Last week, the Agrishow, Brazil’s premier agricultural technology fair, showcased a remarkable leap forward in the realm of farming innovation. Among the many advancements, one announcement stood out: Solinftec revealed the first-ever farm to be entirely operated by robots. This groundbreaking venture is set to transform a 10,000-hectare property owned by the Baumgart Group in Rio Verde, Goiás, into a high-tech hub for grain production.
Profound Operational Change
Emerson Crepaldi, the Operations Director for South America at Solinftec, emphasized that the future of agriculture has arrived, and it is not decades away but is happening now. This future is characterized by smaller machines, reduced pesticide usage, and a shift towards more intelligent and sustainable farming practices. The introduction of agricultural robotics signifies a profound operational change, moving away from traditional methods to more efficient and environmentally friendly approaches.
The star of Solinftec’s lineup is Solix AG Robotics, a technology designed to act as a sentinel within the fields, providing round-the-clock monitoring and care for crops using artificial intelligence. This robot has already demonstrated its value in tests conducted in Mato Grosso, where it helped achieve an impressive yield of an additional 10 sacks of soybeans per hectare compared to neighboring areas with similar conditions. Solix’s ability to operate autonomously and manage tasks related to integrated pest management (IPM) has led to a reduction in herbicide application by over 90% during the post-emergence phase.
Solinftec’s robotic fleet is not limited to Rio Verde; the company has deployed 40 robots across various states in Brazil and an additional 40 in the United States. With plans to expand their operations by the end of the year, Solinftec anticipates a total of 150 to 170 units in the field. The cost of integrating such a revolutionary system into a farming operation was presented at Agrishow with a price tag of approximately R$ 350,000 (64,000 euros).
Multifunctional Truck for Grains
In another exciting development, Grunner unveiled a prototype of a new multifunctional and autonomous truck designed to optimize grain crop management. With a substantial investment of R$16 million, this innovative model is powered by an ethanol engine and is slated to hit the market by 2025. The truck is a collaborative effort, combining Mercedes-Benz vehicles with the ADS Smart Machine automation system, aiming to streamline loading and unloading processes and enhance efficiency during critical planting and harvesting periods.
This ‘transformer’ truck, which has been celebrated as one of Mercedes-Benz’s top 10 innovations, is a response to the high demand for a model previously tailored to the sugarcane market. The ADS Multi boasts a significant load capacity of 29m³ or 30 tons and can operate autonomously at high speeds, thereby optimizing time and enhancing productivity while also reducing costs. Equipped with a scale featuring load cells, the truck provides real-time data on the volume of grains and the amount of fertilizers and correctives applied.
Dénis Arroyo, CEO of Grunner, explained that their mission is to deliver equipment that meets the challenges of grain crops head-on. The ADS Multi is a testament to their commitment to providing comprehensive solutions that span the entire journey from field to field.
The innovations presented at the Agrishow signal a transformative period for agriculture, where technology and sustainability converge to redefine the industry. As these technologies take root, they promise to usher in a new era of efficiency, productivity, and environmental stewardship in Brazilian agriculture and beyond.