Bringing smart agriculture solutions to
farmers and agri-businesses

AGRIVI, a leading global farm management software company in the agtech category, appoints Mircea Draghici as General Manager (GM) for Romania. Mr. Draghici will have an important role in expanding AGRIVI operations in our country. Since entering the local market in 2020, the management of AGRIVI's activity in Romania has been ensured by the central management of the company, based in London. ,,AGRIVI is a company synonymous with the digitalization of agriculture, providing farm management solutions tailored to all stakeholders in the agri-food industry. I look forward to expand our reach on the Romanian market and reaching as many farmers and collaborators as possible, with our incredible team members and clients”, says Mircea Drăghici. AGRIVI Romania GM is a serial entrepreneur, passionate about science and technology. He has been a founding partner of Venture Growth Partners for almost eight years and has worked in the tech industry for over 15 years. In his new position, Mircea Drăghici will use his knowledge, experience and expertise in the industry to bring AGRIVI to the leading position on the local market. Mr. Draghici is involved with The Entrepreneurship Academy, Bucharest, as a Lecturer to students and was Founding Partner in Science Studies organizing courses and workshops related to management and IT. Previously he founded and ran a software development company building software solutions focused on verticals such as hospitality, automotive or the insurance industry and e-learning solutions. “I am enthusiastic for joining AGRIVI team. It is a great opportunity to be a part of a company that, through its actions and vision, has a significant impact on all of our lives – and that is changing the way food is produced in its core.” - Mircea Draghici, GM at AGRIVI Romania. At the beginning of 2021, AGRIVI expanded its Romanian team with a new Executive Sales Director. AGRIVI as one of the key leading companies with farm management software delivers a digital solution to professional farmers where they can obtain all the necessary information about every single production phase and make decisions to produce healthy, nutritious and safe food in a sustainable and profitable way. Besides farmers, AGRIVI digital agriculture solutions support other organizations in the agriculture and food industry, from food companies to support their crop sourcing supply chain to agribusiness banks, ministries of agriculture and other.    

As a company, AGRIVI lives and breathes sustainability and that is why we have become a part of the Plastic Free Initiative.  The goal of AGRIVI as a plastic-free company is to reduce the usage of single-use plastics, encourage employees and be an example company that found alternative solutions, and the aim of this is promoting sustainability that is in AGRIVI DNA.  The Plastic Free Initiative brings together business organizations that have completely stopped, or step by step are reducing the usage of plastic items and want to find alternative solutions for their employees that will be sustainable.  Awareness of the global problem of plastic pollution and the desire to solve that problem effectively is an increasing topic in public. AGRIVI as a part of the Plastic Free Initiative, not only expressed concern about plastic pollution but did much more than that. In our offices, the usage of plastic has completely disappeared, and now there are sustainable materials.   To maintain the status of the plastic-free company, AGRIVI has initiated several steps to reduce plastic in the offices:   Reusable cups, cutlery, bags Separation of waste in all rooms Exploring the potential of recycled material Considering plastic usage when buying company items It is great that AGRIVI employees recognized the Initiative, supported it, and implemented it in their daily lives.   We want to encourage and invite other companies to support this initiative because a larger number of stakeholders will quickly raise awareness of the wider community about the need to replace disposable plastic items in our society.   Only with that approach, we can lead to a reduction in plastic waste in the environment.     

In the beginning of 2021, AGRIVI joined the UN Global Compact initiative, a diverse group of businesses and other actors gathered around the goal of achieving corporate sustainability. AGRIVI is a participant of a large family consisting of public sector organizations, academics, foundations, business associations, labour, small and medium-sized enterprises, global and local NGOs as well as other stakeholders in more than 160 states. All together, the UN Global Compact gathers more than 12.000 global participants and provides support in taking strategic actions in order to advance broader societal goals like UN SDG and Agenda 2030. Participants of the UN Global Compact pledge to uphold the initiative's Ten Principles, consisting of fundamental responsibilities in the field of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption. These principles are based on the UN’s accepted declarations and conventions and thus act as an authority for sustainable responsible business. The Ten Principles of the United Nation Global Compact are: Human Rights Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses. Labour Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour; Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; and Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. Environment Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges; Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and Principle 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies. Anti-Corruption Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery. The main focus of this partnership is knowledge-sharing among the business community, institutions, civil society organizations and NGOs. AGRIVI, a leader in the agtech industry, will provide knowledge on topics like food safety and sustainable farming. We are looking forward to matching our expertise with the UN Global Compacts program, the largest global development institution. By participating in the initiative, AGRIVI will contribute to the promotion of best business practices, engage in open dialogue and share experiences on topics related to sustainable development and corporate sustainability. AGRIVI farm management software supports all farm activities efficiently and applies practices compliant with food safety, quality, sustainability standards, and more. As a company, AGRIVI focuses on solving real-life problems in the food production process, with values and goals in line with those of the UN Global Compact. Because of our expertise and dedication, AGRIVI is recognized as an organization with the ambition to help build a better future for everyone.

AGRIVI found its place in FT1000 prestigious list of fastest growing European companies published by the Financial Times. This latest annual ranking of business by revenue growth placed AGRIVI in the top 20% of the list – what is a remarkable achievement for a company established just eight years prior. This is the fifth year the renowned British publication, in partnership with the German data provider Statista, compiles a list of 1000 European companies with the strongest revenue growth, and the first year AGRIVI is featured.  The ranking of the FT1000 is a result of the extensive list that showcase and celebrate revenue growth in the time period 2016-2019 achieved in high percentages. All companies profiled are checked by Statista – Global No.1 Business Data Platform. This year’s list is dominated by over 200 tech companies and in terms of countries, the most entries featured come from Italy, Germany, and France. We at AGRIVI are very proud to be on this FT1000 list what is a great addition to other recognitions. Check out out latest Farm Management Software Industry Report where AGRIVI is in TOP 3 companies in the industry. We are committed to our vision - change the way food is produced and positively impact over a billion people. AGRIVI has offices in Croatia, UK, Poland and Romania, our platform is used in over 100 countries where our software is available in 10+ local languages.     

TOP 15 Farm Management Software Leaders   Farm management software (FMS) industry, as the central agritech category, is growing continuously with strong year-over-year growth. In 2020, an increasing number of market research companies globally have published market research industry reports on the topics: farm management software, crop management software, and agriculture analytics. For its own use, AGRIVI has conducted research about the farm management software industry reports published in 2020 by renowned market research companies globally. Today, we decided to share this internal report publicly with the aim to raise awareness among the industry about the strong industry growth and major global farm management software leaders in the competitive landscape. Digital Agriculture Software Industry Report 2020 profiles the top 15 companies in the industry profiled by 40+ different global market research companies. Top 15 companies are profiled as industry leaders based on the recognition/number of listings in industry reports globally. Digital agriculture industry growth is driven by: the global need to feed the increasing population, food safety requirements, consumer-driven quality requirements, growing environmental and regulatory requirements, growing investments into technology companies, farmer needs for simplifying existing operations. Top 15 profiled companies (by alphabetical order): AgJunction, Ag Leader Technology, AGRIVI, Conservis, Cropio, DeLaval, FarmersEdge Inc., GEA Group, Granular, Iteris, John Deere & Company, Raven Industries, The Climate Corporation, Topcon Positioning Systems, Trimble.  Download the report and find out key leaders' positions – by ranking, core industry, headquarters, and market research companies.   -- AGRIVI is one of the global farm management software leaders with a global customer portfolio in the agri-food value chain – supporting farms, major agribusiness companies, international food companies, agribusiness banks, and other stakeholders interested in improving the efficiency of crop production.    

Zagreb, February 3, 2021 –AgTech company AGRIVI, which has developed one of the leading, globally recognized farm management software, has begun the new year by expanding its partnership network in four major global markets. After securing a new round of financing by attracting 4 million EUR last November for expanding in the global market, the company concluded this year’s January with six new major partners in Europe, Middle East, Asia, and the US. The new partnership network will help AGRIVI to expand further, and position on the global market, and connect with producers that will rely on the AGRIVI platform to help farmers manage agricultural production and increase their profitability. The farm management software by AGRIVI is one of the most comprehensive solutions for agricultural productions on the market today and helps farms and agri-food companies in 100+ countries worldwide to reach an economically and environmentally sustainable agricultural production. One of the company’s new partners is RHE Solutions, which cooperates with agricultural producers in Southeast Asia and has the goal of improving their business practices and bringing direct value, while AGRIVI is already translating its software into Malay to accommodate them. Another company that has been partnering with the AGRIVI since 2021 is the Malaysian company MD Labs, focused on developing a nationwide platform for palm oil producers. As for this new platform, the AGRIVI solution will have a key role in digitizing processes from production and processing to sale, providing users with insights into detailed production analytics to improve and increase their efficiency and productivity. At the same time, Chatwin, a company doing business in the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean countries, is the company’s new partner for the US market and will offer the AGRIVI solutions to farmers for their improvements. A new partner in the same market is also BCTS Consulting that is active in 9 countries in Latin America. Furthermore, the list of AGRIVI Europe-based partners now includes Farmapp, a Latvian company, that will offer AGRIVI to help young farmers in five Baltic countries successfully complete their family-owned farms’ transition. Finally, another company planning a stronger growth in 2021 with the help of AGRIVI is VeggiTech, which grows vegetables in desert areas in the Middle East, and will rely on the company’s help to stronger address that particular high-potential market. “With the additional support from the new round of financing closed just last year, we have entered a phase of greater expansion, especially in the markets in Europe and the US. We are also continuously monitoring opportunities in other potential markets. I am proud to celebrate the beginning of the year with a considerably stronger network of partners, with whom we intend to work on achieving further growth and promoting digitalization in agriculture,” stated Matija Zulj, CEO and founder at AGRIVI. The company’s success is further evident in the fact that last year, the consulting company Ernst & Young highlighted AGRIVI as an ideal solution for digitalizing a country’s agriculture with a positive impact on not just the agricultural sector but also the economy as a whole, adding that, at the same time, it could be financed from the EU funds. About AGRIVI AGRIVI is a global agtech company founded in 2013. With offices in London, Bucharest, Zagreb, and Warsaw, the company supports agri-food companies in 100+ countries. The AGRIVI farm management software, used by all-size professional farmers, food companies, agricultural banks, and other stakeholders in the food and agricultural industry, has been localized in fifteen languages. Thanks to the AGRIVI tech solution, its users can, in just a few clicks, obtain all the necessary information about every single production phase, as well as plenty of other useful information allowing for the production planning and timely execution of the agri-tech measures. Presently, AGRIVI cooperates with the top global corporations in the industry, including the US-based Driscoll's, the world's largest berry company, Switzerland’s Nestle, which uses the AGRIVI solution to ensure the quality of the fruit for its children’s food factories, and  Helvetas, which relies on the software to ensure rice production’s traceability for more than 4,000 small farmers in Myanmar, Asia. Finally, all the key analytical reports put AGRIVI among the top global leaders in farm management.

February 1st 2021, London - AGRIVI, a leading global farm management software company, appoints Marcin Gozdziela as a General Manager (GM) for Poland. Mr. Gozdziela will focus on the company’s expansion in Poland and will be managing the overall AGRIVI operations in Poland. He brings in strong knowledge and experience from the agribusiness industry and agri-food value chain in Poland. „AGRIVI is one of the global leaders present on the Polish market for several years, and we want to strengthen our market leader position and support the whole agri-food chain in Poland. The goal is to focus and strengthen digitalization in agriculture at farmers and agri-food companies see fast returns from 50 to 100 percent in a short period.“ – Marcin Gozdziela, GM at AGRIVI Poland. Over the last five years, Marcin Gozdziela was marketing leader for Agribusiness customers in Credit Agricole Bank Polska S.A, and before that, he developed a marketing department as a Marketing Director in Ciech Trading S.A.  „I am honored to lead a dedicated and productive team of professionals and to guide our efforts towards digitalization in agriculture. Our vision is to change the way food is produced in its core and positively impact one billion lives by helping farmers reach sustainable, resource-efficient, and profitable production. Now, this is relevant more than ever and we will do our best to make that vision a reality for as many Polish farmers and companies as possible.“ - Marcin Gozdziela, GM at AGRIVI Poland. AGRIVI’s market leading farm management platform supports professional farmers in making their farm operations efficient and making timely decisions for increasing the profitability of their production. Besides farmers, AGRIVI supports other organizations from the agri-food value chain, like food companies, retail companies, agribusiness banks, insurances, and other stakeholders that collaborate with farmers. 

AGRIVI has become a new  official supporter of Farming First, a sustainable global agricultural coalition. AGRIVI will support Farming First with knowledge and expertise in order to further sustainable agricultural development.   Farming First is a coalition of multi-stakeholder organizations in agriculture, with a mission to endorse and promote practical, actionable programs and activities that help further agricultural sustainable development worldwide.   With more than 190 organizations worldwide, Farming First is one of the most diverse and active agricultural supporters. The main aim of the coalition is to strengthen the voice of groups with shared views on the importance of improving farming and farmer's sustainable livelihoods.   When talking about sustainable development in the agriculture and food processing sector, knowledge and culture of sharing experiences are prerequisites for success. Driven by a belief that knowledge and technology support must be available to all agriculture producers worldwide, AGRIVI has built knowledge-based software solutions that help agricultural producers in multiple ways.  Digital agriculture solutions are important for efficiency improvements within the agri-food value chain. Today, AGRIVI digital agriculture solutions are used by farms of all sizes, by food companies, governments, agribusiness banks, and other stakeholders interested in increasing the efficiency of their agricultural production.  Farming First creates and shares relevant information about agriculture and it serves as a knowledge network. It has a connective role in sharing best practices, skills, and experience with supporters and all those who are interested.   The Farming First framework is founded on their six principles for food and nutrition security so as sustainable agriculture:   1. Safeguard natural resources2. Share knowledge3. Build local access and capacity4. Enable access to markets5. Protect harvest6. Prioritize research imperative As a global ag-tech company with the vision of changing the way food is produced and positively impact over a billion people, AGRIVI is in alignment with Farming First principles. As one of the key global leaders in farm management software, AGRIVI supports farmers in over 100 countries worldwide and works with various stakeholders of the agricultural value chain, food processing companies, ag retailers, and NGO’s.      

17 November, 2020 - AGRIVI, a global agtech company with the market leading farm management platform has secured 4 million EUR series A Round led by South Central Ventures, European Investment Fund and Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Fil Rouge Capital and AgriTech Hub also participated in the round. The funding will enable AGRIVI to expand its market reach in key European markets and United States. AGRIVI farm management software is one of the most comprehensive farm management platforms on the market. The platform supports farms and agri-food companies in reaching economically and environmentally sustainable crop production. The financing round builds on an exceptional period for AGRIVI, where the company saw a rapidly growing roster of clients, key executive appointments, market recognition and market momentum as food and agriculture were put under the spotlight. Major market researches position AGRIVI among key global leaders in the farm management industry and its customer portfolio grew to include brands such as Nestle, Driscoll’s, Kimberly-Clark and BNP Paribas among many others. A global consulting company EY recommends AGRIVI’s solutions as the fast-impact project for governments to improve local food sustainability and reduce climate impact on a national level. “AGRIVI has made an impressive progress since our initial investment back in 2016. They have positioned themselves on a global map of the leading agtech companies as one of the leading farm management platforms. I’m also thrilled that European Investment Fund identified this opportunity and participated in our first direct co-investment. I believe the funds from this financial round will enable AGRIVI to accelerate their activities on multiple business areas and consequently facilitate the global impact on the healthy food production,” stated Jure Mikuz, lead investor in the round and Managing Partner at South Central Ventures. “Strong progress in the last period and extraordinary customers we support have prepared us for the next stage of our growth. We are thankful to South Central Ventures, European Investment Fund, Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Fil Rouge Capital and AgriTech Hub for supporting us in our mission to digitalize the global agriculture. The recent global happenings have put additional spotlight on the food and agriculture, so the interest of investors for AGRIVI is strong and we are considering to extend the round with additional round closing,” stated Matija Zulj, CEO and founder at AGRIVI.   -- All Investor Statements -- European Investment Fund (EIF) Statement Alain Godard, EIF Chief Executive said: “I’m delighted to see that the EIF`s strategic equity investments in Croatia, working alongside HBOR, are delivering results and empowering Croatian companies to grow and compete on the global markets, creating jobs and fuelling faster economic development. It’s important, during these difficult times, that we continue to support ambitious, innovative businesses across Europe. We are impressed with AGRIVI and its achievements and proud to be a part of their success as much as we are proud of the results of our partnership with HBOR and its impact on Croatia.” Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) Statement  “We are proud that HBOR had the opportunity to support Croatian company which has became an agtech leader in only seven years. The investment in AGRIVI was made together with EIF through CROGIP program that encourages the availability of venture capital for Croatian entrepreneurs. We are glad Fil Rouge Capital fund also participated in this investment, who has been supported from HBOR while they were starting with their operations. The success of AGRIVI is an excellent example how strong growth and exports to the world markets can be achieved in niches and sectors that until just a few years ago almost did not exist. The potential of the Croatian economy is in innovative companies with global ambitions, where AGRIVI is an excellent example," said Tamara Perko, President of the Management Board at HBOR. Fil Rouge Capital (FRC) Statement “AGRIVI has been strengthening its position on the market in the past few years. Their experience is meeting the market maturity, thus making the strong use case and product-market-fit which is the most important prerequisite for the scale-up phase. We are very happy to be part of this investment round creating a firm cornerstone of AGRIVI's future. We believe in their success and their role in reaching an economically and environmentally sustainable crop production world,” Stevica Kuharski, Principal at Fil Rouge Capital. AgriTech Hub Statement “The AGRIVI Farm Management Platform is a response to a global trend, namely digitalisation in agriculture. AGRIVI enables the analysis of precise data, which is particularly important for the industry. Another crucial element for consumers is traceability, which is the possibility of checking the origin of a product. In AgriTech Hub, we are looking for solutions which will make agricultural processes really effective. We consider AGRIVI to be not only practical, but also an innovative solution that will help to manage production. We are also looking forward to working with the funds that believed in AGRIVI together with us and invested in the platform. We believe in the dynamic development of the company in the near future with a great chance for global success,” Marcin Woźniak, CEO at AgriTech Hub.   -- General Information-- AGRIVI is a global agtech company founded in 2013. With offices in London, Bucharest, Zagreb and Warsaw, the company supports agri-food companies in 100+ countries. More information can be found at www.agrivi.com. South Central Ventures (SCV) is the leading venture capital management company in western Balkans, dedicated primarily to early stage and growth investments in tech startups to fuel their international business expansion and growth. More information can be found at www.sc-ventures.com. European Investment Fund (EIF) is the largest European investor in venture and growth capital funds. Since 1994, the EIF has committed more than €17 billion in close to 700 venture and growth capital funds. By co-investing with successful venture capital fund managers alongside their funds, EIF targets innovative SMEs and Mid-Caps in their expansion and internationalisation phase. EIF’s investment in AGRIVI was made in partnership with Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) through CROGIP program. More information can be found at www.eif.org and at www.hbor.hr. Fil Rouge Capital (FRC) is the € 45 million investment fund focused on early stage businesses from pre-seed, seed and Series A of investment. More information can be found at www.filrougecapital.com.  AgriTech Hub is a Venture Capital Fund with investment interests in modern solutions within the scope of high-tech for the agriculture and food sector and entire value-added chain in agriculture and agricultural practice. Its mission is to support innovation, applicable at the growing, production and distribution stages, all the way to the commercial end customer. More information can be found at www.agritechhub.com.  -- Photo -- 

Experts state that seed quality often directly correlates with a farmer’s crop yield. High-quality seeds are superior to other seed varieties in physiological purity and are usually free from seed-borne diseases. For those unfamiliar with the agricultural industry, you can determine seed quality through a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If agriculture industry leaders deliberately overlook seed quality, there can be devastating consequences, including the following: food insecurity, tanking farm profits, and spiking produce costs. With these high stakes in mind, it’s worth investing in a high-quality seed. Otherwise, we should prepare for a domino effect of financial instability down the farm-to-consumer supply chain. While deciding on the seed type utilized lies within a farmer’s jurisdiction, forces out of farmers’ control, such as climatic changes, can impact the seed’s quality. Much like climatic shifts, sudden disease outbreaks can also have a tremendous impact on a farmer’s crop yield. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected global crop production and interfered with the farm-to-consumer supply chain. Although the coronavirus doesn’t directly alter soil composition or inhibit crop growth, mandatory quarantine procedures have radically transformed our eating habits. Since medical professionals consider indoor dining to be a high-risk activity, the average person’s dependency on conventional grocery stores has skyrocketed, modifying the supply chains used. Additionally, with unemployment at an all-time high, consumer’s weekly spending budgets have plummeted. With less money to spend, the demand for produce and dairy products faces an unfortunate downward spiral, causing farmers to lose profits. To combat these adverse effects, farmers should consider investing in high-quality seeds to improve their crop yield and alleviate the burden of worrying about poor crop health. For example, pollinator blends from reputable providers like Nature's seed can generate the ultimate pollinator habitats. Because we depend on these pollinators for a third of our food production, high-quality pollinator seed mixes are a must. Are you curious as to how a higher-quality seed variety can improve crop yield? If so, read on. Characteristics of high-quality seeds Before we jump into how these seeds can increase crop yield, it's essential to understand the main attributes of high-quality seeds. For one, a high-quality crop seed must have the required degree of physical purity while maintaining the desired genetic purity. In layman’s terms, foundation seeds must be at least 99.5 percent genetically pure. On the other hand, breeder seed should be 100 percent; certified hybrid castor – 85 percent; certified hybrid seeds – 95 percent; certified hybrid cotton – 90 percent genetic purity. Quality seed is free from designated diseases One can define designated crop diseases as those diseases spread by planting infected seeds. These pathogens may cause seed contamination, resulting in lesions on petioles, pods, flowers, leaf tips, and margins. Some of these seed-borne diseases include grain smut of pearl millet, the early blight of tomato, and Kernel smut of sorghum. Loose smut of wheat, Ergot of Bajra, and the little leaf of brinjal. Low-quality seeds are mostly affected by these diseases, which can lead to low crop yield. In contrast, high-quality seed varieties are free from seed-borne diseases, leading to increased crop production. With optimal crop production, struggling local farmers can satisfy consumer demand with greater ease. High-quality seed varieties are free from weed seed Farmers should expect to find unwanted, harmful weed seeds buried in their crop seed supply. Most of these weed seeds resemble crop seeds in size and shape, making it difficult to distinguish the two. While seemingly harmless, these weed seeds usually compete for crop resources, affecting your crops in many ways. In some cases, these weed seeds can poison animals/human consumers and act as an alternative host for various diseases and pests. Examples of these weed seeds may include Convolvulus arvensis, wild paddy, wild lettuce, and Wild cucurbits spp. When purchasing your seeds, it’s crucial to consider its purity. Often, experts assess a seed’s purity by the level of unwanted substances present in the crop seed. Harmful materials such as inert matter, unwanted crop seed, and weed seed can reduce the seed quality, affecting harvest quantities and increasing production costs. Remember that if you buy crop seed that isn't properly conditioned, you may need to purchase herbicides to keep potential weeds and pests at bay. Be sure to factor these additional costs into your budget. High germination and vigor Seed germination tests examine the seed's ability to grow into a sturdy plant when planted under favorable conditions. These tests are often performed for a predetermined time under laboratory conditions to ensure optimum temperature, light, and moisture. Seeds that have low germination are usually less vigorous because of seed deterioration. Moreover, seed deterioration leads to the loss of viability, causing crop seeds with low germination to be less vigorous. Similarly, seeds with poor germination produce weaker seedlings, reducing average crop yields. It’s essential to note that you can’t associate low vigor with select seed species, especially the native grasses characterized by inherently low germination. Free from other crop seeds Depending on the weight percentage of other inseparable seeds in your crop seed, your crop yield may suffer at the hands of these different seed varieties. If not adequately contained, farmers will often cultivate unwanted seeds in the seed fields, as they are often similar in appearance and hard to separate mechanically. In most situations, farmers will notice this mixture when the seeds germinate and mature. Unfortunately for those in the agriculture industry, those other crop seeds can compete for your crop seed resources, affecting crop production. Final word For that matter, when buying high-quality seed, ensure you purchase it from a reputable seed provider with the necessary experience in producing and conditioning seed stocks. During seed production, ensure appropriate isolation, adequate fertilization/water usage, and timely harvest. Following these steps can result in quality produce and increased yield.

COVID-19 pandemic is already causing debilitating effects in virtually every industry of the global economy. Unfortunately, the agricultural sector is no exception and hasn’t been left unscathed. For those who don’t identify as agriculture workers, the pandemic poses a significant threat to food security, especially in economies where the agriculture model is labor-intensive. Travel restrictions are hindering the mobility of labor and disrupting labor-dependent production as active cases skyrocket. In light of these changes, preserving usable crops is all the more critical for struggling farmers. Those in the agriculture sector need to search for pest control companies specializing in agricultural pest control services. Otherwise, these pests will continue to harm vulnerable local farming communities. Effects of pests on crops Pest species, including insects, rodents, and birds, can wreak havoc on farmers’ crops. To mitigate damage and remain competitive, consider pursuing professional pest control services. Crop damage Pests can cause devastating effects on crops. How so? For one, these insects and rodents feast on the crops’ leaves, fruits, and roots, leading to the eventual death of your profit-yielding produce. Insects (like aphids) can also transmit harmful bacteria, fungi, or viral infections to your crops, resulting in comparable damage. Looking at rodents specifically, these scurrying rats and mice can cause untold damage to your crops, especially during the harvest season. Other rodents like moles feed on the plant’s roots causing substantial physical damage and skewing agriculture industry leaders’ crop yields. Damage to finished products Pest species like weevils, rats, and mice don’t discriminate when hunting for food sources. Much like these rodents target sprouting crops, they similarly flock to finished products stored for sale or consumption. Other insects like moths and beetles can contaminate food, making it unfit for human consumption. If you’re struggling to tell whether your finished products are under siege, keep your eyes peeled for holes in grains, insects’ tracks in the floury dust, fecal deposits, and webbing produced by larvae of moths. Typically, grains become warmer when infected, resulting in damp, moldy grains. Rodents invade barns, sacks, and other storage areas to gnaw on grains and other nearby food sources. As if that’s not enough, these outdoor pests will urinate on your foodstuff, which can lead to the contamination of grains. Furthermore, rodents are well-known for carrying diseases and bacteria. If farm owners don’t neutralize the threat in ample time, they can leave a trail of damage by contaminating foodstuff and surfaces they scamper across. Equipment and machinery damage Rodents (particularly rats and mice) can inflict structural damage to farm buildings and equipment. Using their ever-growing teeth, rodents gnaw at wood, concrete, electrical wires, and even metal, rendering farm equipment immobile or unusable. Damaged equipment leads to stoppages in production, which affects productivity. Following this trail of destruction, inhibited productivity can cause agricultural industry leaders to lag behind their competitors. Pest varieties targeting the agricultural sector Destructive pests come in different kinds. Some destroy your premises, while others, like bed bugs, disturb your sleep. If you happen to dodge these sleep-disrupting and property-damaging pest varieties, rodents will leave disease-ridden waste deposits on your premises. However, the worst insects are the ones that victimize your plant life. Pests can destroy acres of plants, ruining food that could feed hundreds of people. Below is a rundown of the most destructive pests causing chaos in the agriculture industry Locusts Locusts have been well-known culprits of rop damage since as early as 2,000 BC. Today, they are still a considerable threat to plants. When moving in swarms, they migrate from one location to another, leaving skeletonized plants in their wake. Weevils Adult weevils munch on leaves and trunks, and grubs feed on roots, ultimately causing plants’ death. The most affected crop varieties include wheat, maize, coconut, and sorghum. Japanese beetles These beetles have been wreaking havoc in Eastern US farms since 1916, as they can feed on over 300 species of plants. Japanese beetles increase in numbers around June and feed for four to six weeks, leaving behind inconceivable plant damage. Aphids Their favorite menu items include wheat, guava, barley, oats, and chilies. These small, soft-bodied insects are known to suck sap, especially during spring and summer. Severe infestation leads to twisting of leaves, stunted growth, withering, and eventual death of plants. Fruit and shoot borers Their larvae bore into tender plants, leading to the plant’s eventual disintegration. Borers also destroy flowers and blooming fruits. Corn rootworms Corn is a common crop, especially in the Midwest US. Corn rootworms have caused farmers sleepless nights because of their resistance to pesticides. In most cases, these insects will emerge from the ground in June and July, destroying leaves and corn silk. Stink bugs Stink bugs are not only a threat in your home but also to your crops. They feed on stems, leaves, and sap of plants like apples, beans, berries, peaches, sorghum, cotton, and many more. Conclusion Pests can have devastating effects on the agricultural sector while threatening millions of American’s food security. To deter this pest-related damage, devise a thoughtfully-crafted pest control strategy. Consider hiring services of pest control services with long-standing experience to provide comprehensive pest treatment plans.  

Digitization of agriculture is the only way how one can in a short time, even in the first two years of implementation, increase the competitiveness of agricultural production. Most other solutions for improvement of farming productivity give results in long term, often taking over 10 years to see the full effects. Experience shows that farmers increase their profitability from 50 up to 100% already in the first two years of using digital agriculture solutions. Higher earnings supported by digitalization make agriculture more attractive and provide the best motivation for the new generation of farmers to take over the family business and expand their farms. Digitization Prevents Triple Losses on Farms Digital solutions bring great benefits to farmers, as a help to avoid the triple loss a farmer has during the year. The first loss farmers experience is while planning the production. Without precise data on soil quality and actual crop needs, it is impossible to optimally calculate the necessary inputs for the season. Many studies have proven, and we have confirmed with thousands of farmers who are using our software for managing farm production, that digitalization and precision agriculture reduce losses on fertilizers, crop protection, and other inputs in production even up to 30 percent.  The second loss happens is during the season, mostly caused by the wrong judgment of farmers when to apply agricultural practices. Late crop protection against pests and diseases is accountable for even 20 to 40 percent yield losses every year and this is just one factor that impacts the yields. Digital solutions help farmers to make timely decisions based on facts and the real-time situation on fields. For example, AGRIVI software continuously monitors weather conditions on fields and alerts farmers if there is a risk of bad weather or pests and diseases. The third loss farmers experience is while selling the product when the price for their crops depends on actual quality and ability to guarantee food safety. The demand to prove the traceability of food is growing, both from consumers and retail that buy directly from farmers. Farmers need to showcase each product when and where it was planted, how it was treated, and its nutritive value. Without the digitization of each stage of production, it is impossible to show this information transparently. The experience of farmers is present. Digitization removes triple losses in farming production, gives measurable results, and helps farmers make more profit and secure a better life. Implementation of digital solutions is not hard, farmers can start to use them fast no matter the size of their production. AGRIVI farm management software is available on computers and smart mobile phones and it is easy to use. The only habit farmers need is the discipline to regularly enter data and everything else is provided by the platform – from information, the suggestion to warning alarms. The motivation is simple, 50 to 100% more profit in the pocket of farmers. Digital Agriculture AGRIVI software is one of the global leading farm management solutions worldwide used by farmers in over 100 countries. Farmers worldwide use AGRIVI software in the local language and AGRIVI team supports farmers in improving their farm profitability with AGRIVI solutions. Starting with AGRIVI software is simple – farmers just need to register at AGRIVI website, enter their fields and real-time insights from their fields will be visible daily.