xFarm Technologies, an independent tech company headquartered in Switzerland, that specialises in digitalisation and sustainability projects, is presenting its latest innovations at Agritechnica, one of the leading international agricultural machinery exhibitions, in Hanover, Germany. These new innovations are powerful, accurate and reliable tools based on AI and geospatial technologies, designed to increase the sustainability of agrifood supply chains and the efficiency of farms at a time of major global change.
New in-house designed sensors
xFarm Technologies provides a wide range of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors for use in the field, some of which are designed in-house. Among these, is the new xSense professional weather station, which features a modern, compact design and a wind measurement function that uses acoustic waves instead of a wind vane, reducing maintenance needs. Other new features include a clog detection sensor inside the rain gauge that promptly signals blockages, a solar radiation sensor, and a level bubble to ensure optimal installation. The tech company has also developed a new xNode that can manage multiple sensors, including the weather station. Its tear-resistant design makes maintenance easier by simplifying battery replacement and cable management, even in adverse weather conditions.
AI at the core
Artificial intelligence plays a major role in the work of the tech company. At Agritechnica, it is presenting its xFarm Agent, a new digital assistant that can help farmers with management, agronomy, and bureaucratic tasks in their day-to-day work. For example, it can help them fill out the digital field notebook.
In addition to AI solutions for farmers, the company is presenting other innovations for the entire supply chain, including machinery and equipment manufacturers. One of these innovations is xFarm Vision. This technology optimizes crop protection by combining guidance with a system that uses cameras installed on sprayers and AI algorithms to enable the variable-rate application (VRA) of plant protection products and fertilizers. Designed primarily for speciality crops, particularly orchards and vineyards, xFarm Vision enables products to be applied according to the shape of the plants, thereby avoiding waste in areas without vegetation.
Geospatial technologies and Decision Support Systems within everyone’s reach
Satellite-based features have also being enhanced. For instance, the tech company now guarantees field visualization even in cloudy conditions, up to 90%, thanks to the integration of increasingly accurate and precise images. Another new feature that is being presented at Agritechnica is the Satellite Alert Map. This tool analyzes historical data to provide farmers with feedback on crop performance and offer a more predictive approach.
Also new is xFarm Crop Intelligence, an innovative tool designed for food companies and agricultural equipment suppliers, which allows users to remotely identify and view crop distribution and the boundaries of each cultivated field in large geographical areas via a single platform. With just a few clicks, users can determine which crops are present in a given area, state, or region — even outside their supply chain.
The latest update to the Irrigation Module Decision Support System (DSS) is also being showcased. This update enables sensorless irrigation and will help more farmers use irrigation resources efficiently. Once plots and crops have been established, the new system can assess leaf water content (NDWI) via satellite, thus eliminating the need for sensor installation. Alternatively, it can combine satellite measurements with field data collected by sensors. The DSS can then calculate the water balance and provide farmers with precise recommendations on when and how much to irrigate each crop.
xFarm Technologies currently supports the work of over 550,000 farms belonging to more than 100 supply chains across 14 million hectares in over 100 countries worldwide. Through xFarm Connect, a feature of its Farm Management Information System (FMIS) platform for comprehensive farm management, the tech company enables the interoperability of over 11,000 tractors and connected equipment from more than 70 different brands in a single digital ecosystem.
