Cemvita signs agreement with government of Rio Grande do Sul to deploy industrial plant in Southern Brazil

Photo: Cemvita

Cemvita, the U.S.-based industrial biotechnology company, signed an engagement agreement Aug. 1 with Invest RS, formalizing its plan to build a facility in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, for the production of FermOil™.

This sustainable oil will be used as feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production.

The plant will also produce FermNPK™, an innovative biofertilizer that supports regenerative agriculture.

Earlier this year, Cemvita announced a partnership with Be8, a biofuel pioneer, also located in Rio Grande do Sul to strengthen the SAF value chain—reinforcing Be8’s long-term goal of becoming a provider of sustainable biofuel solutions.

The signing ceremony was attended by Acting Gov. Gabriel Souza, Invest RS CEO Rafael Prikladnicki, Cemvita CEO Moji Karimi and Fernando Borba, Cemvita’s strategy and business-development director, at Palácio Piratini.

The document formalizes the company’s intention to install a sustainable oil-production facility in Rio Grande do Sul, consolidating the state as a global hub for innovation in the circular bioeconomy.

“Rio Grande do Sul takes another important step toward becoming a global reference in innovation and bioeconomy,” Souza said. “This partnership with Cemvita reinforces our commitment to sustainability, the attraction of high-impact investments and the creation of opportunities for the people of Rio Grande do Sul in strategic sectors such as renewable energy, agriculture and industry.”

The facility will be used to produce low-carbon oil derived from crude glycerol, which will serve as feedstock for the production of SAF.

The site will also produce a biofertilizer that supports regenerative agricultural practices.

“The signing of this engagement agreement with Cemvita marks a strategic milestone for Rio Grande do Sul and reinforces our leadership in innovation and technology,” Prikladnicki said. “Invest RS’s role is precisely to enable projects like this, connecting companies with our state and offering technical support and tailored solutions.”

Invest RS provides specialized technical support, institutional coordination, value-chain mapping, identification of industrial areas and assistance in securing economic and tax incentives.

The state was chosen strategically due to its robust infrastructure, availability of crude glycerol and strong track record in low-carbon public policies.

“This is a project that combines development and sustainability … and one that strengthens the state’s business-friendly environment by making it the choice of this American company,” said Leandro Evaldt, the deputy secretary of economic development.

According to Cemvita, the plant will be the first in the world to operate at industrial scale using this bioconversion technology.

The company said the project represents a major technological leap that positions the state at the forefront of the energy transition, with direct impact on sectors such as aviation, agriculture and renewable energy.

“Brazil, and especially Rio Grande do Sul, aligns perfectly with Cemvita’s strategic vision,” Karimi said. “It offers the infrastructure, regulatory environment and feedstocks needed to scale up our waste-to-value platform. We’re excited to find public and private partners equally committed to driving a low-carbon transition.”