BASF Companion, the mobile app for collaborative crop monitoring

One year after its launch, BASF is accelerating the development of its mobile app for collaborative crop monitoring. Companion is introducing two new features in 2019: a guided, game-like wheat monitoring path and the ability for agricultural organizations to create private observation networks.

In March 2018, BASF launched its Companion app. One year later, nearly 2 000 farmers and advisors have joined the adventure, and more than 7 000 observations have been made. To go further in 2019, BASF has just rolled out an app update containing several new features. The new "Monitoring Path" feature guides users in a playful way in identifying the pests and diseases to be monitored as a priority, depending on the crop stage. The feature is currently available for common wheat. Observers have one week to report the presence or absence of these pests and diseases in their fields, and with each observation they earn points and move up in their observer status in the app!

" The aim of this structured monitoring is to encourage participation and guide the community of Companion observers toward more organized monitoring, while remaining fun. By encouraging users to report both the presence and the absence of pests and diseases in fields, the path fosters rigorous, high-quality monitoring that benefits users," explains Yohann Béréziat, BASF Companion App Manager.

Create your private observation group and offer an innovative service to the farmers in your area
BASF now offers agricultural organizations involved in crop monitoring (cooperatives, trading companies, chambers of agriculture, technical centers, etc.) the opportunity to use Companion to create and run their own communities of observers. For agronomy departments and advisors, this "turnkey" technology solution saves considerable time in running a private observation network and centralizing data. For farmers, accepting the invitation to join their organization's group gives them an additional source of technical and regional information, directly accessible on their smartphone.

Committed to working alongside players in the agricultural world, BASF France Agro division champions sustainable agriculture that reconciles competitiveness and responsibility. Digital technology opens the door to opportunities for developing new, innovative services based on collaboration between individuals. Companion is a mobile app developed by BASF to simplify crop monitoring for farmers and their advisors, thanks to its collaborative operation and the intelligence provided by data analysis.

BASF Companion can be downloaded and used free of charge on the Android and iOS stores.