Walmart deploys AI for fresh produce monitoring and forecasting
Walmart Inc. continues to improve oversight of its fresh produce supply chain with artificial intelligence technology.
The discount giant is deploying custom-built solutions on the Cropin generative AI-equipped agricultural intelligence platform to improve the accuracy of efforts to forecast yield, monitor crop health and predict seasonal transitions of fresh produce across its U.S. and South American markets.
As a result, Walmart aims to mitigate risks related to weather, market volatility, and supply chain disruptions by helping to ensure a steady supply of perishable commodities. The retailer anticipates specific benefits including enhanced product availability, reduced waste, and better-quality produce.
The automated Cropin tools will provide granular, localized insights into crop health, pest outbreaks, and extreme weather risks. A sustainability impact dashboard assist compliance by tracking greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water usage, and deforestation impact, offering digital validation for governmental regulations.
"Tech innovation is what drives real-world solutions to move forward a globally resilient supply chain," said Kyle Carlyle, VP of sourcing innovation and surety of supply, Walmart. "By collaborating with Cropin, it enables Walmart to further streamline sourcing practices and better predict yields using their real-time technology. We are always looking for new ways to innovate and Cropin demonstrates our bold innovation goals in the agriculture space."
Walmart has been formally pursuing a larger goal of becoming a "regenerative" company — helping to renew people and the planet through its business.
First announced in September 2020, other recent examples of the strategy include deploying Helios Artificial Intelligence climate risk and price forecasting software. partnering with crop supply intelligence company Agritask to test the effectiveness of AI in aiding fruit sourcing.
[READ MORE: Walmart pilots AI-assisted fruit sourcing]
"Collaborating with Walmart is both an honor and an invaluable learning for us at Cropin," said Krishna Kumar, founder and CEO of Cropin. "We are deeply excited about delivering on our commitments to help shape a new era of agri-food sourcing. As a champion and role model in the retail sector, Walmart has consistently set the bar by evolving best practices, not just for the company but for the sector as a whole."
Based in Bentonville, Ark., Walmart Inc. operates more than 10,500 stores and numerous e-commerce websites in 19 countries.
