Brazil and China Launch AI lab for Semi-Arid Agriculture

Brazil and China have joined forces to lay the foundation for a laboratory dedicated to developing artificial intelligence and small-scale machinery for family farming in Brazil’s semi-arid regions, according to TV BRICS.

The lab will be based at the National Institute of the Semi-Arid (INSA) in Campina Grande, linked to Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), the federal body responsible for national science and technology policy. The facility will focus on environmental monitoring and data analysis, according to a statement shared by the Brazilian government.

The cornerstone ceremony took place on 16 October at the China Agricultural University (CAU) in Beijing. The event brought together Chinese representatives, Dayvid Santos, General Coordinator for Social Technology and Solidarity Economy at MCTI, and Etham Barbosa, director of INSA.

“Brazil contributes extensive experience in tropical agriculture, deep knowledge of soils and biomes, and the strength of its rural producers. China brings remarkable innovation, high-tech manufacturing, and rapid adoption of digital solutions. Together, we are natural and complementary partners,” Santos said.

The lab stems from a memorandum of understanding signed in November 2024 and will be managed by INSA. The foundation-laying ceremony was part of the Belt and Road Initiative countries’ development models symposium.