How does high technology make a difference in Brazilian properties?

It is a fact that the application of technology in the field has been increasingly fundamental to the exceptional results presented by agribusiness. In July, an IBGE estimate through the Systematic Survey of Agricultural Production (LSPA) indicates that the Brazilian harvest for 2021 should reach a record level of 256,1 million tons. The robust data, in large part, can be attributed to the intensified use of technology, which has transformed agribusiness into a synonym of modernity and profitability.

Aware of the challenge of feeding a world with 10 billion inhabitants by 2050, according to UN projections, and of responding to society's demands for more sustainable production, farmers have been looking for innovative solutions that help them in their daily lives in the field. In this sense, the use of technology has very broad functions, ranging from ensuring that crops are not damaged by pests to expanding production without the need to increase the planted area.

The technological apparatus also allows farmers to monitor production and optimize management and processes involving planting, harvesting, storage and logistics. This system - which uses integrated and technological solutions to increase productivity in the field, reduce costs, unforeseen events, and optimize operations - we call precision agriculture.

More capitalized due to the successive gains that the segment records year after year, rural producers have invested in products, services and agricultural machinery that enhance their results. This trend is confirmed by the Agribusiness Confidence Index (IC Agro), measured by FIESP in partnership with Croplife and which assesses the perception of the input and transformation industries linked to the sector, in addition to cooperatives and producers, in relation to a series of economic indicators. In the first quarter of this year, the index reached 117,4 points. According to the study methodology, results above 100 points reveal market optimism.

It is for this scenario, marked by the sophistication of work in the field, that companies in the sector must be prepared to be partners with the farmer, offering innovative and technological solutions that allow excellent productivity and with the greatest number of benefits possible.

Fendt is one of them. Of German origin, it offers high technology to customers with great demands and needs for quality agricultural machinery and services in the field, supported by its in-depth knowledge of global agriculture and investment in innovative technology, the brand's main competence. In the 2020/21 cycle, the Research & Development area is investing 93 million euros in its headquarters, of which 22 million euros are allocated to the development of digital products.

The brand offers intelligent machines such as the Fendt MOMENTUM planter that allows farmers to have greater planting productivity in flat and irregular areas, guaranteeing the seed at the same depth. All this thanks to the Fendt Smart Frame, a system that reads all the lines that are in contact with the soil, and DeltaForce, which applies the correct pressure to each of the lines and corrects emergencies, exploiting the seed's full productive potential.

Another major differentiator of the planter, a product fully aligned with the current moment of sophistication in the field, is the 20|20 SeedSense, which makes it possible to monitor your work and make decisions in real time from inside the tractor, to increase the quality of the planting and achieve even higher productivity levels. The equipment also features Precision Planting. The technology allows up to 99% singulation with vSet2, 0% planting with VDRIVE and savings of R$64/ha with its row-by-row control.

In addition to MOMENTUM, the company also has in its portfolio improved tractor solutions that help in the large cultivation of Brazilian rural properties, such as the Fendt Vario series, with power from 385 hp to 571 hp. The line delivers grip, versatility, safety, comfort and intelligence in a single operation, with more than 25% operational yield (gain of up to 1 week of planting time) and fuel savings of up to 20%. The independent and self-leveling suspension, CVT Vario Drive transmission and factory tires complete the largest unibody tractor in the world.

Another product is the Fendt IDEAL harvester. Thanks to the design and technological advancement contained in its parts, which includes the IDEALbalance system, a double grain tray that ensures that only the clean harvest is collected, it offers greater power, yield and comfort. The machine guarantees up to 15% more operational efficiency, allowing the harvest to finish a week in advance; 20% savings in fuel consumption; 25% increase in grain quality; and up to 30% loss reduction.

In short, technology has assumed a leading role throughout the agribusiness chain. It is imperative that producers are in tune with the technological revolution in the field to guarantee productivity and quality in what they do and, therefore, make their business profitable. The rural man, more technological and connected, began to act within predictability and not simply in the face of guesswork and assumptions, as was the case until the recent past. To achieve this, it is essential that it has support from companies that invest in and promote innovations.

By José Galli, director of Fendt South America