In the heart of Brazil’s agricultural powerhouse, Goiás, a technological revolution is unfolding. Fazendas Reunidas, a large-scale farm in Rio Verde, has successfully deployed a fleet of 12 Solix robots developed by Solinftec, achieving an 18% increase in soybean yields and reducing herbicide use by up to 85% over 1,500 hectares. This pioneering system is not just a testament to technological advancement but also a beacon of sustainable and efficient farming practices.
The journey began during the 2023/24 harvest with a modest pilot project involving two robots. One handled imaging and weed mapping, while the other performed spot spraying of invasive plants. The results were promising: herbicide use plummeted by 85%, and productivity saw a significant boost. Alexandre Baumgart, the chemical engineer and CEO of Fazendas Reunidas, was quick to recognize the potential. “The concept is solid. I push technology to its limits, and I can say this one truly delivers clear results,” Baumgart states.
Encouraged by the initial success, Baumgart expanded the programme in the 2024/25 season, acquiring 10 more Solix units. The robots were tasked with covering 1,500 hectares, repeating the productivity gains observed in the pilot project. However, scaling up the operation was not without its challenges. An outbreak of fungi required urgent intervention across two-thirds of the robot-managed area, necessitating the use of conventional sprayers for speed. Despite this setback, the robotic swarm operated autonomously on the remaining 500 hectares, still delivering the same 10-bag-per-hectare gain.
Baumgart acknowledges that operating robots at scale demands discipline, method, and operational tweaks. “The tech works. But operating robots at scale demands discipline, method and operational tweaks. The concept is right, but the implementation still involves a learning curve,” he says. Two improvement fronts are already under study: robot speed and chemical refilling. Currently, Solix must return to base for refilling, which slows operations. Solutions include exploring new engine types and developing autonomous in-field refill units.
Each Solix robot covers roughly 150 hectares, meaning Fazendas Reunidas needed 10 units to cover 1,500 hectares 24 hours per day using photovoltaic energy for electric engines. Baumgart plans to expand the fleet to 20 robots, pending the evolution of the equipment. “I still want to double-check, but it’s a real possibility,” he says.
Solinftec, the company behind the Solix robots, is also evolving its technology. At Agrishow 2025, the company launched its new Refill Station platform to address chemical logistics, helping to make processes faster as needed in Fazendas Reunidas. The fourth-generation Solix robot, unveiled at the same event, is designed for rugged terrains, variable pulverization, and irrigation systems, and diverse farm profiles.
According to Emerson Crepaldi, Solinftec’s COO for South America, Fazendas Reunidas is now one of the company’s flagship cases. “Fazendas Reunidas was the first to scale robotic operations. Their productivity results and herbicide cuts are now industry benchmarks. We’re even seeing soil quality improvements due to lower chemical loads,” he says. Solinftec currently has around 150 Solix units operating in Brazil, Latin America, and the United States.
The secret behind the Solix robots’ success lies in “Alice,” Solinftec’s AI platform. Alice connects, analyses, and coordinates real-time data from over 60,000 devices, generating highly accurate insights. According to Robson Dias, Solinftec’s grain commercial manager, Alice is the brain of the operation. “Alice is the brain. She connects, analyses, and coordinates real-time data from over 60,000 devices — from sensors and weather stations to the Solix units themselves,” he explains.
The implications of this technological leap are profound. As Baumgart puts it, “Agriculture will change. Maybe not everything will be 100% autonomous, but these platforms will become standard. We’ll need more analytical and technically skilled operators.” The future of farming is here, and it’s robotic.