Aerial applications planning and monitoring platform proposes control and productivity, with socio-environmental risk mitigation

The world's fourth largest consumer of fertilizers, Brazil imports more than 85% of these inputs, therefore being vulnerable to fluctuations in the international market. Among the crops that most require the use of these products are soybeans, corn and sugar cane, which account for around 73% of national consumption, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA). In periods of uncertainty, such as the current one, with rising prices and the risk of shortages, the order is to rationalize the use of fertilizers, avoiding waste as much as possible. “A well-executed application will not need to be redone, so assertiveness is essential at this time. In the case of soybeans, where this practice is necessary four to seven times per harvest, or cotton, which can reach 20 times, the difference can be significant”, says Antonio Loures, specialist in application technology - a set of practices which has been gaining significant importance at all times of the cycle.

Loures is one of the developers of SprayPlan, an unprecedented system for planning and monitoring aerial applications of agrochemicals, a practice widely used in crops from the North to the South of the country. “Where the plane comes in, our work comes in. The software quantifies and qualifies the operation, planning and monitoring the entire application process. It also shows the producer how much and where the product was applied, helping to manage the resource. We deliver greater control, productivity and optimization in aerial applications of agricultural inputs”, he details.

The use of inappropriate configurations can cause losses, such as, for example, direct waste of inputs caused by incorrect application rates or bandwidth. Likewise, a lower application dosage commonly results in ineffective pest control. “On the other hand, overdose results in unnecessary expenditure on inputs. The producer, when he hires us, knows that he will receive what was agreed”, adds Loures. The businessman highlights that the system increases the coverage effectiveness of agrochemical products from 75% to up to 96% of the treated area. In addition to monitoring, items such as equipment calibration and weather conditions are crucial for assertive operation.

The Spray Plan surpassed the mark of one million hectares analyzed, mainly in cotton, soy and sugar cane crops, and can be used in several other crops. Loures also remembers that the platform is “ideal for cooperatives, so that small producers also know how much was applied”. Tracking shipped inputs and using backup areas, aiming for redirection plans, can avoid waste of between 15% and 20%. In addition to greater productivity, adopting the program as a planning and monitoring model also results in the mitigation of socio-environmental risks, such as drift.

The Spray Plan platform was designed by Dominus Soli, an agribusiness startup that pioneered, eight years ago, in the segment of planning, evaluation and correction of aerial agrochemical application services, in which Loures is a founding partner. “We work with dynamic maps and simple-to-understand graphics and control can be done via cell phone. We help in making quick and accurate decisions”, he adds.

The observations and recommendations made by Dominus Soli are also relevant for pesticide manufacturers, who depend on the quality of the application service to deliver the results promised by the product. “It is very common to obtain different results, in nearby areas, with identical cultivars that received the same treatment. Assertiveness is necessary from one end to the other, and that is what we propose”, concludes Antonio Loures.