Transforming Poultry Farming: The Story of Avitron and Young Innovators from Colombia
Revolutionizing Poultry Farming: How Avitron is Making Waves in Colombia
Imagine a bustling poultry farm where efficiency meets technology, reducing waste and improving the health of chickens. This vision comes to life in the innovative project, Avitron, designed by two talented teens from Quindio, Colombia. Their journey began as a school project and culminated in a prestigious award at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) 2025 in Singapore.
A Win Far from Home
Avitron emerged from a simple yet impactful question: “How can small poultry growers waste less feed and keep chickens healthier?” This question sparked a journey, leading to a mixed approach of robotics, coding, and artificial intelligence. Competing against over 1,500 participants from around the world, Sofia Garzon Sanchez and Juan Pablo Celades Silva were awarded the Technical Solution Award in the Future Innovators Junior category, making Colombia a significant player in global robotics.
Behind them was a supportive team, including coach Julian Fernando Vargas Escobar and Juan Jose Ramirez Betancur, an electronics engineering student from Universidad del Quindio, who assisted with the technical aspects of the project.
Meet Avitron: The Smart Poultry Station
Avitron is designed for the daily operations of a rural chicken coop. Its features include automatic food dispensing, the ability to recognize individual hens, and mechanisms to prevent other species from accessing the feed. This system is particularly beneficial for small producers where every handful of feed is crucial to their livelihood.
The design focuses on being affordable and user-friendly, ensuring that it doesn’t just remain a prototype seen at competitions but transitions into a practical tool in real-world farming settings.
Why This Award Carries Weight
The Technical Solution Award is prestigious as it honors teams that integrate innovation with practical development. Unlike many competitors who had institutional backing, the Colombian duo relied mainly on their school and families for support. Their persistence through long hours of work and troubleshooting set them apart.
The WRO Future Innovators category encourages teams to tackle real-world issues by creating functioning robots. With open-source tools like Arduino and Raspberry Pi at their disposal, students are equipped to develop practical solutions.
Judging at the WRO is rigorous, involving intense evaluation sessions where every moment counts. Teams must succinctly present their project and field questions, rewarding clarity and functionality.
Building the Future Through Robotics
The WRO showcases a global platform with participants from over 106 countries, fostering an environment of collaborative learning. Through this experience, students like Sofia and Juan Pablo learn not just robotics but the essence of teamwork and global perspectives.
Their project embodies a “real product” mindset. They discussed further improving Avitron, considering technical validation and exploring potential patents and partnerships within the poultry industry. This shift from school project to potential startup demonstrates how student initiatives can foster entrepreneurship.
In Colombia, this narrative can reshape perceptions about STEM fields, moving beyond “just computers” to problem-solving tools for agriculture and everyday life.
From Trophy to Real Coops
The ultimate challenge now lies ahead: enhancing Avitron to withstand the rigors of farm life—dust, rain, and constant usage. If successful, the achievement will extend beyond a trophy; it will signify a real impact for small poultry growers.
Avitron represents hope and innovation for rural Colombia, illustrating that technology can be a powerful ally in agriculture, empowering local farmers and enhancing sustainability. As the journey continues, Avitron may very well change lives—one chicken coop at a time.
This inspiring story reminds us of the potential of young innovators. With determination and creativity, they are paving the way for smarter farming and a brighter future.