Syngenta opens Cropwise platform to external developers allowing to use its agronomic models and AI

Syngenta has opened its Cropwise digital platform to third-party developers, seeking to accelerate the adoption of agricultural technologies and address uneven access to digital tools across global farming systems.

The company said the new Cropwise Open Platform will allow external developers to build applications using Syngenta’s agronomic models, AI tools and digital services. Cropwise currently supports more than 70 million hectares of farmland in over 30 countries.

The move follows research conducted by Ipsos in partnership with Syngenta indicating that the technology divide between large and small farms is widening. According to the study, bigger operations are adopting AI and digital tools at a much faster pace, while smaller farmers often face barriers related to cost, complexity and low awareness of existing technologies. The research also found that trust, data control and locally proven performance are central to driving adoption.

Feroz Sheikh, Syngenta’s chief information and digital officer, said technology uptake can no longer be viewed as optional amid climate pressures, market uncertainty and sustainability demands. He described the platform’s opening as an effort to “bridge the inequity” in digital agriculture by enabling developers to introduce new tools without compromising farmers’ control over their data.

Syngenta said the open ecosystem will allow developers to deploy data-driven applications at scale, using the company’s AI and aggregated agronomic insights, while giving farmers access to a wider range of digital solutions. The company added that individual grower data will not be shared without consent.