John Deere, a global manufacturer of equipment and software for agriculture, construction and forestry, announced the construction of the Brazilian Technology Development Center – the world’s first development and testing center focused on tropical agriculture.
The American company will invest approximately USD 180 million in the construction of the Brazilian Technology Development Center.
A huge development opportunity for Brazil
The aim of the innovative project is to promote synergy between multiple research and development teams involved in the design and validation of new products and technologies for major crops and the production of cereals, sugar cane and specialty crops.
– The idea to locate the new center was not accidental. Global demand for food is growing, and Brazil plays a fundamental role in this context. The center will promote the development of everything applicable to tropical agriculture. We intend to offer the Brazilian market faster and even better service than before, emphasizes Jahmy Hindman, chief technology specialist at John Deere.
Great momentum of the new center built by John Deere
The new Technology Development Center, which will occupy an area of 500,000 m2. m², will be located in Indaiatuba, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. Construction began in November 2023, and the facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2024. The center will employ approximately 150 employees in engineering and research and development areas.
– The center will enable products to be developed and tested in Brazil, taking into account all variables: soil, climate, connectivity levels, etc. This approach will ensure faster delivery of solutions to local customers. This means that small, medium and large Brazilian manufacturers will be able to work in an even more productive, profitable and sustainable way, says Antonio Carrere, vice president of sales and marketing for Latin America.
By establishing a new Technology Development Center in Brazil, John Deere expects to reduce development time for new solutions by up to 40 percent, depending on the type of project.
The American company has already introduced products targeted at the local market, such as the John Deere CH950 sugar cane harvester (a Brazilian project created with the needs of sugar cane producers in this country in mind) and the S400 grain harvester – intended for small and medium-sized farms. The center will enable us to accelerate the delivery of solutions to the Brazilian market and increasingly adapt to its specific needs.
It is worth adding that the John Deere Center for Precision Agriculture and Innovation, which was established in 2017 to conduct research and development of the latest trends in technological efficiency for farmers – with an emphasis on the use of hardware and software in precision agriculture – will now become an integral part new center in Indiatuba.
John Deere expansion in Brazil
John Deere has been present in Brazil since 1979, when it acquired part of the capital of Schneider Logemann & Cia (SLC), a plant located in Horizontina (in the state of Rio Grande do Sul), which was responsible for the production of the first self-propelled combine in this country.
Among the facilities opened by John Deere in Brazil are the Parts Distribution Center for South America, the Training Center and the Center for Precision Agriculture and Innovation in Campinas (in the state of São Paulo). The company also opened two construction plants and a regional office for Latin America in Indaiatuba (in the state of São Paulo), and expanded its plants in Catalão (in the state of Goiás), Horizontina (in the state of Rio Grande do Sul), Montenegro (in the state of Rio Grande do Sul) and Indaiatuba (in the state of São Paulo) to produce more of their products locally.
John Deere also acquired companies such as: Auteq Telemática – a company dealing in software and on-board computers, PLA – a manufacturer of sprayers, Unimi – a company specializing in parts and after-sales service of sugar cane harvesters, and Ciber – part of the Wirtgen Group, a world leader in the field paving solutions and road construction.
Taking care of the future of Brazilian agriculture together
All John Deere units in Brazil directly employ over 9,000 people and produce equipment exported to over 55 countries.
By investing in a new center, the American company even more clearly emphasizes the importance of tropical agriculture.
– We are very pleased to announce this investment, which is consistent with our goal to further support the development of the Brazilian market – not only its products, but also its infrastructure. Brazil has an important role to play in the world, and John Deere is proud to be part of its history, concludes Carrere.
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