Advertise with us
Subscribe
Home Blog Page 52

Avant 02 – seed drill combination with mounted front tank FTender

agrimachinery
-
0

The 2nd Generation 02 Avant 02 seed drill combinations consist of the FTender front mounted tank, the new generation of active soil tillage, and the new TwinTeC seeding system.

AMAZONE also offers the RoTeC single disc coulter, alongside the TwinTeC double disc coulter. The working width range extends from the rigid 3 m and 4 m, up to folding 4 m, 5 m and 6 m. The full range will be available from 2023.

The soil tillage – new KG 02-2 rotary cultivator

With the Avant 02 folding seed drill combinations, the latest generation rotary cultivators can be used at all working widths. The rigid Avant 02 seed rails can be mounted on the KE 02 rotary harrows or on the KX 01 or KG 01 rotary cultivators.

The folding rotary cultivators provides the basis for a perfect seed bed. 3.3 tine carriers per metre of working width till the soil intensively as well as thoroughly incorporating any organic matter during the mulch sowing process.

The on-grip tines pull themselves down into the soil, even under the most difficult of conditions, so that the rotary cultivator can maintain its working depth, even in extremely hard soils. The spring-loaded side plates retain the soil in the machine. The side plates can be height-adjusted by using the standard universal tool. They can move to one side to avoid stones and other larger obstacles.

The height setting of the levelling board can be used to guide the soil flow and the intensity of the soil tillage. The seedbed is also levelled by the levelling board. The levelling board can be adjusted in height from each side using the universal operating tool. The levelling board is now guided by the roller, so that the tines of the levelling board do not need to be adjusted as the working depth varies.

The wide range of following rollers includes, for example, the wedge ring roller, the wedge ring roller with matrix tyre profile, the tooth packer roller and the trapeze ring roller and so can provide the optimum reconsolidation on different soils.

Should the farmer want to drive using track markers, the seed rail can be equipped with twin markers. These track markers are then mounted on the soil tillage tool. This keeps the weight closer to the tractor and the intensity of mark is improved in field corners. The angle of attack of the marker discs can also be adjusted using the universal operating tool.

Accurate seed placement with the TwinTeC seed coulters

The TwinTeC double disc coulters are mounted by the seed rail onto the active soil tillage tool with roller. The TwinTeC coulter is offered with a row spacing of 15 cm. The maintenance-free, TwinTeC coulters run very smoothly through the soil at a coulter pressure of up to 60 kg/coulter and place the seed precisely.

The working depth of the parallel-guided coulter can be adjusted independently of the coulter pressure. The placement depth is determined by the depth guidance rollers. The depth across all coulters is adjusted centrally from 0 to 6 cm.

The adjustment of the placement depth is carried out once again using the universal operating tool. Depth setting is carried out centrally for the rigid Avant sowing combinations, and it is set separately on each wing for the folding execution. The exact setting can be read off on a scale.

Avant seeding system with RoTeC coulter

RoTeC coulters are maintenance-free and work very reliably, even where large amounts of straw and plant residues are present. The sowing disc and a furrow former create the seed furrow profile and provide optimum seed placement into the soil. The Control 10 depth guidance disc or the Control 25 depth guidance roller prevent the soil from sticking to the sowing disc, thereby ensuring that the pre-selected sowing depth is precisely maintained. The row spacing is 12.5 cm.

The mechanical or hydraulic coulter pressure adjustment allows very rapid and convenient reaction to varying soil conditions. The hydraulic coulter pressure adjustment enables the coulter pressure to be comfortably adjusted from the tractor cab. The coulter pressure setting is displayed to the driver on the ISOBUS terminal.

A harrow on the coulter ensures reliable seed coverage. The angle of attack of this spring-loaded tine harrow can be adjusted. It can be set aggressively for heavy soils and in trailing mode for areas where there are straw residues. The dragging up of straw residues is therefore avoided. If the harrow wears, it can be set to another one of 5 height positions. If it is not needed, it can be deactivated in the park position.

If a pre-cultivation just with the rotary cultivator is necessary on the headland, the coulters can also be completely lifted up using the hydraulic coulter pressure adjustment. This also makes perfect use of the rotary cultivator in the corners. The rotary cultivator with roller can also be uncoupled from the seed rail when needed for solo seedbed preparation.

 Conveying system

On the 3 m and 4 m Avant, the seed travels from the FTender front mounted tank via a single conveying system whereas, on the 5 m and 6 m Avant it is via a double conveying system, to the segmented distributor head, or heads. The distribution head is mounted directly above the coulters, resulting in a short and steep line of transfer between the distribution heads and the coulters. Electrical one-sided switching is also possible in the Avant.

ISOBUS machine control

The machine control of the Avant is by ISOBUS. The software has been developed internally by AMAZONE and facilitates facilitates intuitive operation of the Avant. The easily-comprehensible symbols and freely-programmable buttons can be used to adapt the interface of the operating terminal to the requirements of the user. Control of the seed drill combination can be performed either by the AmaTron 4 or AmaPad 2 ISOBUS terminals from AMAZONE, or by any other ISOBUS terminal from another manufacturer.

Additional transport chassis

AMAZONE offers an additional transport chassis for road transport on the Avant 5002-2 and 6002-2. The load is taken off the tractor when driving on the road and the travel comfort in transport becomes more pleasant for the driver. The chassis makes it possible to drive the Avant legally on the road with most tractors and without exceeding the rear axle load limit. Coupling and uncoupling is a one-man operation. Safe locking facilitates operation from the left-hand side of the machine.

Illustrations, content and technical data are not binding and may differ depending on the level of equipment. Country-specific road traffic regulations apply and must be complied with, meaning that special approval may be required. The permissible axle loads and total weights of the tractor have to be checked. Not all the listed combination options are possible with all tractor manufacturers.

Also Read

LEMKEN invests in artificial intelligence

Lemken’s new transport carriage for large furrow presses

New BorderTS boundary spreading system for ZA-TS and ZG-TS fertiliser spreaders

agrimachinery
-
0

AMAZONE has developed the BorderTS deflector for the ZA-TS mounted spreader and the ZG-TS trailed spreader for even more precise fertilisation up to the field boundary when at those larger working widths.

Unlike conventional deflectors, the BorderTS system is integrated into the software of the fertiliser spreader. The new deflector is used in conjunction with the disc-integrated AutoTS border spreading system and has a special baffle construction.

AMAZONE and border spreading – Precision in perfection

High-precision boundary spreading has always been an important focus for AMAZONE. It became apparent very early on how much yield potential lies in the field boundary area and that savings on fertiliser could be achieved yet whilst protecting the environment.

Border spreading systems like the Limiter help farmers to switch between side, border, water course and normal spreading from the comfort of the cab.

The advantage of AutoTS is very evident at larger working widths. A short spreading vane is activated in the disc-integrated border spreading system, so that the fertiliser is accelerated less and therefore is only applied across the required distance. AutoTS enables fertiliser to be spread much more effectively, right to the edge of the field, thereby achieving an additional yield of up to 17 % in this area, compared to conventional border spreading systems.

Both the border spreading systems work according to the principle of fertilising from the first tramline to the edge of the field.

To achieve even higher yields at the edge of the field, the new BorderTS deflector can be used in conjunction with AutoTS. BorderTS spreads the fertiliser directly from the edge of the field to the crop. When doing so, the shutter nearest the field boundary is left closed.

AMAZONE has specially developed the new BorderTS deflector for the TS spreading systems, so that, when used in combination with AutoTS, can achieve excellent results in lateral distribution right to the edge of the field, without applying fertiliser across the border. This enables increased yields of up to 27 % on the outer five metres of the field boundary area, in comparison with conventional border spreading systems.

Precision border spreading with the new BorderTS deflector, combined with AutoTS

In addition to the use of the new BorderTS deflector on areas with row crops or a special tramline system, the deflector can be used extremely effectively for the first application in cereals. Here it is always crucial that the full amount of fertiliser is applied exactly at the field boundary without throwing fertiliser beyond it. The growth of plants that have been driven over in the field boundary area is not permanently impaired during that first application.

All values can be stored in the spreader settings beforehand, so that the appropriate setting parameters are set automatically depending on the application situation.

Baffle plate construction and software integration

At large working widths, the fertiliser must be accelerated considerably more, in order to achieve a good area of overlap with the spread fan of the first tramline. Due to the high energy of the granules, the lateral distribution provided by conventional systems behind the tractor is often unsatisfactory.

The BorderTS deflector features a special baffle plate construction and a guide plate, the angle of which can be adjusted. The baffles first remove the energy from the granules, which are then gently guided to the ground by the guide plate. The guide plate is infinitely adjustable for optimal application up to the field boundary.

In addition, a sensor detects the working position. When the deflector is in use, the spread rate and the delivery point of the fertiliser onto the spreading disc are automatically adjusted to ensure the best possible lateral distribution in combination with the disc-integrated AutoTS border spreading system. It goes without saying that the application rate can be manually overridden at any time in response to special situations.

The BorderTS deflector is mounted centrally behind the spreader and can be activated hydraulically.

Animation of the BorderTS boundary spreading system:

www.amazone.net/yt-border-ts

When activated, the BorderTS deflector on the ZA-TS is swivelled into the spread fan from above. The special baffle plate construction and infinitely adjustable guide plate gently guide the granules to the ground.

Illustration of the combined use of BorderTS and AutoTS:

  1. Fertiliser is spread from the edge of the field into the crop by the BorderTS deflector, with automatic reduction of the target rate to 50 %. The shutter nearest the field boundary is left closed.
  2. AutoTS spreads at 50 % from the first tramline across to the boundary side to achieve the target rate across the total field boundary area. Normal spreading to the field side with 100 % of the target rate.
  3. In the subsequent tramlines, normal spreading is resumed with 100% of the target rate to both sides.

Illustrations, content and technical data are not binding and may differ depending on the level of equipment. Country-specific road traffic regulations apply and must be complied with, meaning that special approval may be required.

The permissible axle loads and total weights of the tractor have to be checked. Not all the listed combination options are possible with all tractor manufacturers.

Also Read

John Deere Debuts New Planting Technology & Electric Excavator

Mechanizing agriculture is key to food security

Agrishow 2023 has new entry schedule for visitors

agrimachinery
-
0

The 28th edition of the main agricultural technology fair in Latin America changes the time of entry of visitors in order to improve mobility for participants.

Agrishow 2023 – 28th International Fair of Agricultural Technology in Action will be held in Ribeirão Preto, in São Paulo, between May 1 and 5, with a new entry time for visitors: it will be at 9 am and the exit time remains at 6 pm. The change promoted by the organizers aims to improve the mobility of exhibitors and visitors, reducing the impacts of heavy vehicle traffic in the region.

The new entry time proposal was based on statistical data and analysis, which showed the periods of greater movement of cars on the highway, access roads and local streets. Thus, the start of the fair at 9am will not only bring benefits to the participants of the event, but also to the people who travel in the region.

In its 28th edition, the fair, which connects people and technologies, will have many attractions to enrich the experience of rural producers and agro professionals present at the event.

Among the 2022 successes confirmed are: Agrishow Pra Elas, a space dedicated to women in agriculture with content and relationship activities, Agrishow Labs, with the participation of startups that increase productivity and quality to Brazilian crops, and the Drones Arena.

Sustainability will be in focus during Agrishow 2023, through sustainable initiatives in the areas of waste and energy, such as the proper collection and disposal of different types of waste, the recycling of materials, the use of renewable sources and energy savings.

Agrishow this year will count on the participation of more than 800 brands from Brazil and abroad, which means an opportunity to get to know the main technological innovations and important launches that will make a difference for the production of grains, carbohydrates, fibers and proteins throughout the country, to carry out business and to strengthen relationships.

Among the segments present at the event will be: machinery, equipment and agricultural implements, precision agriculture, irrigation, storage, livestock, seeds, correctives, fertilizers, pesticides, miscellaneous inputs, bags, packaging, software and hardware technology, family farming, financing, insurance, parts, auto parts, tools, tires, valves, pumps, engines, yellow line and commercial vehicles. The fair will also have the participation of the main banks directed to agriculture.

Agrishow 2023 is an initiative of the main agribusiness entities in the country: Abag – Brazilian Agribusiness Association, Abimaq – Brazilian Association of Machinery and Equipment Industry, ANDE – National Association for the Diffusion of Fertilizers, Faesp – Federation of Agriculture and Livestock of the State of São Paulo and SRB – Brazilian Rural Society, and is organized by Informa Markets, a member of the Informa Group, one of the largest promoters of fairs, conferences and training in the world with public capital.

More info:

AGRISHOW 2023 – 28th International Fair of Agricultural Technology in Action

​Date: May 1st to 5th

Location: Rodovia Antônio Duarte Nogueira, Km 321 – Ribeirão Preto (SP)

Time: from 9 am to 6 pm

www.agrishow.com.br

Also Read

NAMPO Harvest Day (May 2023), Bothaville South Africa

Strong exhibitor demand for Agritechnica 2023

 

Michelin upgrades its EvoBib tyre range

agrimachinery
-
0

Michelin has recently announced the introduction of a new version of its popular EvoBib (2in1) tyre which is specifically designed for tractors with central tyre inflation systems (CTIS).

This latest EvoBib range from Michelin will be further expanded during the course of this year including new sizes for larger tractors.

The upgraded tyre offers a number of impressive features and benefits including reduced soil compaction and fuel consumption and optimised longevity and sustainable traction both on and off road.

Also, a unique low pressure structure tread pattern effectively maximises the tyres footprint for greater traction when used in field work. Whilst on the road the EvoBib’s versatile smaller footprint combined with a central rib lowers rolling distance and increases durability.

Initially the tyre will be available in two size options – VF 710/70 R42 and VF 600/70 R30.

Also Read

Continental unveils largest tractor tire

GRI’s EARTH Series of radial Agriculture Tires

Continental unveils largest tractor tire

agrimachinery
-
0
Continental unveils largest tractor tire

Continental has launched its largest tractor tire to date, the VF TractorMaster in size VF900/60R42.

With a diameter of 2,147 millimeters, the tire is larger than a door frame and weighs 450 kilograms with a load index of 189 (10,300 kilograms).

Continental has developed the tire size specifically to be able to carry the weight of agricultural machinery with over 300 horsepower.

Bigger, faster, heavier: new tire size addresses industry trend

Rising costs and the pressure to transport increasingly larger loads in a shorter time mean that the demand for powerful agricultural machinery is growing. Benjamin Hübner, Product Line Manager for Agricultural Tires at Continental, says:

“This development not only demands top performance from machines, but also from their tires. That is why we develop and test our agricultural tires in close consultation with our customers.”

Underlying the trend toward large machines is the primary goal of working even more efficiently and cost-effectively.

In 2022, Continental therefore launched five new tire sizes of its VF TractorMaster (650/60 R 34; 650/65 R 42; 710/75 R42; 650/65 R 34; 710/60 R 34).

Suitable for field and road

Thanks to VF technology, the tire can be driven with 40 percent more load at the same tire pressure as a standard tire or 40 percent less tire pressure at the same load.

In addition, tires with VF technology operate more fuel-efficiently than conventional tractor tires. Hübner: “The VF TractorMaster combines efficiency and soil preservation.

The VF technology allows for a smooth transition from field to road without having to adjust the tire pressure. At the same time, the impact of heavy machinery on the soil is minimized by a wider tread surface when working in the field.”

Continental is striving to continuously expand its agricultural tire business as part of its Vision 2030 strategy. The expansion of the portfolio and the realignment of the Agricultural Tires business field, headed by Ivonne Bierwirth, underscore the company’s growth strategy.

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation.

In 2021, Continental generated sales of €33.8 billion and currently employs more than 190,000 people in 58 countries and markets. On October 8, 2021, the company celebrated its 150th anniversary.

The Tires group sector has 24 production and development locations worldwide. Continental is one of the leading tire manufacturers with more than 57,000 employees and posted sales of €11.8 billion in 2021 in this group sector.

Continental ranks among the technology leaders in tire production and offers a broad product range for passenger cars, commercial and special-purpose vehicles as well as two-wheelers.

Through continuous investment in research and development, Continental makes a major contribution to safe, cost effective and ecologically efficient mobility.

The portfolio of the tire business includes services for the tire trade and fleet applications, as well as digital management systems for tires.

Also Read

GRI’s EARTH Series of radial Agriculture Tires

Apollo Tyres receives ISO certification for sustainable procurement

AgriEdge, OCP Africa partner to promote crop protection

agrimachinery
-
0

Agricultural solutions provider AgriEdge and OCP Africa launched the fourth edition of the agricultural innovation program on Monday through a virtual conference that brought together more than 100 participants.

The fourth edition of the program focuses on using technology to promote crop protection and hopes that many participating projects will benefit from the program.
Participants will benefit from the knowledge of experts from the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University of Morocco (UM6P), Bayer, the National School of Agriculture of Meknes (ENAM) and the AgriTech Center of Excellence.
In addition, they will also be able to use the infrastructures and laboratories of the UM6P. The university has a set of experimentation platforms in its Living Labs, including an experimental farm.
Additionally, attendees will be connected to potential customers in the form of program partners, and will also have the opportunity to showcase their solutions to a wider audience at the International Agricultural Expo 2023 in Morocco.
More than 300 participants from 24 African countries have applied to be part of the program, according to its official website.
“This program is an opportunity to create a center for exchanging experiences and knowledge, co-creation and coopetition around technology and crop protection”, indicates the site.
Program topics include the use of AI for disease and pest prediction, web and mobile platforms for plant disease monitoring and treatment, and the use of Tele-Proxi detection to protect plants. plants, among others.
The Agricultural Innovation Program aims to support startups that use technology to solve problems in the agricultural sector.
In a context of growing population and dwindling resources due to climate change and other challenges, local start-ups have recently emerged as a potential solution, especially in Africa which has seen an entrepreneurship boom.
Also Read

Legal hurdles for Germany’s plan to ban export of certain pesticides

agrimachinery
-
0

Germany plans to implement export ban on certain hazardous pesticides to eliminate double standards in the area of pesticide exports.

Double standards arise when active substances and plant protection products that are not approved or authorised in the EU because of their environmental and health hazards or risks are exported from Germany to countries outside the European Union.

“It is unacceptable that we continue producing and exporting pesticides that we rightly banned here with a view to people’s health,” Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir said in a statement  last year.

But the move is likely to find its way in the corridors of justice.

A Legal opinion commissioned by the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), the Heinrich Böll Stiftung, the INKOTA-netzwerk, the Pestizid Aktions-Netzwerk (PAN Germany) and the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung has highlighted two important areas of legal interest.

First an export ban needs to comply with higher ranking laws in Germany, the EU and international law. It also has to respect the rights and freedoms of those affected by the law. This is because individual affected companies could move to court to challenge the ban.

In legal proceedings against the export ban, national courts will assess whether the provision is compatible with higher-ranking law. To assess compatibility with EU law, the legal opinion examines the compatibility of a German export ban with the EU rules on competences as well as with the fundamental freedoms .

Compatibility with German law
Compatibility with national law requires compatibility with the German Basic Law. In particular, compatibility with fundamental rights must be examined here. An export ban may interfere with the fundamental rights of freedom of property, occupation and the general freedom of action.

Which fundamental right is affected depends on the circumstances of the individual case . In principle, domestic companies as legal persons under private law can also invoke fundamental rights.

Compatibility with world trade law

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) regulates trade measures by WTO members. Violations of the GATT can be sanctioned by WTO states before a panel of experts. It is likely that a German export ban would violate Article XI:1 GATT, which in principle prohibits any institution of non-tariff quantitative restrictions on imports and exports. However, such a violation may be justified under
Article XX GATT.

However, the measures may be justified if they serve to protect human, animal and plant
life and health and are necessary for this purpose. The export ban on certain hazardous pesticides from Germany is intended to protect persons exposed to the hazardous substances as well as the environment and ecosystems.

Also Read

Tech-led innovations steer next wave of agriculture revolution

Bayer, Kimitec partner to boost crop protection

Tech-led innovations steer next wave of agriculture revolution

agrimachinery
-
0

The agriculture industry is facing several pressing concerns, including extreme vulnerability to climate change, labor shortages, inefficient agri-food system, and evolving consumer preferences for transparency and sustainability.

In this context, innovations in technology are driving the next wave of revolution in agriculture, paving the way for more sustainable, efficient, and resilient agricultural practices, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Kiran Raj, Practice Head of Disruptive Tech at GlobalData, comments: “Emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, IoT, robotics, data analytics, and connected sensors continue to shape the innovation trajectory in agriculture. However, these advances will require all the industry players to collaborate to unlock the new pockets of value in terms of enhanced productivity, improved efficiency, and greater sustainability.”

Shagun Sachdeva, Project Manager of Disruptive Tech at GlobalData, comments: “Supply-chain disruptions resulting from COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war accentuated the necessity of widespread digitization and responsible innovation in the agriculture industry. Smart agriculture practices in terms of exploring smart crop varieties, discovering novel genetic features, and advanced digital farming solutions renewed a sense of optimism. Signals from all angles right from policy-makers, investors, technology companies, to researchers suggest that there will be growing momentum behind the shift toward agriculture 4.0.”

The Innovation Explorer database of GlobalData’s Disruptor Intelligence Center reveals some of the key innovation areas in agriculture to obtain higher yields, lower costs, and improved sustainability.

Agrivoltaics – Regenarative Agriculture

Agrivoltaics is  food–energy–water nexus (FEW) that involves crops cultivation beneath solar panels, simultaneously utilizing land for both agriculture and energy production. Agrivoltaics farming offers potential benefits in terms of increasing renewable energy production, increasing sustainable food productions, and preserving land and water resources. In November 2022, Mirai Solar developed PV shade screen to be used in areas with high solar radiation levels to protect plants from excessive sunlight while generating electricity. In May 2022, Unilever formed a regenerative-agriculture investment fund worth $103.9 million.

Smart Monitoring Technology

Whether its drone farming or IoT sensors and chips, smart monitoring technology solutions offer a variety of ways to farmers to improve the observation and care of crops and livestock in a cost-effective manner. In February 2023, SLT-Mobitel Enterprise introduced the Fazenda Smart Agro solution in Sri-Lanka by integrating IoT and AI-based technology. In 2022, Bayer’s Crop Protection Innovation Lab developed an IoT device ‘Digital Yellow Trap’, which alerts farmers of threats in their fields.

Agrobots

An agrobot is an autonomous robot designed to assist with farming tasks, reducing the need for manual labor and increasing productivity. In FIRA 2023 (International Forum for Agricultural Robotics) three different agrobots debuted. Exxact robotics introduced “Traxx Concept H2 prototype”, which was powered by hydrogen fuel cell.

 Smart greenhouses

Agritech companies are investing in IoT-based greenhouse automation for plant growth monitoring to minimize human intervention. Companies are recruiting automation specialists in the field of data management and robotics, as well as farming experts to track crop health. In April 2022, The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO)-10  launched P100-M smart greenhouse in the Phillipines.

Algae-based carbon capture technology

 Algae-based bioenergy production is seen as a growing trend. As the technology advances and more algae-based products become available, algae will be the spotlight crop of the future as it can be cultivated on marginal lands, and in water that is unsuitable for traditional farming, and the ecological impact of algae cultivation on the environment is much lower than other crops. In April 2022, Brilliant Planet announced its plan around economic, gigaton-scale carbon capture using algae.

Sachdeva concludes: “With the current scale of investments in smart agritech, it is safe to say that technology is making meaningful crontribution to agriculture and allied industries such as finance and insurance , and it will go a long way in transforming these industries. To handle several disruptive forces successfully, the industry will need to redesign business models, realign the traditional roles, and create co-investment opportunities for private, public, and philanthropic sectors to finance sustainable and commercially viable solutions in agriculture’s tech-driven future.”

Also Read

Bayer, Kimitec partner to boost crop protection

In the Biospray project, ARA proved its potential for Sustainable and Non-Selective Herbicide & Pesticide Use in Agriculture.

Bayer, Kimitec partner to boost crop protection

agrimachinery
-
0

Bayer and Kimitec are entering into a strategic partnership to accelerate the development and commercialization of biological solutions for agriculture. 

On the one hand, this involves crop protection products that combat pests, diseases and weeds and, on the other hand, biostimulants that promote plant growth.

With the MAAVi Innovation Center, Kimitec operates Europe’s largest biotechnological innovation center, which has been researching and developing natural molecules and compounds for the agricultural and food industry for 15 years. 

Combining Bayer’s product development expertise with Kimitec’s research capabilities will accelerate the development of biological products. This also includes the development of integrated plant management solutions that can be further developed and scaled using Bayer’s global infrastructure. This includes field testing, product support and marketing.

“Bayer wants to support farmers with the benefits of biological solutions as part of an integrated system that includes our leading crop traits, crop protection products and digital solutions,” says Dr. Robert Reiter, Head of Research and Development at Bayer’s Crop Science Division. “Every farmer can benefit from biologics – from seed treatment to pest control. Bayer is working on networked solutions to offer farmers more flexibility and thus added value.”

With the agreement, Kimitec will be a key partner in advancing Bayer’s biologics pipeline. As a global leader in biologics discovery and development, Kimitec will provide its expertise and breakthrough technology through its MAAVi Innovation Center. This also includes an artificial intelligence platform, which means that results can be achieved even faster.

“Our collaboration with Kimitec gives us a unique opportunity to develop innovative biological solutions even faster. Together we share the vision of bringing new, effective, safe and at the same time sustainable products onto the market,” says Benoit Hartmann, Head of Biologics at Bayer’s Crop Science Division. “The partnership with Kimitec is an example of how Bayer leverages its network with various strategic partners to support farmers with the next generation of biologics.”

The biologics market is estimated to grow to nearly €25 billion by 2028 1 . Consumers are increasingly asking for foods with low or no residues. At the same time, the purchasing standards in food retailing are causing farmers to look into new options in crop protection. 

Since 2007, Kimitec has been developing biologics that are effective alternatives and complements to synthetic crop protection. This fits with Bayer’s strategy to offer farmers the best solutions – by combining future and existing technologies.

“Kimitec started 15 years ago with a clear vision to change the way food is produced. Our agreement with Bayer will help us get closer to that goal. This allows us to expand our global footprint and make our technology available to millions of farmers,” explains Félix García, CEO of Kimitec.

 “As a world leader in the development and production of biological solutions, Kimitec offers farmers natural and sustainable products without compromising on efficacy and productivity. The agreement is closely related to our 360 Open Innovation strategy, where we partner with the world’s leading innovators to create meaningful and sustainable solutions for farmers, consumers and the environment.”

Also Read

I-SPRAY: The future looks bright with KUHN

In the Biospray project, ARA proved its potential for Sustainable and Non-Selective Herbicide & Pesticide Use in Agriculture.

In the Biospray project, ARA proved its potential for Sustainable and Non-Selective Herbicide & Pesticide Use in Agriculture.

agrimachinery
-
0

For over 50 years, spraying has been widely used in agriculture for almost all crop care operations to eliminate weeds, boost crop growth and treat infection/infestation.

As farmer’s demands grew for even better spraying efficiency, complex synthetic molecules were developed to selectively target weeds without harming crops.

Unfortunately, they degrade into toxic residues and remain in the crop and soil. Their intensive use has led to polluted soil and water, loss of biodiversity, and a reduction in soil fertility.

Biocontrol products can offer a solution to these issues. They are derived from natural ingredients (such as vinegar and geranium) and offer effective crop treatment.

These simpler molecules are assumed to be highly effective herbicides and pesticides, to degrade totally (so don’t remain in the soil/environment) and to require less energy to produce (reducing the CO2 footprint).

“For example, ‘natural’ herbicides can be used to treat weeds but can also harm the crops if they were broadly sprayed so they are best delivered by an ultra-high precision sprayer which targets individual plants (spraying only weeds but not crops)”, explains Steve Tanner, CTO Ecorobotix. The products can be used both in conventional farming and bio/organic farming.  However, formal homologation of these biocontrol products is still ongoing for use in organic/bio farming.

The EU-funded agROBOfood project has supported the Biospray industrial challenge project to adapt Ecorobotix’s ultra-high precision technology to meet the needs of biocontrol applications and to conduct field trials for three types of applications.

The ARA Precision Sprayer is a revolutionary ultra-high precision sprayer with an ability to treat plant-by-plant with an unprecedented accuracy of 6×6 cm and a breakthrough in targeted herbicide delivery.

ARA’s technology can accurately detect, classify, and spray only individual weeds (avoiding surrounding soil and crops), thanks to its AI based plant recognition capability and ultra-high precision (UHP). Ecorobotix’s UHP-spraying solution is radically different from conventional and spot-spraying herbicide application, making it more efficient and more cost-effective solution which can be used for both selective and non-selective herbicides.

Sugar beet was selected as the crop for the trials because few chemical synthetic herbicidal active ingredients are available today and further reductions are expected in the coming years. Therefore, the Biospray project targeted three crop care applications in sugar beet: selective application of pelargonic acid (organic herbicide), azadirachtin and spintor (two organic insecticides).

The field test results across two seasons showed satisfactory weeding results and a reduction of insecticide use.  Furthermore, herbicide savings of ~70-95% can be made using ARA’s Ultra-High Precision Sprayer. More agronomic tests are needed to validate the exact efficiency of these new biocontrol products and fine-tune machine performance for this use-case.

Although the project started with AVO, an autonomous robot with ultra-high precision spot spraying technology, a change has been made which led to the development of the ARA ultra-high precision sprayer, which is 3x the size of AVO and is towed behind a tractor.

“With ARA, AVO’s spot spraying technology has been improved with higher precision and faster speed of operation.  A towed sprayer is also easier for farmers to use and more economical.” explains Steve Tanner.

In summary, ARA’s Ultra-High Precision Sprayer is the future of sustainable selective and non-selective herbicide application and is a game-changer for the agricultural industry. Its ultra-high precision technology, combined with its ability to detect, classify and spray individual weeds, reduces costs and enhances sustainability.

The Biospray project has proven its potential, and we are excited to continue working towards the goal of efficient, environmental-friendly and sustainable crop protection solutions.

Please note that ARA is commercially available and in use across the EU.

About agROBOfood

AgROBOfood builds a pan-European network of Digital Innovation Hubs that stimulates effective adoption and development of robotic solutions in the European agri-food sector and it accelerates digital transformation to make the European agri-food sector more efficient and competitive.

Learn more at https://agrobofood.eu

About Ecorobotix

Ecorobotix was founded to radically change agriculture for the better by respecting the environment and reducing chemical use, soil impact, water use, and energy use. Ecorobotix provides a revolutionary plant-by-plant data solution and ultra-high precision crop treatment that reduces chemical use (herbicides, pesticides, liquid fertilizers) by ~80-95%, while increasing crop yields by ~5+% and massively reducing the CO2 footprint of traditional agriculture.

Also Read

I-SPRAY: The future looks bright with KUHN

New Herbicide GUSS sprayer to be available at select John Deere dealer locations

1...515253...60Page 52 of 60

Quick Links

Top categories

Our Media Network

CCE NEWS – Construction & Engineering News
The Africa Logistics – Transport & Supply Chain
Linkbly – Digital Advertising & Link Building

Newslatter

Contacts

Editorial: editor@agrimachinery.africa
Advertising: ads@agrimachinery.africa
Guest Posts: marketing@agrimachinery.africa
News Tips: news@agrimachinery.africa

Follow Us

© 2026 Agrimachinery Africa. All Rights Reserved.
Africa’s trusted source for agricultural machinery, farm equipment, and agribusiness technology news.