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Bayer and Microsoft partner for digital ag tools

On Nov. 17, Bayer announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft to build a new cloud-based set of digital tools and data science solutions for use in agriculture and adjacent industries, bringing new infrastructure and foundational capabilities to accelerate innovation, boost efficiency and support sustainability across value chains.

Agriculture and agribusinesses benefit from a wide range of digital tools and data-powered insights through platforms. Still, there is work to do to optimize the entire food, feed, fuel and fibre value chain while ensuring broader efforts to combat climate change. Under the agreement, Bayer will work with Microsoft to co-develop new solutions that address critical industry scenarios, such as farming operations, sustainable sourcing, manufacturing and supply chain improvement, and ESG (environmental, social and governance) monitoring and measurement.

The companies will do this by developing infrastructure for digital farming solutions and data science capabilities. These new solutions and capabilities will be available to businesses – from startups to global enterprises – in agriculture and adjacent industries for use in their own offerings. Bayer will also migrate its digital farming core capabilities to the new infrastructure for its own customer-facing solutions.

“This partnership comes at a unique point in time where increased innovation is sorely needed across the food and fibre value chain,” said Liam Condon, president of Bayer Crop Science and Bayer board member. “As we cope with an ongoing global pandemic, fragile supply chains and the continuing climate catastrophe, status quo will not suffice. We need collaboration, shared vision and action.”