Farmers globally demand agricultural innovation: Bayer survey

Six out of 10 farmers have experienced significant revenue loss due to abnormal weather events in recent years, with 75% open to adopting new technologies to bolster their resilience.

The survey of 2,000 farmers across eight countries including, Brazil, China, and the United States, found political and regulatory decisions were a mounting concern with 29% of farmers citing it as a top-3 challenge, double the number compared to last year.

“[Farmers] want innovation to help them do their jobs better, and an environment in which they can increasingly turn towards regenerative practices making food systems more,” said Rodrigo Santos, president of Bayer’s crop science division. Bayer funded the research which was conducted by global market research firm Kynetec.

Asked what could most benefit their farms, 41% of farmers pointed to innovations in crop protection, while 36% highlighted seeds and traits as critical. Regulatory and policy reforms were also seen as potential game-changers, with 36% of respondents ranking them as a top-3 priority.

Digital solutions are already boosting farms on aspects from weather forecasting to precision farming, with a primary focus on improving yields, cutting costs, and enhancing crop quality. Nearly two-thirds of global farmers are now using digital tools, with another 25% planning to adopt them soon.

Better yields the key motivator ​

Notably, 88% of farmers see better yields as a key motivator for adopting digital tools, while 85% highlight cost savings. 84% are driven by improvements in crop quality.

While 72% have little knowledge of current AI applications in agriculture, almost two thirds (62%) are interested to learn more.

A stark digital divide exists between regions, however, especially in countries with higher concentrations of smallholder farmers. Digital usage rates are lowest in India (8%), followed by Kenya (42%) and China, (49%). Nevertheless, these countries show significant potential for growth with 85% of Indian farmers planning to adopt digital tools in the future.

Growing role of regenerative agriculture​

The survey also shed light on the growing role of regenerative agriculture. Over 90% of farmers are already implementing at least one regenerative practice, with crop rotation, soil fertility management, and soil health monitoring the most common. On average, farmers are utilising seven of 17 available regenerative practices, demonstrating both progress and room for growth.

Santos believes regenerative agriculture will play a key role in addressing the world’s food and environmental challenges from now on. "One of the pressing questions today is how to meet the need for increased food production while protecting the planet and ensuring farmers can earn a living. Regenerative agriculture is part of that solution, combining food production with nature restoration and resilience."

Despite the broad range of challenges facing farmers, they continue to see value in what they do. 95% of farmers see themselves as critical to ensuring food security, and so 91% think they deserve more credit for their role.