Modernization of the Colombian countryside is no stranger to the development of robots that contribute to crop efficiencythrough the use of artificial intelligence, an area in which Solinftec has a business plan that includes Colombia for its growth.
(Read: 16% rise in production in first semester reinforces improvement in coffee cultivation)
Leandro Ordoñez, Sales Manager for Latin America at Solinftec (first part) and Joao Pedro Pulzatto, Project and Services Manager for the company’s region (second part), They explained the benefit that their Solix robot, which arrived in Colombia thanks to the purchase of Manuelita Ingenuity, is able to bring.
Portfolio: What is Solinftec’s strategy and plan?
Leandro Ordonez: Solinftec is a company that has the DNA of exponential growth. Not only in position and market in different regions, but also in the ability to constantly develop solutions. Today we’re talking about our Solix tool, which strives to fulfill our purpose of being one of the companies that provides solutions for more sustainable agricultural practices.
The development of how the population is growing worldwide is worrying because there is not enough productive capacity of land on which we can guarantee food for all people. We strive to create efficiency and productivity, but we always think about the environment and food safety.
(See more: The panorama that will find the new Minagricultura after the departure of Mojica)
PO: How do you see the dynamics of the market?
WATCH: Between 2016 and 2017, a very deliberate study was carried out seeking to open the borders. We saw an opportunity to penetrate the United States and Canada, as well as the rest of Latin America. The region is a very important market.
We are centralizing our operations for Latin America in Cali because it is a strategic location due to the association of sugar mills in the region. And this also enables us to have easier and closer contact with our business partners.
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Leandro Ordoñez, Sales Manager for Latin America at Solinftec
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What countries are they in?
WATCH: We are opening the border for Guatemala and Honduras. We are in Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. Thanks to the results that the solution had, we had a relatively accelerated expansion process.
What results are you highlighting?
WATCH: We currently monitor 12 million hectares with Solinftec solutions. Among them, 8 million are in the sucrose (energy and sugar) sector, 4 million in grain and fiber and we have almost 300,000 hectares in permanent crops. We are also entering the forestry market.
(See: How logistics affect the competitiveness of Colombian hass avocados)
You announced an expansion into the Colombian market with Solix, your robot.
WATCH: With this robot, Colombia is our fourth destination. It already works in Brazil, Canada and the United States. The first Solix sold in the country was for the Manuelita mill, which was the first to use this solution specifically as a sprinkler.
The aim is to show the Colombian market that there are other very advanced alternatives supported by artificial intelligence. At the moment we have a tool called Alice, our AI, which is constantly learning, accompanied by the robot, to see what else we can do to contribute to these efficiency and productivity processes.
We have a projection of 20 robots in Latin America by 2025. These countries include Guatemala, Paraguay and Argentina. It is a very interesting market for us.
(Read more: From Tecnicaña, Solinftec announces its expansion plan throughout Latin America)
Robotics Solix AG
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Does the introduction of this type of technology require high investment?
WATCH: Not really. When compared to the return on investment that can result from Solix, they are very short. The hardware is practically priced at about 40% to 50% of what other equipment that performs these activities might cost.
Due to the benefit-cost ratio, Solix allows you to reach a financial break-even point as well as enough savings to pay for the following years.
(See more: Country’s Ethanol Sugarcane Production to Double in 10 Years)
Will Colombia position itself in its markets?
LO: The country has positioned itself to absorb technology for the agricultural sector. There are already various providers that can offer the technology. And Solinftec has made great efforts to bring the best to the industry.
Today, most of the sugar mills in Colombia have a Solinftec tool, which has different solutions aimed at an evolutionary scale. Arguably, the markets where we have the most revenue from our technology are in Colombia, Brazil and Guatemala.
(Also read: Agroecology: the antidote to desertification)
Robotics Solix AG
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How were the sales?
WATCH: Solinftec has growth well over 40% and 50% each year, matching the previous year’s sales. At the moment, we achieve global sales in Latin America of almost 70 million USD per year.
We implement contracts for 5 years. Some clients ask us to enter into seven-year contracts, which has led to growth. We had very positive results in the first half of the year.
(See: Are avocados bad for the environment? That’s a controversy)
LO: What are the expectations for the rest of the year?
We are trying to create the capacity to penetrate more into other agricultural processes that we have for different crops. The goal of this year is to prepare the closing of the goal and budget that we have planned and to prepare the way for 2025 together with Solix.
Joao Pedro Pulzatto, Project and Service Manager for Latin America at Solinftec
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This is how the Solix robot works
The development of technologies for agriculture is part of Solinftec’s goals, for this reason Joao Pedro Pulzatto, project and service manager of the company explained the scope and functioning of the Solix robot, which already has a domestic copy.
Portfolio: What are the benefits of bringing this technology into the field?
João Pedro: Today we have some advantages, for example Solix has a pest control application. We are talking about up to 90% of the economy of this resource. Clients from Brazil, Canada and the United States who are already using the technology have made gains. The idea at Colombia is to demonstrate this advantage with this first robot.
Also, Colombia has a very traditional culture, and that breaks the paradigm because we’re bringing a robot into the field that scares people a lot. It’s a barrier we have to break and move on.
(Also read: This is how the decree that regulates Tecam in Colombia will be implemented)
How do they use AI?
JP: The robot is 100% developed by us. Intelligence, mechanics, everything is in our laboratories. This AI allows us to have advantages because it works 100% locally within the bot. It is the intelligence that goes through the cameras, captures images, processes and verifies. He looks at the plant and checks it seven times until he’s sure it’s a noxious weed and makes the application.
Solinftec
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How do they mitigate the effects of climate change?
JP: It is a completely autonomous robot because it does not need fuel. It is powered by solar energy. It has photovoltaic panels, in which it has the capacity of autonomy and working power of 48 hours. It works constantly, even on cloudy days, because it can charge the battery up to 50%.
If we talk about 12 hours of work, it has the capacity to function for four days with the autonomy it has. However, it is constantly charging every time the sun shines.
We have achieved a 90% drop in input usage. This also contributes to the improvement of the environment. And its weight is relatively low compared to equipment used in agribusiness. With full supply tanks, it weighs about a ton, which is not a lot of weight compared to other types of equipment, so there is no trampling and degradation of the soil.
(See: They ask the government to introduce marketing measures for maize and soybeans)
What are its dimensions?
JP: When the bar is open, its size is 12 meters. There are a total of 24 application nozzles with an average distance of 50 centimeters from each other. The robot is focused 100% on efficiency and not on productivity. It works when a pest or problem actually exists. It’s not just a robotic solution, but technology for efficiency in the field.
