In a strategic move to bolster its fresh produce supply chain, Walmart has announced a new partnership with Cropin, an AI-driven agri-tech platform. The collaboration will leverage Cropin’s agri-intelligence technology to enhance yield forecasting, monitor crop health, and predict seasonal transitions more accurately.
The initiative is aimed at improving Walmart’s scalable sourcing operations in the U.S. and South America. According to a company statement, the integration of AI-powered insights will help Walmart optimize product availability, reduce food waste, and ensure better quality of fresh produce.
This partnership reflects the retailer’s ongoing efforts to future-proof its supply chain amid increasing climate-related risks. Cropin highlighted the urgency of adopting such technologies in an “increasingly climate-impacted world.” Last year, a report by Everstream Analytics identified extreme weather as the top threat to global supply chains, while the USDA estimates that 30% of food loss occurs during the production and harvest stages.
Cropin’s platform offers features such as real-time crop readiness insights, quality forecasts, and risk assessments. It also enables the tracking of key sustainability metrics like greenhouse gas emissions and water usage. The AI tools provide hyper-localized intelligence on crop health, pest activity, and climate risks—critical data for large-scale retailers managing complex fresh produce logistics.
This isn’t Walmart’s first foray into AI-enabled agriculture. In June 2024, the company partnered with Agritask for a pilot program to improve sourcing decisions through real-time data on blackberry and cherry crops in the U.S. and Mexico.
By doubling down on smart agriculture technology, Walmart aims to build a more resilient and sustainable produce supply chain in the face of ongoing environmental and market challenges.