Crop observation solution 'BASF Companion' changes ownership, becomes 'Companion by SMAG'

BASF confirmed its agreement with SMAG to fully pursue deploying the application 'BASF Companion' in the market under its new title 'Companion by SMAG'.

SMAG takes over from BASF on July 12, 2023, supporting farmers and agricultural organizations involved in crop monitoring. To deploy the Companion application more widely on the market, BASF was keen to find a reference player to make the most of this observation tool.

This agreement is based on four pillars: SMAG's desire to maintain and develop Companion, the continuation of BASF's commitment to crop observation, the acceleration of the deployment of this recognized solution which meets market expectations and an acquisition in line with SMAG's product strategy.

SMAG's desire to maintain and develop Companion

As of July 12, 2023, Companion changes hands and joins the fold of the French publisher SMAG. The "Companion" application becomes "Companion by SMAG", with the continuation of developments on the current scope:
 

• animation and interactions with observers thanks to a dedicated animator space, the sending of notifications and weekly observation instructions;
  

• enhancement of observations with real-time sharing and generation of parcel observation reports;
  

• interoperability with Vigicultures and its BSV expert observation repository;
  

• possibility of integrating observation data into its agronomic information system and that of xarvio^®.
   

BASF's continued commitment to crop observation

For several years, BASF has supported the agroecological transition to pave the way for a competitive and sustainable agricultural model. Drawing on its expertise in crop observation, BASF has co-constructed its "BASF Companion" collaborative solution with observation players: farmers and agricultural organizations involved in crop monitoring (cooperatives, traders, chambers of agriculture, centers techniques, schools). Convinced that crop observation is essential for good crop management, since 2020, with the Companion PRO service, BASF has become the official interoperable partner of Vigicultures^® by integrating the BSV observation repository.

Accelerating deployment of recognized solution that meets market expectations

Today, more than 20 crops are referenced on the Companion application, with nearly 500 pests present at the reconnaissance thanks to educational sheets for easier learning in the field. Nearly 40,000 observations are made each year. The Companion solution further simplifies the animation of an observation network, as well as the enhancement of data, for farmers and structures carrying out plain tours. Companion is recognized and well suited to BSV and other market structures to make their observations (distribution, prescription).

An acquisition in line with SMAG's product strategy

This acquisition is a continuation of the strengthening of SMAG's value proposition for users.

″Our users will benefit from an application that is the reference on the market. By combining the SMAG network and the Companion network, we aim to provide our users with the maximum of local and qualified information on observations. By relying on SMAG's digital know-how, we want to develop the use of Companion by SMAG, while retaining the key features of Companion: public and private observations, ease of use, link with the BSV," confirmed Guilhem Besse, CPO SMAG.