Bosch and BASF Digital Farming have signed a 50:50 joint venture agreement to globally market and sell smart farming solutions from a single source in the future. The joint venture agreement was signed on November 10, 2020 and will be followed by the founding of a new Cologne-based company, to be established in the first quarter of 2021. The foundation is subject to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities. . Both parties agreed not to disclose financial details.

Bosch brings significant hardware and software capabilities to the joint venture, as well as digital services for planning and decision making in field crops. BASF Digital Farming with its xarvio digital farming solutions provides a field-specific, real-time, automated agronomic decision-making engine for weed management that is powered by the xarvio digital platform for crop optimization. Provides farmers with field area specific advice on how to grow crops in the most sustainable way. Combining the expertise of both companies with state-of-the-art hardware and software solutions will make it easier and more convenient for farmers to benefit from digital solutions.

Spray and save

"By connecting farm machinery using high-tech sensors, smart software and digital products, we can make tomorrow's agriculture more efficient and at the same time more environmentally friendly," said Andrew Allen, Head of commercial vehicles and off-road businesses at Robert Bosch GmbH. "Both companies are committed to investing time, resources and funding in joint activities that will lead to the development of new sustainable precision technologies that improve agricultural practices and results," said Vincent Gros, president of BASF's Agricultural Solutions division.

The first two products to be launched will be a version of the Intelligent Planting Solution (IPS), with enhanced digital intelligence for planting and fertilizer prescriptions, and Smart Spraying. The Smart Spraying solution combines Bosch camera sensor technology and software with the xarvio crop optimization platform. Both products have been extensively tested under real growing conditions. These innovative precision farming practices enable resource efficiency in support of farmers and the environment.

Depending on local conditions, this may lead to less need for crop protection products in specific applications. Smart spraying shows herbicide volume reduction of up to 70% in experimental stage. The solution is expected to launch with a limited number of machines in 2021.