xFarm: The Digital Farming Ecosystem for Farmers & Agrifood Supply Chain

xFarm was born out of founder Matteo Vanotti‘s need to use a digital service to digitally manage the agricultural company that he runs with his brothers in a simple and efficient manner. The platform that was created proved to be so promising that it pushed him to create xFarm together with Salvatore Ferullo, and Martino Poretti.

"Our aim is to create a unique platform to help farmers in their work in a simple and visual manner. We believe that technology must help farms, save time and allow them to focus on what is really important: filling the plates of billions of people!" said Matteo Vanotti, CEO and Co-founder of xFarm. The xFarm digital ecosystem is developed on three main pillars: the platform, the sensors and the services for stakeholders.

xFarm's platform is a Farm Management Information System, i.e., an application that can be used both by PC and smartphone, which covers all areas of any farm. In fact, there are functions concerning farm administration, bureaucracy, financial management, agronomy, sustainability, agromechanics and precision farming. The aim of this product, tailor-made for modern farmers, is to combine in one simple tool all those aspects that would normally take place in complex and separated software.

In addition, xFarm also offers IoT devices, which allow to monitor the parameters in the field in order to elaborate advanced suggestions through predictive modeling. xFarm is built not only for the farmer, but also for all the stakeholders in the agri-food chain that can benefit from the connection with the fields: xFarm can in fact be used for supply chain projects, food traceability, increasing the sustainability of productions, monitoring productions, increasing the services offered to its members/customers and much more. It is in fact possible to collaborate with xFarm to start digitalization projects, in which xFarm becomes a Technology Partner alongside all those companies that believe in the potential of technology. The platform, sensors and B2B services can also be delivered in white-label, allowing companies to offer services under their own brand.

xFarm for Cereal Crops

Cereals perform a very important role in world agriculture; not only they are very well-known, but also they are one of the areas that have been researched and developed the most. The constant increase in yields and market globalization have led us to a need to engage particularly in increasing crop efficiency and the consequent control of production costs.

The opportunities offered by xFarm for cereal farming are therefore particularly aimed at agrotechnics, mechanization and farm management, suitable both for those seeking high production and for those looking for a high-quality supply chain, for example in ancient grains and native durum wheat.

By using xFarm in one can choose between dozens of modules, some of which are particularly suitable for cereal companies:

– Use the Telemetry modules to check the machine fleet, record supplies and work hours, saving on maintenance and filling in automatically field registers

– take advantage of the Finance modules to keep an eye on market prices of the various crops, compare expenses and incomes to allocate production costs

– use Maps to consult vegetation indexes of the plots, taking advantage of digital to identify needs or problems, when clients are still able to intervene

– use the Irrigation modules on those crops which require water, such as corn, in order to transform the collected data from xSense stations into irrigation advice, and executing automatic irrigation programs.

xFarm for Viticulture

Viticulture is a very important agricultural sector, which focuses on the highest quality of grapes produced rather than on yields, usually limited by specifications. By using xFarm, one can also choose between dozens of modules, some of which are particularly suitable for wine producing companies:

– use the Forecasting models to transform the data collected from xSense stations and xNode sensors into useful advice so to find protection against grey mold attacks (Botrytis cinerea), peronospora (Plasmopara viticola) and many other adversities

– use the Irrigation modules to maintain the correct balance between the leaves and fruit, to transform the data collected from xSense stations into advice of irrigation intervals, carrying out automatic irrigation programs

– make use of the Product module to have a decide which phytosanitary product a client can use for fighting against adversities, know doses and automatically record treatments

xFarm for Horticulture

Horticultural crops differ from the majority of agricultural products due to the need to maintain freshness, attention to product aesthetics and reduced mechanization. The opportunities that xFarm offers horticulture are aimed both at simplified agrotechnics management and also the use of data collected to make effective decisions, in order to produce high-quality vegetables, whether in greenhouses or open fields.

– use the Irrigation modules on those crops which require frequent participation, such as lettuce, to transform the data collected from xSense stations into advice of irrigation intervals, carrying out automatic irrigation programs

– use the Forecasting models to transform the data collected from xSense stations and xNode sensors into useful advice to achieve protection against white rust attacks in spinach (Albugo occidentalis), alternaria in melons (Alternaria cucumerina) and many other adversities

– take advantage of the Finance modules to keep an eye on market prices of the various crops, compare expenses and incomes to allocate production costs

– use the Crop Planning modules to organize in the best way rotations, as in the current year or across years

Matteo Vanotti, CEO and Co-founder