Syngenta invests in Premier Crop Systems
Premier builds software tools that enable growers and their agronomic advisors to implement best-in-class precision agronomy recommendations helping customers capture the full value of their Ag data. Established in 1999 and based in Des Moines, Iowa, Premier was an early developer of digital agriculture tools and currently provides data-driven agronomic recommendations for millions of acres of farmland.
Premier recently launched its newest product, Enhanced Learning Blocks, which enables the automation of large-scale, on farm, replicated trails.
Image of Enhanced Learning Blocks, depicting how test areas can be sub-divided into randomized, replicated trials
Dan Frieberg, CEO of Premier Crop, explained, “Enhanced Learning Blocks represents a breakthrough in generating new agronomic knowledge, cost effectively, at larger scale than previously possible. With additional capital from Syngenta Ventures, we will be better able to deliver this and other new tools to growers, their advisors and the research community.”
This spring, Syngenta Research & Development (R&D) evaluated Enhanced Learning Blocks in multiple field trials. Chuck Foresman, Digital Agriculture R&D Agronomy Lead for Syngenta commented, "Premier’s Learning Blocks provides a novel and simple way to validate treatments in growers’ fields. The addition of randomization and replication within those treatments is exciting to an R&D driven company like Syngenta because it opens the possibility of scaling scientific field research."
Gabriel Wilmoth, investment director with Syngenta Ventures, added, “Premier is a perfect fit for Syngenta Ventures. Our minority investment provides capital to help bring the benefits of their technology to more growers.”
“Growers want local trial results, and you can’t get more local than each of their fields,” said Kevin Kruize, Precision Ag Leader at Central Farm Service in southern Minnesota, one of Premier Crop’s customers that also conducted 2016 trials.
Mike Manning, program lead at Aurora Cooperative, added, “Premier Crop has harnessed the technology in the cab that my growers have already purchased to enable us to scale our local research trials.”
The new investment by Syngenta Ventures will help Premier expand its team of agronomists, data scientists and customer support for new and existing customers and accelerate the launch of Enhanced Learning Blocks.
For more information:
www.syngenta.com
www.premiercrop.com