SFTW Convo: Technology that lives in the field with Léo Carvalho

Conversation with Chief Strategy Officer for Solinftec

Welcome to another edition of “SFTW Convos” with Léo Carvalho, Chief Global Strategy Officer for Solinftec from Brazil.

During my “SFTW Convo” with Feroz Sheikh, Group Chief Information and Digital Officer (CIO and CDO) at Syngenta Group, I asked Feroz how he thought farming was going to change in the next 5-10 years.

One of the other things I think is going to happen is AI will start to make the machines more autonomous. So we will start to see a little more of autonomy at precision. And when you take away the human factor, when the machines are operating autonomously, then you can imagine a sci-fi world of a swarm of robots operating in the field 24 x 7.

Then you don't need to have a very heavy machine that goes out in the field once every four weeks and has to spray a broadcast at that time. The autonomous machines can operate in the field and take an action instantly when they see a thing. So I think some of those can possibly be the future where we'll see novel practices, novel agronomy come into practice enabled through technology.

You will get a peek into this future through my conversation with Léo Carvalho of Solinftec. Solinftec is working on reimagining the future of farming, through their autonomous, electric robots which can 24x7 “live in your field.”

This LinkedIn post (Dec 9 2024) from Solinftec’s CEO, Britaldo Hernandez is very timely.

Agriculture relies on large machinery and chemical products, with a few dominant companies playing a crucial role in feeding the world for over a century, highlighting the essential and non-negotiable need for food.

Current agricultural solutions focus on short-term food production but often create larger future problems due to limited options and reliance on existing practices, such as smarter machines, AI-driven prescriptions, and new chemicals. While these innovations sustain us temporarily, they don't address agriculture's core challenges. The key question is: if we could start from scratch, how would we design solutions? With generative AI and modern technology, we could shift toward systems that feed us sustainably without exacerbating future issues.

Solinftec is already leading this shift with its “technology that lives in the field,” addressing key factors like cost, security, and sustainability.”

My conversation with Léo, goes into imagining a farming system from scratch. I hope you enjoy the conversation.

Léo Carvalho with the Solix sprayer (image provided by Léo Carvalho)

Operational Efficiencies through Solinftec

Rhishi Pethe (RP): Solinftec started with sugarcane and expanded to other crops. What is your business there, and what problem are you trying to solve in the sugarcane value chain?