In a bold step to de-risk farming outcomes, BASF Agricultural Solutions has launched the world’s first rice yield guarantee in Japan, combining its digital farming platform xarvio HEALTHY FIELDS with Humus, an AI-powered soil improvement service developed by NEWGREEN and partners. The program, called “xarvio HEALTHY FIELDS for RiTA,” targets rice farmers practicing Dry Direct-Seeding Rice (DSR)—a water-saving cultivation method gaining traction in Japan but prone to yield instability due to uneven soil health.

The move extends BASF’s earlier January 2025 rollout of xarvio HEALTHY FIELDS in Japan, which offered a weed-free management guarantee for DSR farmers. The new layer—soil enhancement powered by artificial intelligence—aims to stabilize productivity and profitability for farmers navigating volatile climate and soil conditions. “Product innovation is essential for farming globally. This unique rice yield guarantee for Japan is grounded in science and developed with synergistic partners,” said Konstantin Kretschun, Global Head of BASF Digital Farming. “By integrating Humus with our outcome-based xarvio solution, we are confident of delivering stronger results and peace of mind for Japanese rice farmers pursuing environmentally conscious cultivation.”

Humus has been developed through the collaboration of multiple technology and agronomy specialists, anchored by the expertise of soil consultant Takayuki Sudo, who brings over a decade of experience across Japan and New Zealand. The service deploys AI-driven diagnostics to assess soil health and generates tailored prescriptions, including micro-nutrient recommendations and integrated nutrient delivery. Farmers gain access to advanced consultative advisory, transforming data and science into tangible benefits such as increased productivity, stabilized yield, and improved crop quality, ultimately boosting profitability.

As the farmer-facing partner, NEWGREEN will serve as the single point of contact for growers enrolling in the program. Fields are first diagnosed and then equipped with customized soil improvement plans, before transitioning into xarvio’s outcome-based weed management regime. Together, these services offer rice farmers an unprecedented combination of soil enhancement and guaranteed harvest performance, reducing risk in an increasingly uncertain agricultural environment.

The launch carries implications that go far beyond Japan’s rice paddies. For Japanese farmers, the innovation addresses the pressing challenge of reducing water use while ensuring yield stability in a sector that is both a cultural staple and a shrinking agricultural base. For BASF, it signals a deliberate positioning at the intersection of AI, digital farming, and outcome-based business models, reshaping how input companies engage with growers. And for the global agricultural market, it highlights a growing shift from selling inputs to selling outcomes, where data-driven risk sharing and sustainability commitments set the new standard.

With food security pressures mounting and the need for climate-resilient farming solutions rising, BASF’s guarantee-backed, AI-integrated service could become a blueprint for the next era of agri-input markets, where innovation is measured not just in products but in the assurance of performance.