AGCO, a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and solutions, has agreed to acquire 151 Research, the Canadian firm behind GrainViz, a post-harvest monitoring platform that gives farmers advanced insight into the moisture content and conditions of the grain in their steel storage bins. The acquisition will help AGCO create new technology solutions for grain customers.
GrainViz, which is based on an imaging technology first created for the bio-medical industry at the University of Manitoba, already enables customers to view in real time the complete moisture content of every bushel; identify the exact weight of the crop in their bin; receive live value predictions based on local pricing information; and save money on energy costs through optimized conditioning (moisture readings combined with local weather station data).
Eliminates grain spoilage
The platform also helps avoid the risk of drying on the field by enabling farmers to better control conditioning, which then allows for earlier harvesting, which in turn helps improve grain quality, delivering higher protein and oil percentages. These benefits result in higher profits and 20-30% energy savings/bin on average, according to the company.
AGCO and 151 Research first entered into an exclusive technology partnership to develop GrainViz back in 2018. AGCO intends to retain 151 Research’s 45-strong work force and to maintain its Winnipeg office as a smart grain technology centre of excellence. The team will shortly complete an initial release of GrainViz in a limited number of bins, with a wider launch planned prior to the 2021 harvest.
“Our grain customers are facing significant challenges due to difficulty finding labour, low commodity prices and tight margins. We need the sharpest minds working on finding answers to these challenges, and we believe this acquisition will help improve our customers’ operations through smarter technology,” said Stefan Caspari, AGCO senior VP, general manager, grain and protein. “We are excited about the continued development of GrainViz and look forward to creating a connected experience across the entire grain system to increase efficiency and profitability for our customers.”
“Our team’s goal at 151 Research has always been to solve problems by helping customers gain actionable insights to improve their business,” added Paul Card, CEO, 151 Research. “GrainViz allows users to see the moisture content throughout the entire grain mass to proactively manage the quality and quantity of their stored grain. We are pleased AGCO recognized the benefits this game-changing technology can bring to customers and shares our passion for finding smarter answers to the industry’s biggest challenges.”
