Syngenta, IIT Ropar and Annam.ai create AI solutions for farmers

Global agrotechnological leader Syngenta has started cooperation with the Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (IIT Ropar) and the Annam.ai Center of Excellence in Agriculture. As stated by Feroz Sheikh, Chief Information and Digital Officer of the Syngenta Group, this academic partnership aims to create three key tracks: for risk analysis, biological product innovation, and results tracking.

As part of the partnership, a three-day hackathon called HACKCORE 2026 was organized, bringing together about 2,800 researchers. According to Pushpendra P. Singh, Project Director at Annam.ai, the IIT Ropar Center of Excellence in Agriculture is supported by the Ministry of Education, which allocated a grant of more than 30 crore rupees in 2024. The event aimed to create an ecosystem for upskilling within the framework of India's government digital agriculture mission.

Participants were shortlisted to six teams, which presented their developments during a 36-hour period from September 10 to 12. The winner was Team SeedCoders with their AgroVani AI solution, focused on field residue monetization and providing recommendations for Syngenta products. The solution is supported by the AgroSaathi chatbot. The winners will visit the Syngenta Biologicals facility in Athenry, Italy.

Eladio Robles, Country Head and Managing Director of Syngenta India, noted that biological solutions require contextual decision-making because their effectiveness depends on multiple factors, including soil, climate, crop, season, and geography. According to him, combining the company's agronomic expertise with artificial intelligence and open innovation makes the decision-making process more adapted to local conditions.