Brazilian farmer invests in 10 robots for 3,700 acres of crop protection
Agricultural robotics is on the verge of achieving a new milestone in Rio Verde, Goiás, Brazil. From this season onwards, Fazendas Reunidas will protect their crops with ten robots across 1,500 hectares (3,706 acres) of soy and corn fields.
The chosen model is the third-generation Solix by Solinftec, which was showcased this year at Agrishow, Brazil’s premier event for technological innovation in agriculture. Future Farming interviewed the CEO of Fazendas Reunidas, Alexandre Baumgart, in a revealing conversation about the reasons and objectives behind investing in agricultural robotics at such a crucial stage as pest control. “I believe in the process. The technological concept of Solix is killer, there’s no way around it. I like technology, but I’m passionate about results,” Baumgart stated.
Already envisioned the potential
The group encompasses 25,000 hectares, including crops, livestock, and preserved areas, and plans to increase the number of robots each season. Baumgart, a mechanical engineer by training, has been involved in agriculture for over three decades and also manages his family’s businesses in industry, commerce, and hospitality. Thus, he already envisioned the potential of this solution.
Promising results helped in decision
The decision was based on the promising results from a test conducted last year with a single robot, which increased nearly 10 sacks per hectare in soybean production. “The equipment demonstrated superior precision in herbicide application for weed control. There’s also great potential for insect control via image digitisation, although this is still in development,” he analysed.
Fazendas Reunidas is at the forefront of this change, showing that technological innovation is fundamental to the future of agriculture. “There is a revolution happening in agriculture, something exhilarating and very enjoyable to be a part of,” Baumgart admitted.
Alexandre Baumgart: We started last year with the test of one robot. I believe in the process. The technological concept of detecting weeds through photo and image digitisation brings precision in identifying where to apply the herbicide.
Although the processing speed is still somewhat slow, the precision is high.
The technological concept is killer, there’s no escaping it. Now, the methods for weed killing and spraying vary somewhat. For example, the electric model is well-suited for smaller areas, but for larger areas, there is more difficulty.
The reason we chose to test this technology is that it is adjusting. The first result was fantastic, yielding nearly 10 sacks more per hectare. This showed that the soybeans, despite being transgenic and resistant to certain herbicides, still expend energy and time processing the applied product.
The active ingredient is processed by the plant, but it steals energy and time that it should use to produce more. The less you apply anything that interferes with the plant’s natural mode, the more it produces.
Yes, it was very effective. The plant produced more precisely because it was less stressed. You have less herbicide application, you don’t need to apply it to the entire area, only where it is needed, generating savings. We conducted a study and decided to buy ten more robots to see how they work on a larger scale. We plan to operate 20 robots but will start with ten more in the next harvest.
Ideally, it would be full, but due to speed, sometimes it will be necessary to use larger equipment that does not have automatic detection, due to volume. Currently, it is being used initially for weeds and is generating more information to determine pest pressure in certain areas. The robot’s infrared lamp helps detect butterflies and other pests, but it is still under development.
Productivity increased by about 18%. I separate large plots into two parts with the same conditions to compare. The 18% increase is due to the plant’s economy of force and energy, not stressing it as much with herbicides.
We are still compiling these numbers, but it is significant. Applying only where necessary, instead of the entire field, generates considerable savings.
There will still be a need for human supervision due to factors such as rain, wind, and machine bogging. The operation will still need technicians to set up equipment and people to prepare the mixture for supply, even if automated. Human creativity and inventiveness are irreplaceable.
Now it is ten robots for 1,500 hectares. We are starting with soy and corn, but after a certain phase, the robot can no longer enter the field.
We have 9,500 hectares of crops, located in Rio Verde, Goiás.
Probably, depending on the efficiency and learning with the equipment. We have been in the business for 40 years, and although I am not an agronomist, I am a mechanical engineer and have been in the field for a long time. I like technology, but I am passionate about results.
I come from the industry, was a factory director, and am well-versed in the technology used in car manufacturers and steel mills. The technology that already existed in the industry is being applied in agriculture. To some extent, this was already expected.
There will be a need for new knowledge and training. Even with artificial intelligence, human creativity is still irreplaceable. We will need technicians to set up equipment, prepare mixtures, and supervise operations.
They are expected to arrive between July and September. There will be a period of adaptation, training, and implementation. We need technicians with more technological knowledge, no longer just agricultural technicians. A revolution is happening in agriculture, and it is very enjoyable to be a part of it.
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