Cologne, Germany
October 2, 2025
- First of its kind rice yield guarantee, “xarvio® HEALTHY FIELDS for RiTA”, tailored for Japanese market and delivered by NEWGREEN
- “Humus” developed by NEWGREEN partner companies
- Service supports rice farmers using Dry Direct-Seeding Rice method
BASF Digital Farming has launched “xarvio® HEALTHY FIELDS for RiTA” in Japan - a first of its kind yield performance guarantee service that integrates soil improvement AI-powered service “Humus” with the agricultural outcome guarantee program xarvio HEALTHY FIELDS. BASF and NEWGREEN have partnered to offer the service to rice farmers practicing water saving Dry Direct-Seeding Rice (DSR) cultivation.
In January this year, BASF introduced xarvio HEALTHY FIELDS in Japan offering a weed free management solution for rice farmers adopting the DSR cultivation method. However, another major challenge faced by these farmers is non-optimal crop yields due to poor or uneven soil health conditions. By incorporating soil improvement to DSR cultivation, BASF will help farmers pursue stable and sustainable rice production.
Konstantin Kretschun, Global Head of BASF Digital Farming, says: “Product innovation is essential for farming globally. This unique rice yield guarantee service for Japan is grounded in scientific evidence and developed with synergistic partners. By integrating the Humus soil improvement service with our unique outcome-based xarvio HEALTHY FIELDS solution, we are confident we can deliver even better results and peace of mind for Japanese rice farmers practicing environmentally conscious DSR cultivation.”
Science-based soil improvement AI service “Humus”
“Humus” is an innovative service developed through the collaboration of multiple companies combining cutting-edge AI technologies with agronomic expertise. This service is built on the unique expertise of soil consultant Takayuki Sudo, who has over a decade of global experience with a New Zealand-based agricultural and soil consulting group and has supported more than 10,000 hectares of farmland in Japan.
Through “Humus”, farmers can enjoy the following benefits:
- Science-based, personalized soil improvement prescriptions: Soil diagnosis and improvement prescriptions, backed by proven results in diverse environments worldwide (including Japan), are optimized and provided to the farmer.
- Integration with AI technology: Farmers will be able to access the most advanced personalized soil improvement technology together with consultative advisory.
- Integrated solutions and services. Farmers are prescribed recommended nutrients including micro-nutrients which are then procured and delivered.
- Tangible benefits with increased productivity, stabilized yield and quality, that help improve profitability.
NEWGREEN drives service integration as the point of contact for farmers
NEWGREEN will be the single point of contact for farmers who sign up for xarvio HEALTHY FIELDS for RiTA. The program will run under technical supervision of RiTA Japan. Farmers can expect to have their fields diagnosed before a comprehensive soil improvement prescription is formulated. Building on the soil improvement service, thereafter xarvio HEALTHY FIELDS outcome-guaranteed weed management program will be provided. This will support farmers with the benefit of greater certainty in achieving their yield harvest goals.
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