en.Wedoany.com Reported - Horsch will use BRL 115 million in financing approved by the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) through its BNDES Mais Inovação program to develop equipment for the Brazilian agricultural market, with a focus on integrating innovative technologies such as embedded automation, adaptive control, and digital connectivity.
These machines are designed specifically for small and medium-sized farms, with technical components that must adapt to Brazil's climatic conditions, summer and winter crop rotations, diverse soil types, and support real-time data monitoring capabilities.
Such innovations are expected to help mechanize farms that previously had limited access to digital technologies, potentially reducing input costs by 20% and improving agronomic efficiency by 15%. The relevant products will be developed at Horsch's factory in Curitiba, Paraná. The equipment includes a variable-rate technology planter equipped with sensors that use georeferenced data to control seeding depth and rates. This planter is expected to reduce seeding activities by 15% and lower consumption of inputs, including seeds and fertilizers, by approximately 10%.
Additionally, Horsch will develop for the first time a new fertilizer applicator compatible with low-power tractors, and create a new module that allows rapid connection of seeding, spraying, and fertilization systems to a single base. These devices are all adaptable to both summer and winter crops.
Stefan Vorwerk, Chief Technology Officer of Horsch Brazil, stated that this project is of great significance to Horsch Brazil and Brazilian agriculture. The innovative technologies being developed will make advanced mechanization and digital agricultural solutions more accessible to small and medium-sized producers, while fully considering the unique local climate, soil, and production systems. Aloizio Mercadante, President of BNDES, noted that this investment directly promotes productivity and efficiency in the field, helps small and medium-sized farmers achieve mechanization, and drives the development of Brazil's domestic technology production chain, contributing to reduced dependence on imported machinery and enhanced national sovereignty.
All equipment will be integrated into a single digital platform, transmitting agronomic and operational data in real time for machine monitoring and helping farmers track production more efficiently. This technology is expected to improve energy efficiency by 10% and reduce unexpected operational failures by up to 30%.
During the project implementation phase, 58 direct jobs and 54 indirect jobs will be created, with 10 specifically dedicated to R&D personnel. Upon project completion, direct jobs will increase by an additional 34, reaching a total of 92, while also providing 75 permanent indirect jobs.
