In a significant move to bridge the growing technology gap in agriculture, Syngenta has announced the launch of the Cropwise Open Platform, inviting third-party developers to integrate their innovations with the AI-powered digital farming tool. This initiative comes as new IPSOS research, conducted in partnership with Syngenta, reveals a widening digital divide between large and small farms, with larger operations adopting AI and digital tools at a faster pace.
The study highlights that while younger farmers are embracing technology, many older farmers find AI complex or inaccessible, often unaware that they are already using it through tools like drones or imagery systems. Trust, data control, and proof of local results emerged as the most powerful drivers of adoption, underscoring the need for accessible and trusted digital solutions.
Syngenta’s Cropwise platform, which has transformed digital farm management over the past five years, now supports over 70 million hectares of farmland across more than 30 countries. By opening this platform to developers worldwide, Syngenta aims to accelerate the digital transformation of agriculture and make advanced agronomic models more accessible to farmers.
Feroz Sheikh, Syngenta’s Chief Information and Digital Officer, emphasized the urgency of this effort, stating, “The agriculture sector stands at a tipping point. Climate pressures, global market volatility, and the urgent need to promote sustainable farming practices mean that technology adoption can no longer be optional.” The Cropwise Open Platform is designed to empower developers to build solutions on top of Cropwise, enabling farmers to choose the apps that best support their needs without sacrificing control over their data.
The platform offers robust integration capabilities and access to Syngenta’s digital agriculture services, allowing developers to create data-driven applications that tackle real-world farming challenges. For the developer community, the Open Platform provides an opportunity to leverage Syngenta’s AI and machine learning capabilities and aggregated agronomic insights, offering their solutions at an unprecedented scale.
Sheikh added, “AI can be the great equalizer in agriculture — but only if it’s accessible, affordable, and trusted.” By opening Cropwise to developers, Syngenta hopes to create a network with farmers at the center, ensuring that digital innovation benefits every farmer, not just those with the biggest fields or budgets.
The Cropwise platform includes powerful solutions such as Cropwise Operations, Seed Selector, and Spray Assist, which harness AI and comprehensive agronomic data to deliver tailored recommendations for pest management, crop monitoring, and product selection. Through connected data and flexible, customized tools, Cropwise helps agricultural professionals streamline operations, enhance decision-making, improve yields, and implement sustainable farming practices.
Syngenta’s initiative to open the Cropwise platform is a strategic step towards making digital agriculture more accessible, trusted, and inclusive for farmers globally. By fostering an open ecosystem, Syngenta aims to remove barriers to innovation and ensure that the benefits of digital transformation reach all farmers, regardless of their size or resources.