The march of technology has revolutionized farming productivity. Never in human history has one person been able to feed so many people. But this productivity comes with the cost of carbon footprint. Radically reducing farming emissions calls for radical new ideas.
In the summer of 2023, AGCO CEO Eric Hansotia outlined a huge challenge that the entire industry must tackle. The “11-gigaton challenge” means that with its current rate of growth, agriculture will produce 15 gigatons of carbon emissions in the future. According to scientific studies, that should be reduced to 4 gigatons. How to cut off more than two thirds of carbon emissions in an industry that relies heavily on fossil fuels?
Wider spectrum of power
Currently, there isn’t a single replacement for fossil fuels. And the need for urgent actions doesn’t allow us to sit back and wait for the new technologies to mature. We need to seek alternatives on a wide front. As Eric Hansotia put it:
“Big changes are required, and we have been preparing for them for a long time. We are developing and designing solutions to meet agricultural challenges with battery electric, hydrogen fuel, hydrogen fuel cells, methane and methanol, among others.”
This is what we call the wider spectrum of power – exploring the different technologies on a wide front and expanding our network of development partners. This challenge is too big to be tackled alone.
The future of power is now
While some of the technologies listed are still in the future, many of them are already available. With HVO biofuels, almost any tractor can reduce its emissions. This is why AGCO Power has been collaborating with biofuel manufacturers to develop engines and fuels hand in hand. Another promising fuel is efuel, which can be made from hydrogen created with green electricity. In November 2023, the first field tests were conducted on a Valtra tractor powered by an AGCO Power engine running on Neste eFuel.
Another way to reduce emissions now is to make the most out of every drop of fuel. Thanks to our long commitment to research, AGCO Power’s CORE engine platform is the most fuel-efficient in the market – earning CORE75 the “Engine of the year” award in 2023. And as a concept, there already exists a mild hybrid hydrogen version of CORE engine, which was shown to the public in Agritechnica 2023.
AGCO already offers a battery electric alternative for compact tractor use. Besides being zero-carbon, the Fendt E100 V Vario has the benefit of being safe to operate even in greenhouses and other confined spaces. To maximize the usability of electric tractors, AGCO Power has been collaborating with the top companies in the field to develop both a heavy-duty battery pack, a special “Range extender” concept for the Fendt E100 V Vario tractor and Microgrid power distribution concept. These innovations are glimpses of things to come – already today.
AGCO Power presents the wider spectrum of power at INTERMAT 2024
From April 24 to 27, more than 1000 exhibitors will present their latest sustainable technologies at INTERMAT construction trade fair in Paris-Nord Villepinte, France. Naturally, AGCO Power will be there, with our wider spectrum of power – from the award-winning CORE75 engine to our hydrogen mild hybrid engine concept. Welcome to AGCO Power stand 5a C068 at INTERMAT – see you in France!