Harnessing the power of data: How partnerships are transforming farming

From connecting farms to enabling the entire food supply chain to communicate seamlessly, Munters business area FoodTech is at the forefront of farming innovation. With its extensive portfolio of controllers, sensors, and IoT systems, it is helping farmers and food producers harness the power of data.

Since the early 2000s, Munters has been helping farmers and food producers collect crucial information about their livestock to run more efficient businesses.

Initially, this was mainly about connecting farms with the help of their controllers. However, with the advent of AI, sensors, and IoT systems, the entire food supply chain can now ‘talk to one another,’ enabling better decisions at every step, from farm to fork.

Among the companies in the Munters ecosystem that is leveraging the latest technology is InoBram, a Brazilian manufacturer of climate controllers in the broiler and swine segments.

Munters business area FoodTech acquired a majority share in InoBram in 2023. Since then, it has been busy connecting its controllers to Amino, a food supply chain optimization software developed by US-based subsidiary MTech Systems.

With MTech’s competence in advanced data integration and predictive analytics, InoBram can now provide crucial data to customers in Brazil and beyond, allowing them to adjust operations with significant cost implications and improved animal welfare.

“For the first time, our customers can make proper use of the data we collect,” says Cleverson Brandelero, Co-founder and CEO at InoBram. “This has huge cost implications for them.”

Great insights with data

Cleverson gives an example of how the partnership with MTech is benefitting one of its largest customers in Brazil.

“Our customer supplies chickens to international markets, ensuring they meet the specific weight requirement. If the chickens are overweight or underweight, there are financial penalties. By connecting Amino to our controllers, the weight of chickens can be optimized, reducing waste and penalties. This integration involves the entire supply chain—from farmers to food producers (integrators)—using data to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness across the board.”

With the right data at their fingertips, customers can adjust feed and climate conditions inside the farm as well as make early detections of diseases.

“The possibilities are endless,” says Cleverson. In the future, he hopes that Munters ecosystem of controllers and digital solutions will also connect with other equipment outside the food supply chain.

“We should use predictive systems to provide actionable insights,” he says. “For example, integrating weather forecasts can help farmers prepare for cold days in advance, making operations more efficient. It’s exciting to be at the forefront of this with our partners across the world.”