CNH Industrial is looking for solution providers to improve the supply chain for farmers who deliver crop residues to offtakers, such as biomass energy plants, livestock feed producers, livestock feed producers, mushroom cultivators, etc. The goal is to reduce the amount of residues burned in the field, because the farmers can more easily sell them.

Recording and making available a set of parameters, such as bale weight, moisture content, geolocation, and quantity, helps to determine which bales are delivered to their respective offtakers. Currently, certain parameters like weight and moisture index from baling operators are available at the time of baling. Unfortunately, because a bale undergoes a number of logistical stages, it is not possible to keep track of all these parameters at the bale level. 

CNH Industrial believes that the offtaker will greatly benefit from a “bale passport” for each bale. This “passport” or label (for example, QR code or barcode) can be attached to each bale, considering the different bale shapes (square, round and large – more on this later) and types of wrapping (net, twine, and plastic film). The information associated with the label should be stored in an online database and can be assessed by a user using a device like a smartphone or laptop. 

Initially, CNH Industrial would try to set up baling machines with appropriate sensors that provide parameters such as bale weight, moisture index, product type, and nutrient parameters. Then, the parameters would be sent to the cloud and made available to the potential offtakers, who would be able to ascertain the quality of the product and choose which to select and when, based on the characteristics of the product, while also taking into consideration the distance from the field to their location.

So, the exchange of information between the farmer and the offtaker will improve operational efficiency and increase profitability for those who can monitor the quality.