Solinftec
IndustryAg-tech
Founded2007
FounderBritaldo Hernández Fernández, Enrique Ponce Caballero, Anselmo Del Toro Arce, Leslie González, Genrry Perez, Lazaro Victor Quintana Garcia, George Victor Diaz Calderin
Headquarters
Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil

Solinftec is a global ag-tech company specializing in providing technologies for agribusiness.[1] The company is headquartered in Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.[2][3]

History

In 2007, Solinftec was founded by a group of Cuban[4] automation engineers in Araçatuba, Brasil. Initially, Solinftec focused on developing solutions for the sugar and ethanol industry, which is a major sector in Brazil and nowadays cover the main crops such as row crops and perennials. The company's first product was a machine monitoring system that allowed sugar and ethanol mills to optimize their production processes sending information in real-time.[5][6] In 2011, the company developed the first solution to traceability for certification of production origin—Sugarcane Digital Certificate.[7][8]

In 2012, the company launched Sugarcane Harvesting Optimization (Single queue) a system that, through sensors and algorithms, generates efficiency in distribution of tractors and trucks in the sugarcane harvesting areas, promoting substantial cost reductions in the operation.[7][9]

In 2013, the company developed SolinfNet, a communication network between devices that allows data transmissions in remote regions where is no internet connection.[7][10]

In 2016, Solinftec closed the Series A investment round, and in 2017-2018 got undisclosed investments from TPG and Agfunder.[11]

In April 2018, Solinftec presented its virtual assistant, Alice, that helps to control any process in the field.[12]

In 2017-2018 got undisclosed investments from TPG[1] and Agfunder.[13][14] 

In 2019, Solinftec won the AgFunder Award for Brazil, considered the ‘Global AgTech Oscar’ as the most innovative international startup in the Farm Tech category.[15]

In 2020, Solinftec received a US$40 million investment in a series B round and a year later started partnership with IBM.[16][17]

In 2022, the company launched Solix Ag Robotics,[18][19] a robot that analyse the health of plants and assesses their nutritional content, looks for weeds, and evidence of insect damage.[20][21][22] Also, the device monitors the state of the entire field's ecosystem.[20][23][24]

Solinftec serves the largest agribusiness groups such as Cofco Agri, Biosev, Raízen, Usina Coruripe, Bunge, Tereos, Atvos, Amaggi, Bom Jesus, Fazendas Bartira, Grupo Bom Futuro, SLC Agrícola, LDC Juice, AgroTerenas, etc.[25]

Solix AG Robotics

In 2021, the company launched Solix Ag Robotics, a 100% autonomous robot equipped with 4 solar panels that analyzes plant health and assesses its nutritional content, searches for weeds, and detects evidence of insect damage. Additionally, the device monitors the overall ecosystem of the field, providing real-time information to the producer.[26][27]

The platform features three main functionalities mentioned below:

  • Scouting: Since Solix runs 24/7, it collects real time data from the field with pieces of information such as: insects’ infestation, plant nutrition, diseases, plant stand, plant population, types of pests and more.[28]
  • Sprayer: With targeted spray applications, Solix identifies weeds in early stage and kills them every 7 days when they will emerge again, using up to 95% less herbicides.[29]
  • Hunter: With different light waves, Solix is able to attract and kill insects throughout the field without using any type of insecticide.[29]

In addition to all the functionalities mentioned above, the use of Solix prevents soil compaction, as it is a lightweight device that travels at 1 mph in the field, providing accurate visibility of field conditions.[30]

Structure

AgriTech has over 800 employees globally, 330 in research and development alone. In Brazil, besides its headquarters, it has seven more offices in different parts of the country, Sinop, Nova Mutum and Querência, in Mato Grosso, Luiz Eduardo Magalhães, in Bahia, and Balsas, in Maranhão.[31][32]

In total, the company operates in more than 10 countries. Since 2019, it was launched in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, in partnership with the renowned Center for Food and Agricultural Business at Purdue University.[33][34]

The company also has an office in Saskatchewan, Canada, and a research center in Shenzhen, southwest China.[35][36]

In Cali, Colombia, the office serves as a hub for Latin America, where the company operates in six countries.[37][38]

References

  1. 1 2 "TPG-Backed Agricultural-Tech Firm Sells Its First Green Bond". Bloomberg.com. 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  2. ↑ "Startup Backed by Billionaire Family Offers Robots for US Farms". Bloomberg.com. 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  3. ↑ Service, Purdue News. "Purdue-based Solinftec to move global headquarters to West Lafayette". www.purdue.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  4. ↑ Tega, Isadora (2022-07-24). "Solinftec levará seu robô para monitorar campos nos EUA e Canadá". Forbes Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  5. ↑ Queiroz, Daniel Marçal de; Valente, Domingos Sárvio M.; Pinto, Francisco de Assis de Carvalho; Borém, Aluízio (2022-04-01). Agricultura digital. Oficina de Textos. ISBN 978-65-86235-55-5.
  6. ↑ "Startup do clima cresce, mas há obstáculos". Valor Econômico (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  7. 1 2 3 Sá, Luiz Fernando de (2018-01-22). "Plant Project | A brasileira que conquistou investidores do Uber". Plant Project. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  8. ↑ "AI delivers real-time data for smarter farming". VentureBeat. 2022-05-02. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  9. ↑ Bloomberg (2020-02-03). "Família Trajano, dona da Magazine Luiza, compra fatia na rural tecnológica Solinftec". Money Times (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  10. ↑ "Solinftec apresenta inteligência artificial da Alice na Agrishow 2018 | Brasilagro". www.brasilagro.com.br. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  11. ↑ "Agfunder Invests in Brazilian Agtech Startup Solinftec |". Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  12. ↑ "Solinftec apresenta inteligência artificial da Alice na Agrishow 2018 | Brasilagro". www.brasilagro.com.br. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  13. ↑ "Blog - Itaú". blog.itau.com.br. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  14. ↑ "Agfunder Invests in Brazilian Agtech Startup Solinftec |". Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  15. ↑ Burwood-Taylor, Louisa (2019-03-21). "2019 AgFunder AgriFood Tech Innovation Awards Winners Announced". AFN. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  16. ↑ "Plataforma agrícola Solinftec anuncia parceria com IBM por dados meteorológicos". Money Times (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2021-02-02. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  17. ↑ "Billionaire Family Buys Stake in Brazil Agricultural Tech Firm". Bloomberg.com. 2020-02-03. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  18. ↑ Ondei, Vera (2023-02-10). "Solinftec se prepara para mostrar insights de seu robô nas lavouras". Forbes Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  19. ↑ "Solinftec Unveils New Autonomous, Solar-Powered Sprayer Robot". www.precisionfarmingdealer.com. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  20. 1 2 "Crop-monitoring Solix agri-bot headed for field trials". New Atlas. 2022-06-03. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  21. ↑ canalruralmt (2022-10-18). "Robôs entram em campo para auxiliar monitoramento de lavouras em Mato Grosso". Canal Rural (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  22. ↑ "Agtechs: análise correta de dados leva mais resultado para produtores | Metrópoles". www.metropoles.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-07-01. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  23. ↑ "Solinftec, GROWMARK to Deploy Autonomous Crop-Scanning Robot in 2022 Season". www.precisionfarmingdealer.com. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  24. ↑ "Un robot para analizar cultivos" (in Spanish). 2022-03-22. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  25. ↑ Bloomberg (2020-02-03). "Família Trajano, dona da Magazine Luiza, compra fatia na rural tecnológica Solinftec". Money Times (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  26. ↑ "Solix Sprayer robot that detects and sprays weeds set for 2023 release". AGDAILY. 2022-08-30. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  27. ↑ Azevedo, Daniel (2023-05-22). "Solinftec presents the Solix Hunter robot, a night predator of insects". Future Farming. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  28. ↑ Mano, Ana (2023-08-29). "Brazil robot helps farmers scout, spray and protect crops, developer says". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  29. 1 2 Ondei, Vera (2023-05-08). "Solinftec cria robô noturno que vai para as lavouras combater pragas". Forbes Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  30. ↑ Demaitre, Eugene. "Solinftec Scales Up to Provide Affordable Solix Robots, ALICE AI to Farmers". Robotics 24/7. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  31. ↑ "Demanda por tecnologia digital faz Solinftec avançar". Estadão (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  32. ↑ Fonseca, Mariana (2022-02-19). "Unicórnios brasileiros: veja quais são as startups que podem virar bilionárias neste ano". InfoMoney. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  33. ↑ Service, Purdue News. "Brazilian digital ag leader to bring high-tech farming solutions, open office near Purdue, create 300-plus jobs". www.purdue.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  34. ↑ AgFunder (2018-11-29). "Brazilian Digital Ag Startup Solinftec to Invest $50m Establishing US Operations". AFN. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  35. ↑ Mills, Wes. "Solinftec deploys crop robot to Canada". Inside INdiana Business. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  36. ↑ "AGCO Announces Strategic Partnership with Solinftec | Business Wire". kommunikasjon.ntb.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  37. ↑ "Solinftec America Latina S.A.S. Company Profile - Colombia | Financials & Key Executives | EMIS". www.emis.com. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  38. ↑ S.A.S, Editorial La República. "Invest Pacific espera atraer para 2020 unos US$200 millones en inversión extranjera". Diario La República (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-03-15.
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