Mato Grosso hosts the AvAg 2025 Congress in August

The countdown to the Brazilian Agricultural Aviation Congress (AvAg Congress) 2025 has begun. The event's official launch took place this Tuesday (July 15th) in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, bringing together approximately 7 people, including authorities, businesspeople, agricultural leaders, and journalists. The meeting took place in the AMPA and Aprosoja auditoriums, marking the launch of the new edition of Latin America's largest agricultural aviation event, which will take place from August 60th to 19st at Santo Antônio de Leverger Executive Airport, approximately 21 kilometers from the capital of Mato Grosso.

With the theme "A Look to the Future," the AvAg 2025 Congress will feature an extensive program, including technology showcases, flight demonstrations, hands-on activities, and the Agricultural Aviation Scientific Congress, which will feature papers from more than 10 Brazilian universities. Registration is free, with an invitation code available from exhibitors.

Agricultural aviation: innovation, productivity and protagonism

During the launch, the president of the National Union of Agricultural Aviation Companies (Sindag), Hoana Almeida Santos (pictured above), highlighted the importance of agricultural aviation in increasing agricultural productivity and boosting the sector's value. According to her, Mato Grosso leads the national rankings, with over 700 aircraft, almost double the fleet of Rio Grande do Sul, which is second.

"The fleet grew 7% last year, keeping pace with the growth of agribusiness. We still face misinformation and prejudice, but our role is to show that agricultural aviation is as essential as any other piece of equipment in the field," said Hoana.

She also highlighted the presence of major aircraft manufacturers and the participation of thousands of visitors expected at this edition, which will include a special talk with former player Neto Zampier, survivor of the Chapecoense plane crash.

Sector generates billions and expands use of technology

Sindag's chief operating officer, Cláudio Júnior Oliveira, presented updated data on the sector. Brazil has the second-largest agricultural aircraft fleet in the world, with 2.722 aircraft, second only to the United States. In Mato Grosso alone, there are 749 aircraft in operation.

Agricultural aviation is expected to cover approximately 170 million hectares per harvest by 2025, generating over R$10 billion in annual service provision by 2028. “Just five crops — soybeans, corn, sugarcane, cotton, and wheat — could suffer losses of up to R$114 billion per year without aerial application,” he stated.

Oliveira also mentioned the advancement of spraying drones, which doubled in number between 2023 and 2024, and the arrival of autonomous aircraft, such as models from the American company Pyka.

Authorities highlight the strategic importance of the sector

Mato Grosso's Lieutenant Governor, Otaviano Pivetta, classified agricultural aviation as a "strategic and fundamental activity for crop protection," highlighting the state's leading role in the activity. He criticized international attempts to discredit Brazilian agriculture and emphasized the role of technical education in the sector's modernization.

State Representative Ondanir Bortolini (Nininho) stated that agricultural aviation is key to the competitiveness of agriculture and criticized environmentalist rhetoric that seeks to restrict the activity. "If we didn't have agricultural aviation, our production wouldn't be as large-scale as it is," he said.

Representatives from Famato, Aprosoja/MT, the Ministry of Agriculture, Indea/MT and the City of Santo Antônio de Leverger also participated in the event, all highlighting the importance of the Congress for the institutional and technical strengthening of the activity.

The program will feature practical demonstrations, emerging technologies and a scientific conference.

Sindag's administrative coordinator, Marília Schüller, presented a preview of the program, which includes:

• Flight demonstrations with spraying and firefighting
• Technical lectures on engines, components and operational safety
• Institutional and scientific conferences
• Technology showcases focusing on nanotechnology and artificial intelligence

The Congress will also feature a meeting of the Association of Women in Agricultural Aviation (Amag) and a space for networking between companies, technicians, students and producers.

Event strengthens political articulation and combats disinformation

In addition to showcasing innovations, the AvAg Congress will also host discussions on regulation, public policy, and professional training. One of the priorities, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, is supporting the training of new agricultural pilots, given the growing demand and high training costs.

For Indea president Emanuele de Almeida, the event will also be essential for reviewing state legislation and aligning the sector's needs with government actions. Santo Antônio de Leverger's deputy mayor, Giseli Paim, celebrated the event's positive impact on the local economy and reinforced the city's support for the next edition.