Syngenta, a global leader in agricultural innovation, today announced it is opening CROPWISE, an AI-powered platform for farmers, to third-party developers worldwide.

Building on the success of Cropwise — which in just five years has transformed digital farm management and now supports over 70 million hectares of farmland across more than 30 countries — the launch of the Cropwise Open Platform is designed to accelerate the digital transformation of agriculture and remove one of the biggest barriers to innovation: access.

By opening our trusted digital foundation to the global developer community, we are enabling innovators to integrate advanced agronomic models into new tools and applications — helping farmers benefit from smarter, connected agricultural technologies.

New research from IPSOS, conducted in partnership with Syngenta, underscores the urgency of this effort. The study found that the digital divide in farming is widening, with larger farms racing ahead in the adoption of AI and digital tools while smaller farmers risk being left behind. It also revealed that while younger farmers are embracing technology, many older farmers view AI as complex or inaccessible — often unaware that they are already using it through tools like drones or imagery systems. Above all, trust, data control, and proof of local results emerged as the most powerful drivers of adoption.

“The agriculture sector stands at a tipping point. Climate pressures, global market volatility, and the urgent need to promote sustainable farming practices mean that technology adoption can no longer be optional,” said Feroz Sheikh, Syngenta’s Chief Information and Digital Officer.

“The Cropwise Open Platform represents a significant step forward in bridging the inequity that exists within the adoption of agricultural technology. By creating an open ecosystem that combines our deep agricultural expertise with cutting-edge digital capabilities, we’re empowering third-party developers to build solutions on top of Cropwise. Farmers can choose the apps that best support their needs — without sacrificing control over their data.”

Through its robust integration capabilities and access to Syngenta’s digital agriculture services, Cropwise Open Platform enables everyone in the ecosystem to develop data-driven applications that tackle real-world farming challenges.

“AI can be the great equalizer in agriculture — but only if it’s accessible, affordable, and trusted,” Sheikh added. “By opening Cropwise developer capabilities, we hope to create a network with farmers at the center, and ensure that digital innovation benefits every farmer, not just those with the biggest fields or budgets.”