ListenField: Bridging rice farming and sustainability

Rice is a main food staple and its production is a key source of employment in Thailand. With global demand expected to increase 40% by 2030, it is critical to adopt environmentally sustainable food production methods to secure stable supply for future generations. 

Smallholder farmers, a major contributor to national rice production, rarely have access to relevant information to guide them in daily operations - market, climate, crop management, soil nutrition - causing them to blindly use fertilizers, which is counterproductive and harmful to the environment. Our recent soil analysis in Suphanburi province of Thailand showed extremely low soil qualities in over 200 rice fields, which has led to poor harvests. On a global scale, FAO estimates an annual loss of 400 billion USD from poor soil quality. 

The misuse of fertilizers and other conventional practices have also contributed to the sharp rise in CO2 emissions. Rice cultivation in Thailand is now the world's 4th largest CO2 emitter next to China, India, and Indonesia. It is also estimated that rice cultivation accounts for almost 60% of total GHG emissions from agricultural activity, adding to the climate crisis. 

Shifting the focus from “business-as-usual” to maintaining healthy ecosystems and working with nature harmoniously (regenerative mindset) could increase the agriculture sector’s value and improve farmer livelihood while decreasing environmental impact. Monitoring, reporting, and verifying (MRV) data from agriculture activities at the farm level will help encourage regenerative agriculture that is profitable to farmers.

However, implementing MRV systems, although not new, remains a big challenge especially in rural areas due to its expensive, complicated and time-consuming processes. This is a huge barrier for farmers to participate in carbon farming.

ListenField provides a SaaS solution named FarmAI that helps rural supply chain stakeholders combine and analyze all relevant factors of rice production - from soil health to harvest - enabling site specific farming recommendations targeted towards the farmer’s profitability and environmental sustainability. FarmAI uses scientific principles to synchronize the planning and execution of agriculture activities by providing real-time visibility of farm conditions and predicted production capacities of all farms in a target region, enhancing capacity and sustainability.

The following are FarmAI’s core services:

• Near real-time Soil Nutrition Analysis - Farmers can evaluate soil conditions in real-time, allowing them to optimize fertilizer use from land preparation. Farmers also have access to historical soil conditions to improve their understanding of monitoring and improving soil health parameters.
• Climate risk assessment - FarmAI provides scenario-based climate analysis to help field managers determine optimal planting dates. Our patented model utilizes historical weather data to help users understand how different weather scenarios affect yields, and the potential consequences of planting outside the optimum windows.
• Crop health monitoring - FarmAI provides detailed and up-to-date views of crop conditions to help identify symptoms (water stress) before damages occur, as well as optimize harvesting plans (identify when and where to harvest). This can significantly maximize crop yields and reduce costs.
• Product Traceability - FarmAI effectively captures essential data such as farm locations, production activity logs, and expected and actual production. Users also have access to land use histories.
• GHG Emission Monitoring, Reporting, and Validation (MRV): FarmAI includes customized analysis services suitable for GHG Emission Monitoring, Reporting, and Validation (MRV) in Thailand and Southeast Asia. FarmAI's MRV feature uses remote sensing and machine learning algorithms to monitor GHG Emissions from rice production, including emissions from soil, fertilizer, and crop management practices. The GHG Emission Report generated by FarmAI helps farmers understand their carbon footprint and identify areas where they can reduce emissions. To increase the credibility of the reports, FarmAI can work with third-party organizations to validate GHG emission reports, which can help farmers participate in carbon markets and contribute to environmental sustainability.

By incorporating GHG Emission Monitoring, Reporting, and Validation (MRV) into FarmAI's core services, ListenField can provide a comprehensive solution for sustainable rice production. This can help farmers optimize their production while reducing their environmental impact, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector.

The FarmAI Platform is an innovative and precise solution that integrates all stakeholders involved in food production to provide real value to farmers. 

By digitizing the whole production process, FarmAI connects cooperatives, farmer groups, agribusinesses, and agronomists, effectively creating an ecosystem that provides numerous benefits.

• First, FarmAI provides near-real-time soil health and climate risk insights to farmers, which enables them to reduce inefficiencies that contribute to low productivity, improve yields per hectare, and reduce operational costs. By applying best practices on fertilizer and water management using precise information, farmers can reduce fertilizer input costs and improve their yields. If successfully executed in Thailand, the economic impact can be worth $4.2 billion by 2030. In Southeast Asian countries, the economic impact can be worth $7.7 billion and $1.6 billion by 2050.
• Second, FarmAI promotes a sustainable and climate-resilient food production ecosystem where biodiversity is maintained and farmer capacities are enhanced, thereby enhancing farmer competitiveness, resilience, and innovation. This inclusive ecosystem can spur increased investments, job creation, and enhance international cooperation to further develop rural infrastructures, agricultural innovation, and intensify extension services in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. Rice cultivation alone can help generate as much as 40 million jobs by 2030.
• Third, FarmAI promotes supply chain efficiency for food and agribusinesses by promoting a digital ecosystem. Stakeholders gain insights at various points in the production process, enabling the identification of inefficiencies to manage resources more effectively. The rural supply chain effectively works as a cohesive whole where higher performance is achieved at reduced cost.
• Finally, FarmAI contributes to regenerating the planet through enhanced data collection and integration. Stakeholders can have a better view of the rice production supply chain and leverage data to gain a deeper understanding of elements that impact both rice production and GHG emissions. Experts can use this data to develop policies that directly mitigate GHG emissions, such as subsidies for Nitrogen inhibitors for sustainable fertilizer use, or drought-resistant rice varieties to increase water savings.

ListenField is a leading agricultural technology company that combines agronomy, data science, and cutting-edge technology to help farmers increase their productivity, reduce costs, and measure GHG emissions. Our team of agronomists, soil scientists, and extension staff have been working closely with farmers and key agriculture stakeholders in Thailand and Southeast Asia for over five years. With access to over 30 years of climate, soil, rice crop, and management data, we have gathered valuable insights into farmer pain points, economic conditions, and behavior.

We have successfully implemented the FarmAI Platform in various farming communities throughout Thailand. More than 25,000 farmers and 20 communities have been utilizing our services. 

Our recent implementations include: 

• In a rice farming community in East Thailand, FarmAI was used to enhance the capacities of local machine operators and empowered farmers to adopt sustainable practices and utilize technologies to improve their productivity. By analyzing soil nutrition, monitoring crop growth and soil moisture, and providing optimal fertilizer ratios, we were able to reduce fertilizer use by as much as 25% and improve yields by 15%.
• In a sweetcorn community in Chiang Mai, FarmAI was used as one-stop platform to review farmer work records and reports and monitor sweetcorn crop growth performance. Field extension workers used FarmAI to record information about the crop's current growth stage, issues faced, and productivity levels. These information were then analyzed to provide location-specific advice and identify areas for improvement.

Our work has been recognized and supported by Kubota Corporation, one of our strategic partners and investors. 

We have also received grants from the Japanese government to continue testing innovative farming solutions targeted at improving farmer competitiveness, resiliency, and innovation. In addition, we have received a grant from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to implement a solution for a rice farming community in Vietnam in 2021.

We were recently selected as an innovator in the FAO and SEED SDG Agrifood accelerator program. One of the aims of this program is to expand FAO's GHG emission reduction efforts in Southeast Asia. We believe this is an opportunity to create synergies to intensify Solve's initiatives and goals.

We have provided our solution to more than 25,000 farmers, which translates to 100,000 observation points across Thailand. In addition, we have collaborated with 20 agri-food companies and government agencies, serving their specific needs and helping them achieve institutional goals.

• We are seeking financial support to overcome the financial and partnership barriers hindering the scaling of our solution to rural rice farming communities in Thailand and Southeast Asia. The funds will be to used to: (1) increase farmer awareness of climate change and digital technologies, (2) improve the existing digital solution (FarmAI Platform), and (3) expand the digital solution to reach more farmers. Additionally, we aim to co-develop services with interested agencies and partners to promote cost-saving and sustainable practices in rice cultivation, with a specific focus on GHG emission reduction in Southeast Asia.
• With the help of Solve's network, we also hope to raise awareness among policymakers and rice buyers about our goals. We believe that by partnering with Solve, we can reach more stakeholders who can help us achieve our ambitious goal of improving rice farmer productivity, nitrogen and water use efficiency, and reducing GHG emissions in rice fields. Specifically, we hope to reduce GHG emissions by 48% by 2030 from 2021 levels. We are confident that Solve's partnerships and support can help us achieve this target.
• We also see a potential opportunity to participate in the carbon market. Our solution has the potential to create carbon credits through the reduction of GHG emissions in rice fields. By partnering with Solve, we can explore this opportunity further and help rural rice farmers benefit from the growing demand for carbon credits. With the support of Solve, we believe that we can not only achieve our environmental goals but also create a sustainable economic model for rice farmers in Southeast Asia.

The innovation behind the FarmAI platform by ListenField lies in our unique approach to tackling the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in rice cultivation. By working directly with farmers and stakeholders from the ground up, we incorporate their feedback to continuously improve the solution and make it practical for the farming communities. Our approach sets us apart in this space and is what makes our solution innovative.

Furthermore, we collaborate with research institutes and other companies to bring each other strength and help solve the problem. Our PPPs are aimed at strengthening smallholder capacities and extension services, increasing the adoption of technology. Collaborations with organizations such as the IFC and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT (CGIAR) demonstrate our commitment to this approach.

Participating in challenges with international organizations, such as the SEED Low Carbon Award, highlights the potential positive impact that our solution can have on the broader industry. 

By creating a collaborative and transparent digital farming ecosystem, we aim to catalyze broader positive impacts and potentially change the market, promoting more sustainable and efficient practices in rice cultivation. 

Overall, our innovative approach and collaborative partnerships position us to lead the way in digital agriculture, benefiting both farmers and the environment.

We plan to expand our climate smart agriculture solution to all of Southeast Asia, starting from Thailand and Vietnam. We aim to improve the productivity of agriculture supply chains while reducing GHG emissions by making technology and information more accessible to farmers and stakeholders. 

In the next 5 years, we plan to achieve the following:

• Provide technology access to over 100,000 rice farming communities
• Digitize 150,000 ha of rice farmland 
• Improve rice farming productivity in Thailand by 15%, while improving Nitrogen and Water use efficiency by 15%
• Reduce GHG Emissions in rice fields by 30% 

SDG 2: 

• Outcome: Improve yield per hectare for smallholder farmers
• Indicator: Total potential yield improvement

SDG 2:

• Outcome: Increased access to digital farming tools and analytics for smallholder farmers
• Indicator: Number of farmers reached

SDG 9

• Outcome: Increased access to digital farming tools and analytics for agricultural sector
• Indicator: Total number of data points collected through Listenfield research projects

SDG 13

• Outcome: Services help improve climate adaptive capacity to farmers
• Indicator: Number of farmers reached

Target population: Smallholder farmers in Southeast Asia

Activities:

• Improve and refine FarmAI platform, based on feedback from smallholder farmers and stakeholders, as well as integrate the innovation
• Establish Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) with organizations such as ADB, IFC and Carbon markets to strengthen smallholder capacities and extension services
• Collaborate with research institutes and companies to enhance the platform's capabilities and bring more value to end-users
• Expand the platform's reach and access by promoting and marketing it to potential users

Outputs:

• User-friendly and practical FarmAI platform for smallholder farmers and stakeholders
• Strong and effective PPPs with other organizations
• Collaborative partnerships with research institutes and companies
• Increased awareness and adoption of FarmAI platform among potential smallholder farmer users

Short-term outcomes:

• Increased access to digital farming tools and analytics for smallholder farmers, leading to increased productivity and efficiency
• Improved farm soil health and smarter use of fertilizer, resulting in increased yield per hectare and reduced GHG emissions
• Enhanced resilience of smallholder farming infrastructure through increased financial support

Long-term outcomes:

• Improved yield per hectare and productivity of smallholder farmers, contributing to SDG No. 2
• Reduced GHG emissions from agriculture, contributing to SDG No. 13
• Increased economic opportunities and financial stability for smallholder farmers, contributing to SDG No. 1
• Increased efficiency and sustainability of agriculture supply chains, contributing to SDG No. 9.

Overall, the theory of change for ListenField is that by developing and promoting the FarmAI platform, collaborating with partners and stakeholders, and improving access to digital tools and information for smallholder farmers in Southeast Asia, we can help them improve their productivity, increase their incomes, and contribute to more sustainable and efficient agricultural practices, ultimately making a positive impact on the broader industry and society as a whole.

FarmAI runs on an  AI/ML-based data pipeline that harmonizes soil quality (collected via Near Infrared scanners), weather, satellite, and management data, providing accurate field conditions (soil nutrition, crop health, climate risks) and production estimations (yield, maturity dates). This integrative approach to analytics allows the FarmAI to upgrade farmer knowledge and decision making.

This data pipeline has been patented by the WIPO under the title "Analysis Data Pipelining System from Environment sensing data acquisition to advanced analysis" (Patent Number PCT/JP2018/000093), on November 7, 2019.

At ListenField, we are committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace for all team members. Our team consists of individuals from nine different nationalities, and we believe that this diversity brings valuable perspectives and experiences to our work.

We are proud to have a female CEO and founder, and we actively strive to promote gender diversity in our hiring and leadership practices. Of our total 28 team members, eight are female and are in key research, engineering, and management roles. We recognize the importance of representation and are committed to creating an environment where all team members feel heard, valued, and supported.

We provide monthly feedback sessions to ensure that all team members have a voice and are able to provide feedback on their experiences within the company. We also hold monthly all-hands meetings to update the entire team on company progress and to foster open communication and transparency.

We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to driving innovation and success in our business. We are committed to creating a workplace culture that celebrates differences, promotes collaboration and growth, and fosters a sense of belonging for all team members. We recognize that there is always more work to be done, and we are dedicated to ongoing learning and improvement in these areas.

Our collaboration model, utilizing the FarmAI Platform, addresses interconnected sustainability problems in farming communities and involves three key stakeholders: farmers, agriculture businesses/enterprises, and government agencies/extension workers.

Through training and demonstration programs, we increase awareness of climate-smart agriculture and digital technologies at the farm level, improving technical knowledge and sustainable practices for farmers. This enables farmers to produce high-quality food that meets the standards of agriculture businesses.

Agriculture businesses benefit from our model through reduced operational costs and increased efficiency in the supply chain. The FarmAI Platform aggregates farm-level data, provide analytical insights and single dashboard that provide information from soil to harvest. This is to increase transparency, work efficiency and well as reducing cost. 

Our B2B subscription model enables agriculture businesses and government agencies to access our platform's data and insights, informing their decision-making processes. By providing value to all stakeholders, we create a sustainable and productive agriculture ecosystem that is resilient to challenges like climate change.

Our revenue model is based on a sustainable B2B subscription service. We offer our FarmAI Platform to agri-food companies, providing them with access to valuable farm-level data and insights that can inform their decision-making processes. This helps them improve their operational efficiency, reduce costs, and increase profitability.

Our subscription service is designed to provide ongoing value to our customers, which ensures a sustainable revenue stream for our business. We are committed to continuously improving and updating our platform to meet the evolving needs of the agriculture industry and our customers.

By providing a valuable service that helps agri-food companies make informed decisions and improve their bottom line, we are able to generate a steady and sustainable revenue stream. This allows us to continue investing in the development and improvement of our platform, which ultimately benefits all stakeholders involved in the agriculture ecosystem, from farmers to government agencies.

Financial sustainability is the ability of a business to maintain its financial viability over the long term. In this case, the revenue growth and recurring revenue from current customers indicate that the business is generating steady income and is able to retain its customer base. 

Additionally, receiving funding from Kubota Corporation and grants from the Japanese government provide the business with additional resources to continue innovating and testing new research and development, which can lead to further growth and revenue opportunities. By maintaining a diversified revenue stream and continuously investing in innovation, the business is able to sustain its financial position and continue to grow over time.