Solinftec, a global leader in agricultural digitalization based in West Layfayette, Ind., Tuesday announced that it will expand upon its partnership with GROWMARK, Inc., based in Bloomington, Ill., and one of North America's largest agricultural cooperatives, with a collaborative project focused on a new cutting-edge AgTech robotic device.
With more than 15 years of experience developing digital ag solutions throughout various geographies and crops around the world, Solinftec's new robot is state-of-the-art technology built to scan and monitor fields. This, connected with Solinftec's ALICE platform, works together to orchestrate machine operations. Programmed with a neurological network featuring a complex detection algorithm, the new in-field robotic device has the ability not only to scan for crop health and nutrition, insects, and weeds, but is built to monitor the entire field ecosystem and provide real-time insights.
The goal is to provide farmers and agronomists a new level of information to increase yields, improve inputs usage, lowering environmental impact.
GROWMARK will collaborate with Solinftec to run the robot throughout the entire 2022 season where it will fine-tune the technology of agriculture operations in North America from planting to harvesting.
Over almost 100 years, GROWMARK has developed trusted relationships and expertise within its vast system, which provides tremendous value for technology startups and ultimately benefits our respective customers. This is a natural evolution of GROWMARK's AgValidity trial and testing program, along with its new omnichannel platforms that deliver custom solutions for GROWMARK/FS customers whenever, wherever, and however they choose to do business, from the cab of a tractor to their home offices.
"GROWMARK and our System of FS Cooperative members are recognized as cutting-edge partners by the Farmer of the Future," says GROWMARK Innovation Director Heather Thompson. "We believe in leading the market with products and technologies customers didn't know they needed but can't imagine their operation without."
"We are looking at the future of farming," adds Lance Ruppert, GROWMARK's director of agronomy marketing technology. "We have been working with and utilizing Solinftec's leading agricultural technologies for over three years and are excited to partner on a project with the potential to change farm practices for the better of the industry and environment."
The goal is to have the robot commercially available for the 2023 season.
"We're taking our robot directly to the fields for practical implications," said Daniel Padrão, Solinftec's chief operating officer. "This cutting-edge technology will help develop agricultural solutions and support sustainable farm practices. We are honored to have such a progressive partner as GROWMARK to move forward with this first launch as we continue to work together to support farmers on seizing the opportunities in agriculture."
With the launch of its new AgTech robot and current ALICE technologies, Solinftec continues to be committed to protecting and respecting its users' privacy, abiding by core data privacy principles to protect data. Farmers and users maintain ownership of their data and may choose to share results at their discretion.
"I'm proud to see our company leading the evolution of new agriculture technology," said Britaldo Hernandez, Solinftec's chief executive officer. "For the past 15 years, we've been dedicated to evolving agriculture practices hand-in-hand with farmers. There has always been a pull between ag operations and the field's ecosystem, but we are excited to build new technologies that orchestrate bringing these together and democratize the knowledges."
A technology company built exclusively for agriculture, Solinftec continues to invest and research industry advances. In 2018, the company introduced ALICE, a first of its kind artificial intelligence data science assistant specifically designed to work with production farmers to integrate and process data from machinery, people, climate and relevant external inputs. ALICE calculates producers' ultimate needs/objectives and delivers real-time actionable recommendations.
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