Seeding and planting technology innovator Clean Seed Capital Group Ltd. has signed an agreement to strategically acquire leading U.S. planting equipment manufacturer Harvest International, uniting the two family-run companies in a transformational event for the future of precision agriculture technology in North America. Executives from both companies will be discussing the partnership and what it means for farmers today at the Ag in Motion outdoor farm show in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
“Following the granting of Clean Seed patents in the United States, we sought to find a synergistic industry partner with respected roots in the U.S. who would position us for accelerated growth and innovation,” says Graeme Lempriere, president and CEO of Clean Seed. “Their industry experience, proven technology and aligned core values made Harvest International the perfect fit. We collectively recognize the significant opportunities to cross-pollinate our robust and industry leading intellectual property portfolios in the North American seeder and planter markets.”
Clean Seed, creators of the revolutionary CX-6 SMART Seeder, is already disrupting the Canadian seeder market with their leading-edge technology. The CX-6 boasts simultaneous control of up to six products above each opener, effectively creating an unrivaled level of precision in modern, no-till seeding.
In addition to a strong lineup of industry leaders on their management team and a robust technology pipeline, Harvest International has a sophisticated 75,000 square foot manufacturing facility and head office in Storm Lake, Iowa.
“Harvest International has a proud history of farmer-focused innovations in agricultural manufacturing and intellectual property development,” says Byron Friesen, president of Harvest International. “This acquisition allows us to grow and join forces with a like-minded tech-forward company to deliver innovations not yet seen by North American farmers.”
The acquisition supports Clean Seed’s mission to remain at the forefront as pioneers of the digital age of agriculture, facilitating real progress for the farmer and food production as a whole. Through innovations in seeding and planting technology, Clean Seed aims to assist farmers in achieving more accurate seed and input placement, more efficient operations and increased yields.
“This strategic acquisition is best described as a merger of two cutting-edge technology pioneers of the agricultural industry,” Lempriere says. “We look forward to accessing an extensive U.S. market and community as well as executing on future plans to bring proven planter technology north into Canada. The combination our of strong intellectual properties and innovative technologies opens the door to provide significant marketplace advantage for Clean Seed.”