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 The Goanna Ag GoField® technology solution leverages field sensors, satellite imagery, weather forecasts, and crop data to enable precise irrigation.

Cargill is partnering with Australian company Goanna Ag on a new pilot project focused on advancing irrigation efficiency on cotton fields in the Mississippi Delta. The project will introduce a state-of-the-art technology that aims to transform how and when farmers water their fields, optimizing crop yields, reducing water withdrawals and lowering operational costs. The program is initially available to a select number of cotton growers in Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi.

“Through our partnership with Cargill we are thrilled to offer program participants with solutions to improve water-use efficiency, reduce costs and promote long-term, sustainable outcomes.”

“Major retail brands have set goals related to water and are increasingly looking to supply chain partners like Cargill for data-backed sustainability solutions. This pilot project underscores Cargill’s commitment to helping our customers meet those ambitions to advance sustainable agriculture and water conservation,” said Matt Dunbar, managing director of Cargill’s cotton business. “By integrating advanced irrigation technology, we aim to bolster the resilience of cotton farming in the Mississippi Delta while conserving one of our most precious resources—water.”

Goanna Ag, a leader in on-farm irrigation management operating in Australia and the U.S., brings over 20 years of experience and data driven insights to the project. The Goanna Ag GoField® technology solution leverages field sensors, satellite imagery, weather forecasts, and crop data to enable precise irrigation. This innovative approach helps farmers optimize their water use, contributing to both increased crop yields and significant water conservation.

Participants in the pilot receive installation of the GoannaAg GoField® technology and personalized training to optimize irrigation timing tailored to their specific soil and crop conditions.

Goanna Ag’s proven methodologies and easy to use tools can help cotton growers improve water-use efficiency, boosting crop yields, essentially delivering more crop per drop,” said Derek Brazda, vice president, U.S. sales and operations, GoannaAg. “Through our partnership with Cargill we are thrilled to offer program participants with solutions to improve water-use efficiency, reduce costs and promote long-term, sustainable outcomes.”

This pilot project aligns with Cargill’s global water ambition to enable restoration of 600 billion litres of water and reduction of 5,000 metric tons of water pollutants in water-stressed regions by 2030.

The Mississippi Delta region–home to the third largest area of irrigated cropland in the U.S.—is experiencing a significant decline in groundwater-levels, which poses a threat to water availability in the region, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. With more precise irrigation scheduling, this project is expected to maximize farmer yields while reducing the pressure on aquifer resources.

With approximately 70% of the world’s freshwater withdrawals used for agriculture, innovative partnerships and solutions are critical to producing food sustainably and meeting the demands of a growing global population.

 The Goanna Ag GoField® technology solution leverages

The collaboration will focus on the development of high performing seed varieties and farming techniques adapted for the unique growing conditions of the Upper Midwest.

Cargill and the Forever Green Initiative, a research platform in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota, are partnering to study winter camelina and domesticated pennycress.  The collaboration will focus on the development of high performing seed varieties and farming techniques adapted for the unique growing conditions of the Upper Midwest.

Cargill will bring expertise in crop improvement—including trait discovery, high throughput genotyping, genomic selection, trait development and cellular biology—to rapidly advance the diverse genetics from the University of Minnesota.  The application of these technologies will accelerate the development and commercial release of improved varieties of camelina and pennycress.

The project builds on a previously announced $2.5 million philanthropic grant awarded to the University from Cargill to accelerate research into crop biology and management.

“This support from Cargill will take our breeding and genomics work to the next level and help us develop even better varieties of camelina and pennycress for farmers in Minnesota and beyond,” said Mitch Hunter, associate director of the Forever Green Initiative. “We are incredibly grateful to Cargill for this very generous research partnership.”

Planted in the fall and harvested in the spring, winter camelina and domesticated pennycress are typically grown as intermediate oilseed crops that provide soil cover and have the potential to address key sustainability challenges in agricultural supply chains including water quality, soil health and ecosystem improvements. The crops can be used in a rotation with corn and soy or after small seed crops like wheat.

Given the high oil content of these crops, there is an emerging revenue opportunity to grow winter camelina and pennycress as cash crops, driven by rising demand for low-carbon intensity feedstocks. The seed oil can be refined into drop-in replacements for low-carbon transportation fuels such as sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel.

“Innovations in agriculture are critical to help feed and fuel the world sustainably while also addressing climate change,” said Lyle DePauw, crop innovation director for Cargill. “Cargill has a long history of partnering with the University of Minnesota and working alongside farmers to advance new market opportunities.  Winter camelina and pennycress have incredible potential to aid in the decarbonization of the global transportation system and support a more sustainable food system.”

Active pilots of camelina in process

Cargill is actively working with a small number of farmers in Minnesota and North Dakota to learn more about suitable growing conditions for camelina, with the first harvest wrapping up this month. There will be additional opportunities for farmers to explore winter camelina as an option for their operations starting August 1, as Cargill expands its pilot.

Minnesota farmers who participate in Cargill’s pilot program may be eligible for support through a Forever Green program called Environmental and Economic Clusters of Opportunity (EECO), which is funded by the Clean Water Council with support from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The EECO Program provides agronomic support, environmental benefit payments, and risk management payments to farmers who grow winter camelina. Interested farmers can learn more and enroll at z.umn.edu/EnrollEECO.

The collaboration will focus on the development

Yu served as Senior Vice President and General Manager at Yara International

Royal Agrifirm Group has appointed Doris Yu as Managing Director of Asia. Yu has more than 20 years of experience in the food and agriculture industry and will be responsible for overseeing Agrifirm’s business in the Asia region.

Royal Agrifirm Group, a global agricultural company, has announced that Doris Yu has joined Agrifirm as its Managing Director in Asia, from a career that includes leadership positions at global companies such as Cargill and Royal DSM. Most recently, Yu served as Senior Vice President and General Manager at Yara International. With a track record of strategic leadership and business development, Doris Yu is positioned to lead Agrifirm’s team in advancing the company’s strategy and growth initiatives in Asia.

The appointment of Doris Yu comes as Jeroen Jeuken, Managing Director Asia, prepares to pursue other opportunities after nearly a decade of dedicated and committed service at Agrifirm. Under Jeuken’s leadership, the Asian region has achieved significant milestones in business development and growth, setting the foundation for further progress. He has played a pivotal role in navigating Agrifirm through significant challenges in Asia, including the complexities posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the African swine fever outbreak. Agrifirm states that it extends its sincere gratitude to Jeroen for his contributions and wishes him the very best in his future endeavours.

Yu served as Senior Vice President and

The CII Food Safety Award is a respected industry platform benchmarking food safety best practices in manufacturing across the supply chain

Cargill, a leading global food and agriculture company, has been conferred with two recognitions for ‘Significant Achievement in Food Safety’ at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Food Safety Awards 2023, for its commitment towards best-in-class food safety practices in India.

The 14th edition of the CII Food Safety Award ceremony took place on 31 January 2024, where Cargill’s food safety initiatives were recognised in two award categories: 

Large Manufacturing Food Businesses: Fats and Oils – Kurkumbh plant, Maharashtra

Large Manufacturing Food Business: Sweeteners – Davangere plant, Karnataka

The CII Food Safety Award is a respected industry platform benchmarking food safety best practices in manufacturing across the supply chain. The evaluation criteria for the award cover company performance on stringent domestic food safety standards, and leadership initiatives, besides social and statutory compliances. Winners are selected following a rigorous assessment process that also includes onsite evaluation of food safety practices by a team of experts. 

Simon George, president of Cargill India, and managing director, of Food Solutions South Asia, said, “At Cargill, we are committed to providing safe and quality products. We invest in advanced manufacturing and refining equipment and processes, to ensure compliance with the highest standards of food safety regulations in the country. Our customers and consumers count on us to ensure the safety and quality of our products. This award is a great validation of the progress we have made in our food safety performance over recent years. As we move ahead, we continue to set a higher benchmark for ourselves in this important area.” 

The CII Food Safety Award is a

Varma succeeds Anna Richo, who will transition to Corporate Senior Vice President, Strategic Advisor to the General Counsel and CEO until her retirement in September 2024

Cargill announced that Rishi Varma has been named Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary, effective January 29, 2024. In this role, he will also serve as General Counsel. Varma succeeds Anna Richo, who will transition to Corporate Senior Vice President, Strategic Advisor to the General Counsel and CEO until her retirement in September 2024.

Varma joins Cargill from Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), where he serves as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary. While at HPE, he oversaw corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracting, supply chain matters, litigation, intellectual property, and corporate securities. He also played an integral role in the legal separation of Hewlett Packard Company into Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP Inc. Prior, Varma was General Counsel for two publicly traded companies – TPC Group, Inc., a petrochemical company, and Trico Marine Services, Inc., a global subsea service provider. At Trico, he also served in additional management roles, including Chief Operating Officer and President. Varma holds a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Georgetown University and a J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Centre.

Varma succeeds Anna Richo, who will transition

Sikes is the 10th CEO in Cargill’s 158-year history and is known for his relentless focus on people and culture, as well as customer-driven transformation and growth

Brian Sikes, Cargill President and CEO has been elected Chair of Cargill’s Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2024. Sikes succeeds Dave MacLennan, who will retire as Executive Chair of Cargill’s Board at the end of 2023.

Sikes began his career with Cargill in 1991 and was named President and CEO in January 2023. Sikes is the 10th CEO in Cargill’s 158-year history and is known for his relentless focus on people and culture, as well as customer-driven transformation and growth. 

“It is an honour to be elected Board Chair, and I am confident the best days for our company, and its greatest contributions, lie ahead,” said Sikes. “I step into this role from a position of strength thanks to Dave’s outstanding service and visionary leadership as Executive Chair of the Board and former President and CEO. He reshaped the fabric of Cargill and built a solid foundation, business model and culture that positions us for long-term success.”

Sikes is the 10th CEO in Cargill’s

The facility will initially house a team of 25 Ocean Transportation experts responsible for the execution of Cargill’s global trade of physical vessel voyages and time charters.

Cargill Ocean Transportation announced the expansion of its footprint in India by opening a new facility in Pune. The move will help the company to strengthen its presence in India, getting closer to its customers and being more in touch with the country’s maritime sector, according to a statement.

‘Being a satellite city of Mumbai and one of the largest shipping hubs globally, Pune together with Bengaluru and Varna in Bulgaria will form the core of Ocean Transportation Operations and allow the business to access a large diverse talent pool and key customers of the company,’ it said in a statement.

The new facility, which will join other businesses of the company located in Pune, will initially house a team of 25 Ocean Transportation experts responsible for the execution of Cargill’s global trade of physical vessel voyages and time charters, with plans for further expansion in the years to come, company mentioned.

Cargill Ocean Transportation charters around 650 vessels worldwide. Founded in 1956 in Geneva, the company benefits from the heritage and capabilities of Cargill’s global operations in food, agriculture and commodities trading.

The facility will initially house a team

The completed expansion will give local farmers greater market access and a better user experience including faster and more efficient unloading times

Cargill has completed an expansion and modernisation project at its integrated soybean crush and refined oils facility in Sidney, Ohio. The upgraded facility, which came online in September, will help Cargill better serve farmers and meet the growing demand for soy products across food, feed and renewable fuel markets.

The project nearly doubles the previous crush capacity at the facility, providing greater market opportunities for area farmers and feed customers by creating demand for soybeans and offering greater access to soybean meal and hulls. Additionally, customers will have an improved on-site experience, as they will be able to more quickly and efficiently receive soybeans and load out products.

“We’re proud to make this investment at our Sidney facility. We’ve been in business for 45 years here, and we appreciate the long-standing relationships with local farmers, food and feed customers, and the local community,” said Justin Rismiller, U.S. Crush Soy Commercial Leader for Cargill. “This has been a complex project, as we continued to run the existing plant during construction. Thanks to our dedicated team, we can provide a state-of-the-art facility to better serve our customers and the community for generations to come.”

The Cargill crush facility originally opened in 1978, with the refinery added a decade later. Today it serves as a vital link between soybean farmers in the region and customers both nearby and around the globe. The upgraded facility is among several of Cargill’s efforts to modernise and increase capacity across its North American oilseeds network.

The completed expansion will give local farmers

This 3-year, $3 million partnership will equip farmers, conservation planners, and sustainability experts across North America with innovative tools to enhance drought resilience, improve soil health, and encourage sustainable water use

The Soil Health Institute (SHI) and Cargill are coming together to advance the implementation of regenerative agriculture practices through the promotion of water stewardship within agricultural supply chains. This 3-year, $3 million partnership will equip farmers, conservation planners, and sustainability experts across North America with innovative tools to enhance drought resilience, improve soil health, and encourage sustainable water use.

“Climate change-induced extreme weather events, including drought, heavy precipitation, and elevated temperatures, have dramatically intensified operational risks for farmers and the broader food, fibre, fuel, and beverage sector,” said Wayne Honeycutt, president and CEO of SHI. “Through this partnership, we’re expediting the adoption of regenerative systems by offering stakeholders practical insights to assess improvements in water storage and availability resulting from changes in on-farm practices.”

Recent SHI research has demonstrated that increases in available water holding capacity (AWHC) associated with soil organic carbon gains from soil health practice implementation can lead to twice as much water storage in the topsoil compared to previous estimates. This important finding, currently available as a set of mathematical equations, provides a scientifically robust framework to measure the impact of soil health management on water storage. Continuing efforts supported by this partnership will make this data more accessible to farmers and sustainability experts, enabling farmers to estimate how many more inches of water their soil can capture during the growing season due to improved soil health.

Ashley McKeon, director of regenerative agriculture at Cargill, affirmed, “We strongly believe that regenerative agricultural practices can play a pivotal role in mitigating the impacts of climate change and water stress on our agricultural systems, which is why we are committed to advancing regenerative agriculture across 10 million acres of agricultural land in North America by 2030. Building on more than five years of partnering with the Soil Health Institute, we are empowering farmers and stakeholders across the agricultural value chain with the tools they need to make informed decisions that contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future.”

This 3-year, $3 million partnership will equip

The two-year trial is designed to evaluate the fertiliser’s performance on crop production, soil health and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

As part of Nestlé’s 2050 net zero roadmap and its work to spark regenerative agriculture, the company tests many new, innovative ideas. Those that prove effective and scalable are rolled out more broadly. In the UK, Nestlé is launching a pilot to assess whether cocoa shells from a confectionery site in York can be used to create a low-carbon fertiliser. 

The two-year trial is designed to evaluate the fertiliser’s performance on crop production, soil health and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. If successful, up to 7,000 tonnes of low-carbon fertiliser could be produced and offered to farmers in Nestlé’s UK wheat supply chain. This amount of fertiliser equates to around 25 per cent of Nestlé UK’s total fertiliser use for wheat. 

The production and use of conventional fertiliser accounts for approximately 5 per cent of global GHG emissions,1 and more than half of the carbon footprint of wheat grown in the UK is related to fertiliser use. 

Recycling valuable nutrients from waste streams within the food system provides a promising opportunity to create a lower-emissions supply chain. Scaling up low-carbon fertiliser production can provide farmers with a more sustainable product at a reliable price.

The cocoa shells are supplied by Cargill, which processes the cocoa at the York facility to become key ingredients in iconic products like KitKat and Aero. A trial volume of cocoa shell has been processed and pelletized by Swindon-based CCm Technologies.  

“Farmers often find themselves to be among the first groups exposed to global issues, and these risks are then borne by the food system we all depend upon,” said Matt Ryan, Regeneration Lead at Nestle UK & Ireland. “We have to find ways to build more resilience into the system and optimizing our use of natural resources is a critical part of this.”

“This project is a small, but very meaningful step towards a net zero future, where farmers, local enterprises, and nature all stand to benefit,” added Ryan.

The trials, which were designed and are being overseen by York-based Fera Science Ltd, are currently taking place on arable farms in Suffolk and Northamptonshire.

This project is an example of the innovative solutions that Nestlé is investigating to help achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Nestlé has also committed to sourcing 50 per cent of its key ingredients from regenerative agricultural methods by 2030.

The two-year trial is designed to evaluate

The BIG Sustainability Awards honour those people, teams and organisations who have made sustainability an integral part of their business practice

The Business Intelligence Group (BIG) named Cargill the recipient of the Sustainability Leadership Award and Sustainability Service of the Year in its 2023 Sustainability Awards program. The BIG Sustainability Awards honour those people, teams and organisations who have made sustainability an integral part of their business practice or overall mission.

Cargill knows agriculture plays a vital role in addressing global challenges like climate change and food insecurity. However, that is only possible when sustainable solutions are economically viable for the producers who work hard every day to feed the world. Cargill brings together farmers, industry, academics, NGOs, and policymakers to create a sustainable agricultural sector. Through concrete actions, use of technology and innovation, and meaningful investments Cargill is able to deliver impact at scale globally.

The company received awards and recognition in several of the 2023 BIG Sustainability Awards categories: 

Sustainability Leadership Award – Winner for its overall organisational impact 

Service of the Year – Winner, specifically recognising Cargill RegenConnect

Initiative of the Year – Finalist for its work supporting farmer livelihoods

“We are honoured to receive this recognition from BIG,” said Pilar Cruz, Cargill’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “When it comes to urgent challenges facing people and the planet, Cargill’s connections across the food system give us the opportunity – and responsibility – to deliver meaningful solutions. The problem-solving potential of agriculture is essential to nourishing people, supporting the livelihoods of farmers and food workers, and unlocking a more resilient and sustainable food system for generations to come.”

“We are proud to reward and recognise Cargill for their sustainability efforts,” said Maria Jimenez, Chief Nominations Officer, Business Intelligence Group. “It was clear to our judges that their vision and strategy will continue to deliver results toward a cleaner, more sustainable world.

The BIG Sustainability Awards honour those people, teams

The groundbreaking methodology will help beef producers better understand the impact of feed supplements, enabling projects to measure and quantify the reduction of methane emissions

Cargill partnered with TREES Consulting to develop a Gold Standard-approved beef methodology that offers the global beef industry a framework for measuring methane emissions reduction using feed supplements incorporated into beef cattle diets, such as SilvAir. Gold Standard’s certification process allows climate and sustainable development initiatives to quantify, manage and maximise the impacts toward climate security. It requires a verifiable impact toward three or more of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The new beef methodology defines a set of parameters that beef producers can adopt to quantify reductions in methane emissions, a greenhouse gas (GHG) that is derived from enteric fermentation (digestion process) in cattle through eructation (burping), as well as from manure handling. The new methodology is now available for beef producers worldwide to quantify, audit and verify methane reductions, enabling them to register their GHG mitigation project for Gold Standard certification. Gold Standard’s Verified Emissions Reductions (VERs) can be traded in carbon markets, allowing credit purchasers to directly support the projects.  These efforts can also be recognised in corporate value chains, whereby beef producers and food companies account for the reduction in supply chain GHG emissions, which contributes to their Scope 3 targets.  

As a leader in animal agriculture and the beef supply chain, Cargill is in an ideal position to support its network of beef producers with the resources and innovation they will need to meet sustainability challenges. Through its Reach4Reduction program, Cargill is taking a holistic approach to methane reduction by uncovering the potential of feed management and nutrition to do more with less, helping to ensure food security while protecting the planet. Although methane emissions from the enteric fermentation of cattle are a regular occurrence, Cargill recognises the opportunity to reduce methane’s intensity through its global animal nutrition business.

“We know that the industry is looking for more accurate tools to measure methane reduction,” said Joanne Sharpe, Cargill’s global ruminant sustainability lead. “As producers look at their current levels of production efficiency and work toward sustainability goals, we are committed to finding ways to ensure they can be recognised and rewarded for their efforts. As part of our methane reduction priorities, this methodology is a key step toward opening new possibilities to reduce GHG emissions in the beef supply chain.”

“Changing agricultural practice can help reduce methane emissions, and this new methodology provides beef producers with a way to reliably measure the impact of those changes,” said Margaret Kim, CEO, of Gold Standard. “Cargill’s support is helping pave the way for the animal agriculture industry to reduce methane emissions and complements Gold Standard’s other efforts to reduce the impact of agriculture on our planet – such as our recently published methodology which reduces the methane emitted by rice production”.

In practice, projects using the new methodology establish a baseline for emissions during business-as-usual” activities for at least three continuous years. The cattle given feed supplements must be identified and tracked throughout the project. The project crediting period is set at five years and can be renewed for an additional five years, excluding the baseline years.

The groundbreaking methodology will help beef producers

The collaboration will streamline program enrollment and field data management through John Deere Operations Centre

Cargill and John Deere are announcing a collaborative effort to streamline the digital and in-field experience for farmers using John Deere technology and electing to participate in the Cargill RegenConnect program.

Cargill RegenConnect provides farmers with a financial incentive for positive environmental outcomes through the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices while helping to improve soil health and decarbonise the agriculture supply chain. John Deere’s precision ag technology and digital platform, Operations Centre, helps farmers to implement and document the practices they choose to adopt as part of Cargill RegenConnect.

John Deere and Cargill will work together to help farmers adopt and use precision technology and synchronise the flow of information when they opt-in to share data between systems. Farmers will be able to use existing planting, harvest and tillage documentation data stored in the Operations Centre, easily fill in missing information, and enrol in the 2023 Cargill RegenConnect program. This will help farmers save time, assure greater accuracy of data and offer the most up-to-date, consistent, and comprehensive view of their operation.

“John Deere and Cargill have a shared vision for advancing sustainability through digital capabilities that support farmers.  Farmers will have another tool in their toolbox to make the best decisions about sustainability and profitability for their farm,” said Alexey Rostapshov, Head of Sustainability Solutions for John Deere. “The connection to Operations Centre provides Cargill RegenConnect participants with the opportunity to learn about the program, manage and implement practice changes, and sync data across systems. This will save farmers time and empower them to make the best agronomic and economic decisions for their farm.”

The streamlined Operations Centre functionality will be rolled out and enhanced over several program years. The Cargill RegenConnect program is available to all Operations Centre users in 24 US States. Farmers will be able to work directly with their John Deere dealer to learn about equipment and technology available to implement practices eligible under the Cargill RegenConnect program and to ensure the as-applied documentation data is complete.

“Organising and providing data to seamlessly participate in environmental markets through programs like Cargill RegenConnect not only helps farmers get organized on the front end to better manage their on-farm data but also prepares them to participate in future market opportunities,” said Chantelle Donahue, North American Agriculture Supply Chain Vice President, from Cargill.

Cargill RegenConnect is in its third year. This program pays farmers for improving soil health based on the regenerative agriculture practices they have adopted including cover crops, no-till or reduced till. Eligible acres must have a primary crop of corn, soy, wheat, or cotton.

The collaboration will streamline program enrollment and

Cargill’s ‘Digital Saathi’ – a mobile-first, AI-driven service platform and Bayer’s Better Life Farming Centres aims to improve market access for smallholder farmers.

Bayer CropScience a global major in agriculture has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cargill, a global food corporation that creates connections across the global food system to help the world thrive.

This strategic partnership aims to revolutionize the agricultural landscape by offering farmers innovative solutions and facilitating optimal price realization for their produce. Drawing upon the capabilities of innovative platforms such as Cargill’s ‘Digital Saathi’ – a mobile-first, AI-driven service platform tailored to hyper-localized needs, and Bayer’s Better Life Farming Centres, that supports over 500,000 smallholder farmers, this strategic partnership is dedicated to improving market access for smallholder farmers.

Accessible in multiple languages, including English, Kannada, and Hindi, Digital Saathi caters to farmers in various districts of Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, facilitating improved decision-making processes. This partnership between Bayer and Cargill endeavors to connect with 3 million farmers across India within the next five years. Initially, the partnership will be implemented in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh and subsequently expand to other regions.

Together, Bayer and Cargill are committed to equipping farmers with digital solutions, including discussion forums and comprehensive information on market prices, weather forecasts, and pre- to post-harvest insights. Bayer’s eCommerce strategy involves expanding tailored solutions through the Digital Saathi app, starting with corn farming in Karnataka and later expanding to other crops and regions.

By collaborating with Food Value Chain Partners, the aim is to revolutionize and sustainably impact the agricultural sector. This partnership also provides farmers access to Bayer’s leading corn portfolio, DEKALB®, on the Digital Saathi Platform, enhancing their agricultural capabilities.

Additionally, Cargill’s Digital Saathi platform offers convenient Crop Input e-commerce and Crop Sell Offer features, ensuring farmers have improved access to high-quality crop inputs and facilitating market linkages between farmers and aggregators through a digitally enabled marketplace. This integrated approach aims to enhance farmers’ decision-making capabilities, streamline agricultural operations, and foster efficient and seamless connections within the agricultural ecosystem.

Digital Saathi has already successfully engaged with more than 50,000 registered small farmers and is projected to expand its reach to 3 million farmers across eight states, including Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh by 2027. In line with Cargill’s global objective of providing sustainable agricultural practices training and improving market access for 10 million farmers by 2030, the introduction of Digital Saathi represents a significant stride toward achieving this goal.

Speaking on the partnership, Simon-Thorsten Wiebusch, Country Divisional Head, Crop Science Division of Bayer for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka said, “Access to advisory, quality inputs, credit, technologies, or markets is one of the biggest enablers to unlocking smallholder value, and it lies at the very core of what this partnership is all about. We also believe that digitization is key to this exercise therefore we are looking at leveraging all relevant digital tools to ensure that we are able to deliver greater value to the smallholder farmers and create for them a level playing field.”

Simon George, president of Cargill in India, said, “As Cargill, we are dedicated to creating innovative digital solutions, and we are thrilled to collaborate with Bayer to foster a productive and profitable ecosystem for farmers across India. This partnership marks a significant milestone in our journey towards sustainable and prosperous agriculture. By leveraging our combined strengths, expertise, and global networks, we remain steadfast in our commitment to support farmers worldwide and cultivate a resilient and inclusive food system.”

Commenting on the partnership, the founder of Digital Saathi, Raman Saxena said, “We initiated the introduction of farm advisory subscription and farm management services (soil testing) on our platform earlier this year, aiming to provide farmers with a comprehensive solution for their agricultural requirements. Through this partnership, we aim to provide access to wide range of quality inputs and implements to farmers via Agri Input Market place which will improve their yields and simultaneously provide holistic solution for maximizing farmers income.”

Cargill’s ‘Digital Saathi’ – a mobile-first, AI-driven