The exponential increase in world population correlates to a surge in food demand and an unparalleled opportunity for farming businesses to innovate. The result is farms are getting modernised by adopting sophisticated technologies like AI for data analytics, drones for efficient crop monitoring, RFID tagging technology for real-time livestock traceability, and biotechnology for producing GM crops.
Thanks to the top agricultural companies, and businesses that are evolving at a breathtaking pace to feed the world’s 7.9 billion mouths while causing no/minimal long-term environmental damage.
Let’s go through the best agribusinesses that strive to make the world a better place.
What is an Agriculture Company?
An agricultural company/Agribusiness is an enterprise involved in the process of farming, production, management, processing, commercialisation, distribution, or exportation of agro-based products, for instance, crops, horticultural specialties, and livestock.
Today, technology has become more accessible, making markets increasingly global. The result is agriculture companies are constantly evolving to solve high-tech agribusiness requirements and issues and fight starvation by employing hybridisation techniques, bioengineering, mechanisation, and more.
Global agribusiness stats and trends:
- According to OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), global agricultural production is forecast to boost 1.5% annually.
- In 2018, the global agribusiness GDP share was 4%. The agribusiness share in GDP may hit the staggering 25% in some developing countries.
- Farming is worth a whopping 120 billion GBP to the UK economy.
- In the UK, agribusiness has successfully employed over four million people with 149,000 farms spread across the nation. The number is around 19.7 million full- and part-time jobs in the USA.
- The agriculture and food sector added up to 2.4 trillion dollars to the global economy, employing more than one billion people in 2015. The number of people engaged in agribusinesses was about 28% of the world’s population in 2018.
Top Agriculture Companies
Cargill
Company Overview
Founded in: 1865
Cargill Headquarters: Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.
Generated Revenue (2021): USD 134.4 billion
Number of Employees (2019): 166,000
Based in Minnesota, America, Cargill is a privately-owned agribusiness that aims to help the world attain food sustainability and thrive, bringing together ideas, consumers, science, and resources. This industry-leading food and agribusiness company has been connecting farmers for over 155 years to bring unparalleled value to them and helping them work smarter to grow more, operating in more than 70 regions/nations.
Cargill Agriculture Products and Services
- Animal nutrition products for aquaculture, beef, dairy cattle, and poultry
- Feed additives
- Agriculture trading and processing services
- Bioindustrial products including Coalescing agents, epoxy products, dielectric fluids, etc
- Supplements
- Low-carbon biofuels
- Industrial salts and metals
- food and beverages like cocoa and chocolates
- Health, personal care, and pharmaceutical products
The Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM)
Company Overview
Founded in: 1902
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Generated Revenue (2020): US$64.35 billion
Number of Employees (2020): 38,100
Aiming to unveil the tremendous benefits nature has bestowed upon us to enrich life, ADM has recently made incredible strides in the Agri-product trading and food processing industry.
With unprecedented scale and size, this giant company is uniquely competent to address every aspect of the global food supply chain to create value at each step and help the stakeholders and end-consumers solve nutrition challenges today and tomorrow, giving an edge.
Headquartered in Chicago, this USA-based multinational company successfully handles over 270 plants and 420+ crop procurement facilities globally.
ADM Agriculture Products and Services
- Food and beverage ingredients – Alcohol, acidulants, distillates, proteins, edible oils, and more
- Biofuels – biodiesel, and ethanol
- Health and wellness solutions – Botanical extracts, specialty oils, etc
- Animal nutrition products – for aquaculture, dogs and cats, rabbits, and other species
- Industrial products – renewable chemicals, bio-based industrial oils, fertilisers, emulsifiers, hydrocolloids, etc
- Domestic packaging products
- Personal care products
- Financial and farmers’ services, etc.
Bayer
Company Overview
Founded in: 1863
Headquarter: Leverkusen, Germany
Generated Revenue (2019): USD 51.09 billion
Number of Employees (2020): 99,538
Founded in 1863, Bayer is a German-based global pharmaceutical and conglomerate company specialising in the Life Science sectors of farming and healthcare.
Boasting over 175 breeding sites and 35+ research sites, Bayer’s agro division has become a pioneer in agriculture and crop science research.
Backed by 99,538 expert employees worldwide, Bayer is focused to innovate and fuel its purpose of shaping the future in sustenance and healthcare and helping the world overcome the intensifying global challenge of feeding and healing the ageing folk.
In November 2021, Bayer, partnering with the tech-giant Microsoft Azure, announced plans to co-develop more strategic cloud-based digital tools like Climate FieldView™. Together, they endeavour to make farming more data-driven, speed up innovation, bolster farming efficiency, and underpin sustainability across value chains.
Bayer Agriculture Products and Services
- Pharmaceuticals – prescription drugs in cardiology, oncology, women’s health products, etc.
- Non-prescription consumer health products specialising in dermatology, analgesics, allergy, digestive health, and more
- diagnostic imaging
- Crop science commodities – high-quality seeds, customer assistance for sustainable agriculture, bio-based pest-control solutions, chemicals, etc.
John and Deere
Company Overview
Founded in: 1837
Headquarters: Moline, Illinois, USA
Generated Revenue (2021): USD 44 billion
Number of Employees (2020): 69,634
Generating around USD 44 billion in net sales and revenue in 2021, John Deere, a U.S.-based corporation, has recently made tremendous headway in manufacturing agriculture, construction, forestry, and electronics products.
Backed by 180-years of experience, John Deere is innovating and implementing sophisticated technologies today more than ever and transforming construction and farming to unlock new economic opportunities. It thus brings unprecedented values to end consumers.
John and Deere Agriculture Products and Services
- Agriculture – Tractors and loaders, farm equipment like harvesting and planting equipment, seeding and weeding equipment, etc.
- Lawn & Garden – Mowers, tractors, utility vehicles, snow removal equipment, etc.
- Landscaping & Grounds Care – Mowers and tractors, snow removal equipment, worksite equipment like compact truck loader, excavators, and more.
- Engines & Drivetrain – Marine engines, industrial diesel engines, and generator driven engines
- Construction – Articulated dump trucks, motor graders, excavators, etc.
- Electronics – sensing solutions, integrated displays, and more
- Golf & Sports Turf – All-purpose equipment like commercial mowers, compact tractors, etc.
CNH Industrial
Company Overview
Founded in: 2012
Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Generated Revenue (2020): USD 26.032 billion
Number of Employees (2019): 63,499
Headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, CNH Industrial is an American-Italian global agricultural machinery company committed to fully integrating social and ecological aspects with financial goals. The purpose is to sprint towards long-term sustainable development by combating hunger and ensuring food security.
Backed by the experience of long 12-years of product innovation, this world-class global company provides funds, R&D support, and tactical guidance to its five core Brands to make them thrive – STEYR, Case IH, New Holland Agriculture, New Holland Construction, and CASE Construction Equipment.
CNH Industrial Agricultural Products and Services
- Agricultural Equipment – Advanced Farming Systems, tractors, tillage tools, harvesting equipment, forage tools, etc.
- Earth Moving Equipment – heavy and mini excavators, backhoe loaders, and more.
- Commercial vehicles and trucks
- Marine and industrial Powertrains
Syngenta
Company Overview
Founded in: 2000
Headquarters: Basel, Switzerland
Generated Revenue (2019): USD 13.58 billion
Number of Employees (2019): 49,000
Having global offices in Tel Aviv, Chicago and Shanghai, Syngenta is a market leader in producing agrochemicals, particularly seeds and crop protection solutions.
With around 49,000 employees in 90 countries, this world-class science-driven Agritech company strives to innovate farming, help farmers fight severe climate issues, bolster food production maximising the use of technology, and facilitate the long-term transformation towards a sustainable future.
Syngenta Agriculture Products and Services
- Seedcare products – Fungicides, insecticides, and nematicides
- Professional pest management solutions
- Vegetable seeds
- Flowers
Joel Stokes is the founder of Agrisurfer, a leading blog dedicated to exploring the intersection of technology and farming. With a deep passion for innovation in agriculture, Joel and his team of experts provide in-depth analysis and insights on everything from high-tech machinery to drone surveillance for livestock.
