AgPowered Services, a cloud-based solution from Bayer in partnership with Microsoft Azure Data Manager for Agriculture, has been launched. The solution offers ready-to-use capabilities that businesses and organizations can license and use for their own internal or customer-facing digital solutions. Azure Data Manager for Agriculture combines Bayer’s agricultural expertise with Microsoft’s cloud solutions, creating a robust collection of agricultural data that can drive productivity and sustainability. The preview of both the Azure Data Manager and AgPowered Services has started, with full commercial availability to be announced at a later date.
The cloud-based solutions aim to overcome challenges in the agricultural sector, as data is often disconnected and not useable throughout the value chain, and the cost of building digital solutions from scratch is high. With the new solution, customers can use the infrastructure and capabilities to build their own digital solutions and products. Companies can build on the cloud infrastructure and core capabilities to develop on-farm technologies that support favorable agronomic outcomes for growers or consumer goods companies that provide insight into nutrients, sustainability, and production practices to build trust with consumers, stakeholders, and investors.
The initial AgPowered Services include Bayer Imagery Insights, Bayer Growing Degree Day Calculation, and Bayer Crop Water Use Maps, which are add-ons to Azure Data Manager’s robust infrastructure and core capabilities. Using these cloud-based solutions, value chain partners will be able to apply insights into supply projections, sustainable sourcing, and ESG reporting.
The partnership between Microsoft and Bayer aims to achieve 100% digitally enabled sales in its Crop Science division by 2030, incentivize sustainable business models, and provide growers options to meaningfully connect with supply chains that start on their farms.
