Croda together with customers and partners, has published a new white paper exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming agricultural innovation. Drawing on expertise from its seed enhancement business, Incotec, and its Crop Protection business, Croda Agriculture, the publication examines how AI can accelerate the development of more productive, resilient and sustainable solutions for growers worldwide.

The publication, How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Agricultural Innovation, brings together insights from leading experts across agriculture, life sciences, academia and artificial intelligence. Contributors include experts from BASF, Rijk Zwaan, Dotmatics and the University of Amsterdam Business School.

The report explores how AI is reshaping research and development by helping scientists identify promising opportunities more quickly, unlock value from historical data and improve decision-making throughout the innovation process. It also examines the organisational capabilities required to translate AI's potential into meaningful business and industry outcomes.

A central theme of the report is the importance of collaboration. Contributors highlight how future advances in agricultural innovation will increasingly depend on trusted partnerships that connect expertise, data and insights across the value chain, from researchers and suppliers to manufacturers, customers and growers.

Thomas Riermeier, President, Life Sciences said: "The question is no longer whether artificial intelligence will influence agricultural innovation. It is already transforming the way our industry discovers, develops and delivers solutions to some of agriculture's biggest challenges. Unlocking its full potential will require more than algorithms and technology.

“Success depends on bringing together scientific expertise, trusted data and strong partnerships across the agricultural ecosystem. By gathering perspectives from industry, academia and technology, this white paper provides practical insight into how organisations can build the capabilities needed to unlock AI's potential and accelerate innovation for growers worldwide."

Among the applications explored in the report is work being undertaken by Croda Agriculture's seed enhancement business, Incotec, where AI and X-ray imaging are being used to support tomato seed quality assessment. By combining imaging technology with historical germination data, researchers can identify patterns linked to seed performance and make more informed decisions about treatment and quality selection.

Finn Bauer, Vice President of R&D, Life Sciences added: "AI is already helping researchers uncover insights from complex scientific data and identify promising opportunities more quickly. The greatest impact will come when we combine these emerging capabilities with deep scientific expertise and closer collaboration across the agricultural value chain."

The report concludes that while AI offers significant opportunities, success will depend not only on technological advances but also on organisations' ability to build robust data foundations, develop new skills and ways of working, and foster collaboration across the agricultural innovation ecosystem.

Download the white paper here.