Bosch and BASF Digital Farming have signed a 50:50 joint venture (JV) agreement to market and sell smart farming solutions from a single source worldwide. The JV agreement will be followed by the founding of a new company based in Cologne, Germany, which is expected to be established in the first quarter of 2021. The foundation is subject to the approval of the relevant antitrust authorities.
Bosch brings to the JV hardware, software, and digital services for crop planning and decision-making. BASF Digital Farming offers xarvio™ Digital Farming Solutions, an automated, field-specific, real-time agronomic decision-making engine for weed management. It provides field-zone-specific advice to farmers on how to produce crops most sustainably.
The first two products, scheduled for launch in 2021, will be a version of the Intelligent Planting Solution (IPS) system with enhanced digital intelligence for seed and fertilizer regulations and Smart Spraying. The Smart Spraying Solution combines Bosch’s camera sensor technology and software with xarvio’s crop protection optimization platform. According to the companies, such innovative precision farming methods enable the efficient use of resources and support farmers and the environment. According to the companies, Smart Spraying shows a reduction in herbicide use of up to 70 % in the trial stage.
