USA | Walmart has partnered with Agritask, a crop supply intelligence company, to pilot a technology solution in collaboration with Walmart Global Tech’s Sparkubate program that enables sourcing managers to make more well-informed decisions on seasonal fruit crop yields such as cherries and blackberries.
This first-of-its-kind Agritask initiative aims to ensure supply, reduce food waste, and guarantee fresh produce for shoppers. Pending the pilot results, the retailer may consider leveraging Agritask solutions and insights at scale for a second season.
The pilot will deploy Agritask’s remote sensing and data analytics tools in various regions in the USA and Mexico to provide real-time, hyperlocal insights on seasonal blackberry and cherry crops from select Walmart suppliers.
These crops were selected due to their high sensitivity to temperature fluctuations and moisture levels, which can significantly affect their growth, quality, transport and shelf life.
Through real-time monitoring, the collaboration will drive rapid response to adverse environmental conditions to manage supply better and enhance overall produce quality.
"Dealing with purchasing and planning accuracy challenges in agriculture due to data discrepancies and environmental uncertainties can be tough. Agritask’s technology has the potential to fill vital information gaps that sourcing managers often face when predicting yield," said Kyle Carlyle, Walmart's vice president of sourcing innovation and surety of supply.
"Teaming up with Agritask enables Walmart to delve into more streamlined and sustainable sourcing practices, ensuring we consistently deliver fresh, high-quality products to meet customer demand."
Immediate alerts on emerging or forming risks and their potential impact on target crops, such as an unexpected frost harming a cherry harvest, enable Walmart to adjust procurement strategies swiftly.
Real-time assessment of timing, delays, or advances in expected harvest allows Walmart to manage inventory levels and explore alternative sourcing options proactively.
Updated indications on meeting yield targets throughout the growing season, empowering Walmart to optimise supply chain logistics and ensure sufficient product availability for customers.
“Walmart’s global scale and commitment to strengthening sustainable supply chains makes them the ideal partner for Agritask’s tech solutions,” said Ofir Ardon, CEO of Agritask.
“We are thrilled to have Walmart become the first retail partner to integrate Yield Intelligence, adopting our data-driven innovation built on 15 years of optimising agricultural supply chains to reshape how enterprises collaborate with suppliers. We are uniquely positioned to implement scalable, climate-smart and risk-ready solutions that optimise sourcing from the ground up.”
The pilot with Agritask is Walmart's latest initiative in its long-term commitment to using technology to create a sustainable and resilient supply chain.
