ISEMBRA

New concept of direct sowing seeder for sustainable agriculture.

ISEMBRA develops and validates of an innovative direct broadcast seeder for extensive crops. The machine features a newly designed seeding train that enables precise seed placement at the required depth while minimizing soil disturbance. This design substantially reduces the power demand on the tractor and limits both soil compaction and disruption.

The ISEMBRA seeder also includes a versatile dosing system capable of handling seeds of various sizes. This flexibility supports crop rotation (including cereals, legumes, and other herbaceous species) and enables cover crop sowing in nut tree orchards, even under challenging field conditions with plant residues or tall stubble.

This new development addresses the main challenges of agriculture in the face of climate change, promoting both adaptation and mitigation. Among its benefits are the reduction of costs and emissions associated with the manufacturing and use of direct seeding machinery, as well as lower power requirements that lead to reduced energy consumption.

It also helps improve soil health through minimal physical disturbance and reduced compaction. Furthermore, it encourages sustainable farming practices such as crop rotation, thanks to the ability to work with different seeds without the need to change machinery.

Altogether, these advantages reduce the economic burden on farmers—particularly those operating small and medium-sized farms—supporting the viability of their operations and helping to keep rural areas active and thriving.

Eurecat’s Industrial Laboratory in Lleida is responsible for validation testing of materials, subassemblies, and machine performance. It also supports the design and assembly of pneumatic systems integrated into the machine, as well as testing of the seeding unit (an innovative solution) and the seeder once built, through quasi-static and fatigue laboratory tests, and field tests — real operation trials with force monitoring on the tractor.