Technology can save what is in the silos

In 2025, a series of fires in bulk grain silos raised an alarm in the Brazilian agribusiness sector. In Rio Grande do Sul, at least three large-scale incidents were recorded this year. The most recent, in Arroio Grande, destroyed one of Cotribá's silos at the beginning of October, with losses exceeding R$ 1 million between lost grains and damaged structure. According to the Fire Department, the incidents may have been caused by spontaneous combustion, a phenomenon that starts within the grain mass itself and is exacerbated by poor management, inadequate aeration, and lack of continuous monitoring. The process begins with moist or poorly cleaned grains, which feed microorganisms and generate heat. Without sufficient ventilation, the internal temperature rises to critical levels, resulting in self-combustion. "Most of these fires do not start with an external spark. They are the result of a slow process of self-heating, caused by inadequate management, failures in aeration, or lack ...