As the world’s largest agricultural economy, when China makes a move, the world pays attention. China has just unveiled an ambitious plan to accelerate its development of ag machinery by shortening its research and development cycles. So will China dominate the future of agricultural machinery, and what does this mean for dealers, farmers, and agtech companies?

Lachlan Monsbourgh, Global Rural Agricultural and Environmental Lead at Rabobank, joins us to discuss China’s pivotal role in global agriculture. This includes China’s rapidly developing ag machinery industry, which can manufacture tractors and equipment for about half the cost of the other major players in the US, Europe and Japan. While the products currently face quality, durability and serviceability challenges, Lachlan argues it is only a matter of time before these are overcome. 

Lachlan and Sarah discuss:

• The price point difference between Chinese agricultural manufacturers and other big OEMs
• The impact of cheaper tractors on agtech adoption and autonomy
• How China is moving to ensure sustainable supply chains from countries such as Brazil.
• Global biodiversity targets and the role of autonomous robotics in helping to achieve them.

Useful Links:

• How China is reshaping Global Food Systems for the Climate Change Era, World Economic Forum
• Target to accelerate agriculture machinery development, AgTechNavigator
• Kunming Montreal Biodiversity framework
• The Three Categories of Autonomy in Agriculture, SwarmFarm Robotics

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