Equipment manufacturer CNH has entered into a multi-phase partnership with autonomous agriculture startup Bluewhite to bring its technology to tractors. Through the partnership, Bluewhite's autonomous systems will be integrated into tractors manufactured by CNH's parent company, New Holland, which will enable New Holland tractors to operate autonomously in orchards, vineyards and other specialty crop farming.
A Blue Holland tractor in a cherry orchard. Image courtesy of Blue Holland. Autonomous technology “much needed” for growers
BlueWhite's chief operating officer, Alon Asher, said the relationship between the two companies began several years ago when the two were considering how to most effectively deploy agricultural technology innovations in orchards and vineyards.
“As a leading OEM in the orchard and vineyard equipment sector, New Holland was a natural choice for collaboration, but it is our shared values ​​and joint commitment to innovation that has built the long-standing partnership we have today.”
“Integrating Bluewhite into our technology stack gives our customers access to much-needed autonomous technology in a viable aftermarket solution,” said Carlo Lambro, New Holland brand president.
Blue & White doesn't build tractors, but instead equips existing machinery with systems that use computer vision, AI and navigation technology to perform tasks autonomously.
Founder Ben Alfi has previously likened BlueWhite's technology to “IKEA builds” that the company sends out to dealerships: “In the morning it's a regular tractor. Two employees at the dealership convert it in 14 hours. At the end of the day, the tractor is an autonomous vehicle,” he told AgFunderNews in an interview earlier this year.
During the interview, he also said, “Large companies that have been in the industry for a long time understand that they can't do it alone and are willing to accept companies like us and work with us.”
New Holland and Blue-White will integrate Blue-White technology into New Holland's machinery and collaborate on manufacturing and distribution, enabling New Holland to operate “fully autonomously” in orchards, vineyards and other specialty crop growing environments.
Benefits for Blue Holland customers
“Autonomous agricultural operations are executed precisely and on time, producing consistent results while reducing human error and worker fatigue,” Asher said, adding that BlueWhite's solution also improves worker safety and provides greater management visibility through data.
Meanwhile, “this implementation allows growers to increase worker safety by reducing the need for workers to operate dangerous machinery or precisely apply harmful chemicals.”
Food safety also benefits from autonomy, he says, as precise application through automation reduces the need for chemical crop protection solutions, and “the adoption of autonomous technologies creates potentially exciting new employment opportunities for diverse groups in the grower community.”
“Blue White's mission is to increase farm productivity and efficiency through the application of autonomous technology, building a more resilient agriculture sector around the world. Our partnership with CNH marks a milestone in achieving this mission, beginning in North America and expanding access to our innovative technology to farmers around the world.”
New Holland tractors with blue-and-white autonomous technology. Image courtesy of New Holland Tackling labor shortages Specialty crops, such as fruits, nuts, vegetables, beans and horticultural crops, account for only about 10 percent of U.S. farm operations but have the highest labor costs. Recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that labor costs for specialty crops reach 40 percent of a farm's total cash expenditures, compared with 4 percent for corn and 3 percent for soybeans. “The permanent crop sector is labor intensive, requiring many employees to work year-round on demanding schedules,” Asher explains. “The sector is vital to food security, but faces challenges including labor shortages, burdensome regulations and rising labor and input costs. California alone produces about 70 percent of the U.S.'s fruits and vegetables, but is currently struggling to recruit tractor drivers.”
In 2024, Bluewhite introduced precision spraying capabilities to address this issue, reducing chemical splash and water needs through targeted spraying.
