Future Farming reported that German manufacturer Horsch introduced its autonomous planter concept, the Gantry RO G 500, at the Bahia Farm Show in Luís Eduardo Magalhães, Bahia, Brazil in early June. The planter is the result of 20 years of work, Future Farming said, that was made possible by advancements in technology.

“The Horsch RO G 500 is a self-propelled seeder with the ability to autonomously traverse lines previously planned on the computer,” said Rodrigo Duck, CEO of Horsch in Brazil. “The machine presented to the public now allows Horsch to take significant steps towards full automation and autonomy in the field.” 

Horsch validated the Gantry RO G 500 during the second half of 2022, when it was used in soybean areas in the Matopiba region (Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí, and Bahia) in northeastern Brazil, Future Farming said.