A new project in Paraguay is underway to develop autonomous aerial spraying technology using artificial intelligence, with the goal of establishing the country as a pioneer in this field in South America. The initiative, led by the company Agro IA in partnership with aeronautics students from the Faculty of Polytechnic Engineering at the National University of Asunción (UNA), focuses on creating unmanned ultralight aircraft for agricultural use.
Gerardo Monzón Manzoni, the CEO of Agro IA, presented the details of the proposal during an interview on state television. He explained that the development combines artificial intelligence, aeronautics, and agricultural production to provide solutions aimed at optimising crop spraying tasks in the field.
A new frontier for agriculture
The core of the technology involves aircraft that operate without a human crew, designed to carry out agricultural applications in a fully automated manner. This integration of AI and aviation aims to significantly improve operational efficiency and lower costs for agricultural producers throughout the country.
The proposed system is projected to have an estimated capacity of 300,000 litres and could cover approximately 1,000 hectares per day. By automating the process, the initiative seeks to overcome limitations of traditional aerial application methods and introduce a new level of precision and efficiency to the agricultural sector.
University collaboration
The project is being advanced through a formal agreement between Agro IA and the Faculty of Polytechnic Engineering at UNA. This partnership actively involves aeronautics students in the development of technological solutions that can be directly applied to the nation’s productive sector, providing practical experience with cutting-edge technology.
“We are demonstrating that from Paraguay, from our university and with our engineers and students, we can develop cutting-edge technology for the productive sector,”Monzón Manzoni stated during his interview, underscoring the commitment to fostering local innovation and talent
A service for the nation and beyond
The development phase of the project is expected to conclude by mid-2027. Following its completion, the team plans to proceed with the implementation of the service in various productive zones across Paraguay. The proposal includes the creation of an autonomous aerial spraying “delivery” model, where the ultralight aircraft are transported to agricultural areas to operate.
Once the service is firmly established in Paraguay, Agro IA plans to extend its operations to other countries in South America. This long-term vision aims to position Paraguay not only as a user of new technologies but also as a developer and exporter of innovative solutions for the international agricultural market.
Also read: Paraguay’s First Domestically Built Satellite GuaraníSat-2 Ready For Launch.
