Germany-based Bayer and US aerospace technology company Planetary Resource have signed a memorandum of understanding about the development of applications and products based on satellite images.
According to Bayer, it intends to purchase data from Planetary Resources to create new agricultural products and improve existing ones as part of its Digital Farming Initiative.
Using the combined technologies from the two companies, farmers will be able to time their irrigation systems much better to save water, receive planting date recommendations and re-planting advice, and assess their soil’s water-holding capacity.
Another project is a canopy temperature scout that provides weekly practical insights and scouting support from emergence to harvest by identifying problem areas in the field.
'The sensors from Planetary Resources can become a powerful tool that can provide a new level of information on crops anywhere in the world,' said Liam Condon, head of Bayer's CropScience division. 'The combination of Bayer’s scientific and agronomy expertise and Planetary Resources’ unique sensor capability will greatly improve our ability to deliver truly practical intelligence to growers anywhere on the planet.'
Bayer intends to provide farmers all over the world with practical decision-making aids based on the precise evaluation and combination of diverse data such as weather data or topographic maps.
Using these individualised recommendations, farmers can optimise their business management and lower costs. This would not only lead to higher yields and therefore an improved income but also more efficient and environmentally compatible deployment of resources.
'Bayer is now strengthening its activities in the market of digital farming through strategic investments, and is committed to long-term research and development collaborations with leading technology providers such as Planetary Resources,' the group added.
