Argentine nano-fertilizer firm AKO Agro expands to Brazil

Argentine fertilizer developer AKO Agro has set up a Brazilian subsidiary in Londrina, Paraná, marking its entry into one of the world’s largest agricultural input markets. The company, which specializes in nanotechnology-based foliar nutrition, aims to expand its presence in South America’s main grain and sugarcane regions.

AKO Agro’s formulations use nutrient particles engineered at the nano scale to improve penetration through leaf tissues, addressing a key limitation of conventional foliar products, which often remain on the leaf surface or require higher volumes to achieve target responses. According to the company, the approach enables substantial reductions in application rates, delivering nutrients with as little as 250 milliliters per hectare, compared with nearly 2 liters for some standard formulations.

The lower volumes, the company said, provide operational advantages, including reduced transport and storage needs, and greater flexibility in spray programs, particularly when tank-mixing multiple inputs. Improved foliar uptake is targeted at nutrients with limited mobility inside plants, such as calcium, boron and several micronutrients that must be delivered directly to developing tissues during critical growth stages.

The Brazilian operation extends AKO Agro’s footprint across the Southern Cone, adding to activities in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Locating its subsidiary in Paraná positions the firm close to major soybean, corn, and wheat production zones.

Manzanares said official certification of its nanotechnology products has been central to building market confidence, noting that third-party validation is important in a competitive foliar fertilizer segment where many suppliers promote enhanced nutrient-delivery systems. Independent trial data, he added, remains essential for demonstrating agronomic and economic benefits relative to established products.

Brazil’s value-added fertilizer market has expanded steadily in recent years, driven by demand for technologies that raise nutrient-use efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. A recent DunhamTrimmer analysis cited annual growth of about 8.3% for these inputs, supported by uptake in soybean, corn and sugarcane systems. AKO Agro said these conditions create room for niche technologies such as nano-formulated foliar fertilizers aimed at producers seeking differentiated performance.