Syngenta announced today the inclusion of a cutting-edge Generative AI system to Cropwise, its premium integrated digital services and solutions platform for crop management. Leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms and data analytics, Cropwise AI is intended to empower growers with deep insights and enhanced decision-making capabilities to optimize crop yields, improve sustainability, and drive profitability.
The announcement took place at the World AgriTech Innovation Summit in London.
Syngenta said that Cropwise AI, which is being developed in the U.S., taps into the deep library of agronomic models housed within Cropwise Insight Engine, including over 20 years of weather history, soil conditions, more than 80,000 observations on crop growth stages, and historical yield data from R&D and on-farm trials. This information is then integrated with Syngenta’s extensive agronomic expertise. Combined with a multi-lingual conversational LLM, the system provides growers with tailored recommendations for precise input applications, product placement, and strategies for pest and disease control in easy-to-understand natural language.
The unique combination of data and models helps farmers make better decisions. Utilizing Syngenta’s seed recommendation models, Cropwise AI is anticipated to help growers increase yields by up to 5 percent.
“Cropwise AI represents a significant milestone in our digital transformation journey,” said Feroz Sheikh, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Syngenta Group. “By combining our deep agronomic knowledge with cutting-edge AI capabilities, we are bringing the power of GenAI to agriculture and empowering growers to make data-driven decisions.”
The initial introduction of Cropwise AI is very focused on seeds, and with that up and running, the next 12 months will see it start to expand into other areas, like crop protection, said Meade McDonald, Digital Ag Solutions Marketing Manager.
“At Syngenta, we’re the largest agriculture R&D company in the world — we are solely focused on agriculture,” McDonald said. “I would hope that a Cropwise artificial intelligence tool from Syngenta would come with a little bit of credibility. Yet we’ll still have to prove its value and gain trust and credibility with the user.”
Key features of Cropwise AI include:
- Seeds recommendation and placement: providing insights on seed products and utilizing advanced predictive machine learning algorithms to deliver tailored seed recommendations.
- Predictive modeling: Leveraging machine learning algorithms to forecast crop growth, yield potential, and risk factors based on real-time and historical data.
- Precision agriculture: Providing site-specific recommendations for optimized input application, minimizing waste and maximizing resource efficiency.
Earlier this year, the launch of GHX 2.0 with Cropwise AI integration brought the full potential of farmer data to life. The updated GHX 2.0 app allows users to ask questions and get answers on products and agronomic challenges, to high-impacting diseases like Tar Spot. Gaining access to Cropwise AI data, done through this app, is intended to be a “product plus” strategy that supports the company’s overall grower portfolio.
Looking ahead, Syngenta plans to expand Cropwise AI’s capabilities with innovative features that will further revolutionize agricultural practices:
- Advanced disease and pest management: Future iterations will leverage computer vision and image recognition to detect and identify pests and diseases early, for proactive and precise management strategies.
- Sustainability analytics: Syngenta will integrate sustainability analytics to quantify the environmental impact of farming practices and provide suggestions for reducing carbon footprint.
“Cropwise AI is an industry-leading example of how GenAI can address critical agricultural issues”, said Elizabeth Fastiggi, Global Head of Agriculture, AWS. “Syngenta has revolutionized decision support, giving farmers easy access to expert advice. We’re excited to partner with them to boost yields and optimize productivity across the agri-food system.”
Specifically, McDonald said, the next iteration of Cropwise AI will be focus on crop protection.
“I think it’ll be really focused on agronomics, like how do I manage weed resistance?,” McDonald said. And it’s probably going to be able to look at multiple overlapping modes of action, which is an agronomically sound way to tackle weed resistance in the U.S.”
