landscape

Brazil's bountiful agricultural landscape presents a unique opportunity for Sagri to make a significant impact. The startup's technology not only benefits large-scale farms but is also tailored for small farms, aligning seamlessly with Brazil's diverse agricultural operations. Furthermore, their focus on carbon credits and direct services to farmers ensures a comprehensive approach to reducing environmental impact while enhancing efficiency.

Sagri can analyze the soil situation even for small-scale farms (from Sagri)

Sagri's Experience Through the Scale Up In Brazil Program

In their quest to expand into Brazil, Sagri embarked on the "Scale Up In Brazil" program in 2022. This pivotal program, jointly organized by ABVCAP, ApexBrasil, the Israel Trade & Investment Authority, JETRO, and Enterprise Singapore, serves as a soft-landing platform for international tech companies from Israel, Japan, and Singapore seeking to establish a presence in Brazil. It offers access to an extensive network of potential clients and strategic partners, personalized mentorship, workshops, and specialized consultancy services in business development and strategic planning, all tailored to facilitate their entry into the Brazilian market.

Thanks to the "Scale Up In Brazil" program and the support of JETRO São Paulo, Sagri was introduced to Paulo Massahi Kajiwara, a pivotal partner in their Brazilian venture. Alongside Mr. Kajiwara, Satoshi Nagata ventured through multiple cities in Brazil, conducting Proof of Concept (PoC) trials to test their technology's effectiveness.

Sagri visits Embrapa, The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation at Londrina (from Sagri)

Sagri's Future Blueprint: Innovation, Inclusion, and Sustainability

The future holds great promise for Sagri as they continue to make significant strides in the agritech industry. Their expansion efforts in Brazil, guided by their robust partnership with Paulo Massahi Kajiwara and the support of Nikkei communities, are just one example of their global vision. Sagri envisions a world where innovative technology transforms agriculture, making it sustainable and inclusive for all, from small family farms to large agribusinesses.

Sagri visits a farm at Cascavel city (from Sagri)

Profile of Mr. Nagata Satoshi, (Director, Sagri Bengaluru Private Limited): Satoshi Nagata, a Waseda University graduate, began at Tokio Marine Nichido, excelling in HR startup and family business sales. In 2017, he joined Yusen Logistics India, achieving notable sales for Japanese firms in Bengaluru's tech scene. Since April 2019, as Sagri's India representative, he spearheads R&D and sales while supporting Bengaluru's Japanese community on the board of Japanese Association Bengaluru.
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Profile of Mr. Paulo Massashi Kajiwara, (Business Development Partner, DHAIGHAN Consulting): Paulo Massashi Kajiwara boasts extensive experience in commercial, engineering, and project management across diverse sectors like steelmaking, automotive, healthcare, and IoT. Having held leadership roles in multinational and Brazilian companies, including sales and general management, his expertise lies in strategic planning, team collaboration, and business evaluation. Paulo excels in implementing best practices for process enhancement, cost reduction, and efficiency, all aimed at ensuring sustainable business growth and profitability.
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Report by: Yusuke Kaga（JETRO, Startup Support Division）: A Paris Tech graduate in biomedical engineering, Yusuke Kaga began his journey at a French startup before diving into market research on biomedical corporates across APAC at the Economist group. Transitioning to a Japanese SME, he held roles as an HR manager, digital marketing manager, and spearheaded project management initiatives to automate ordering and shipping processes. Joining JETRO furthered his career, where he supported Japanese startups expanding globally and facilitated collaborations between overseas investors and Japanese startups.
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