New Holland and Bluewhite Partner for Autonomous Tractors

New Holland and Bluewhite Forge Partnership for Autonomous Tractors

CNH – June 25, 2024

New Holland, a distinguished brand within CNH, and Bluewhite, a pioneering force in AI-powered autonomous farming technology, today announced a comprehensive, multi-stage collaboration. This partnership aims to jointly develop, manufacture, and distribute Bluewhite’s autonomous solutions for New Holland tractors throughout North America. The result will be New Holland tractors capable of operating with complete autonomy in orchards, vineyards, and other specialized agricultural environments.

“Bluewhite has established itself as a frontrunner in bringing autonomous capabilities to the demanding world of specialty crops – a sector keenly seeking this kind of innovation. Incorporating Bluewhite’s technology into our offerings provides our customers with vital autonomous tools through a readily available aftermarket pathway,” commented Carlo Lambro, Brand President of New Holland. “Leveraging our strong position in specialty crop production, this collaboration with Bluewhite perfectly aligns with our commitment to enhance customer capabilities and accelerate the adoption of autonomous practices.”

Formerly known as Blue White Robotics, Bluewhite is dedicated to fostering resilient farms through sustainable and groundbreaking autonomous innovation for permanent crop growers globally. The company’s AI-driven farm solution integrates artificial intelligence, advanced sensor technology, sophisticated vehicle integration, and precise implement control to empower growers with fleet management, data insights, and ultimately, increased yields with reduced inputs. Bluewhite currently collaborates with over 20 leading permanent crop growers, enabling autonomous farming across a variety of crops and tractor models on more than 150,000 acres in the U.S. Founded in 2017 by Ben Alfi, Yair Shahar, and Aviram Shmueli, Bluewhite maintains its headquarters in Tel Aviv, alongside a U.S. office in Fresno, California.

“We are incredibly enthusiastic about joining forces with CNH and New Holland to expedite the integration of autonomous technologies within the field, not only enhancing grower productivity and profitability but also fostering safe and environmentally responsible food production practices,” said Ben Alfi, Chief Executive Officer of Bluewhite. “This long-term partnership, combining Bluewhite’s leading autonomous technology with New Holland’s renowned tractors and harvesters in the orchard and vineyard sectors, represents a significant milestone in our mission to make cutting-edge innovation accessible to the entire agricultural industry. We anticipate a dynamic and rewarding journey ahead, and we look forward to collaborating with partners like CNH and New Holland to consistently deliver value to our customers and growers worldwide.”

The established expertise of Bluewhite in orchards and vineyards significantly strengthens New Holland’s strategy to bring autonomous solutions to all its served segments, particularly within the specialty crop market. Building upon CNH’s acquisitions of Raven, Augmenta, and Hemisphere – which are driving New Holland’s autonomy offerings for row and broad acre farmers – Bluewhite's unique technology allows New Holland customers to proactively address critical challenges such as labor scarcity and escalating operational costs in the specialty crop arena. Depending on the specific application, Bluewhite technology has demonstrably lowered operational costs by as much as 85% through combined savings in inputs, labor, and maintenance.

“This technology isn’t simply about addressing the financial side of the operation by freeing up personnel for other tasks; it's about alleviating some of the most persistent pain points growers face daily, the issues that slow them down during the most crucial stages of the growing season,” explained Paul Welbig, Precision Product Marketing Director for New Holland Agriculture North America. “When securing labor proves difficult or schedules misalign, a delay of just a few hours or a single day can have a significant negative impact on both the financial health and the agricultural success of an operation. This technology provides a much-needed solution to those pressures.”

This strategic alliance encompasses a three-phase, multi-year program to advance the development and integration of Bluewhite technology across the entire New Holland product line. Effective immediately, select New Holland dealerships in the western U.S. are authorized to sell, distribute, and service Bluewhite’s aftermarket kits for existing New Holland tractors. Order acceptance will commence in summer 2024, with future regional and global expansion planned to ensure wider accessibility for New Holland customers. New Holland and Bluewhite are also jointly exploring possibilities for factory-installed autonomous solutions.