AGCO is expanding retrofit technology options that allow farmers to add precision agriculture features and autonomy to existing equipment.
AGCO Corporation is expanding its focus on agricultural technology through its precision technologies business, known as PTx, as farmers look for ways to modernize equipment without replacing machines that still have years of useful life.
According to AGCO President and CEO Eric P. Hansotia, PTx brings together technology companies and engineering talent with two primary goals: developing new precision agriculture solutions and delivering those technologies directly to farmers through specialized technology dealers.
Unlike traditional equipment dealers, these dealers focus on technology upgrades and retrofit solutions rather than selling tractors, combines, or sprayers.
The retrofit approach allows farmers to add new capabilities to equipment regardless of its original brand. A farmer may have a five-year-old or eight-year-old machine that remains mechanically sound but lacks newer features.
Instead of purchasing an entirely new machine, the farmer can install an upgrade that adds automation, improved intelligence, or other advanced capabilities.
"PTx goes to market through a set of dealers who focus on technology," explained Hansotia. "Many of those dealers don't sell tractors or combines or sprayers. They just sell technology as a retrofit. So that means they would go out to the farmer and if they have a 5-year-old competitive brand or an 8-year-old competitive brand or our own brands, and this technology team will sell upgrade kits on those machines and give them a new capability."
Hansotia said PTx has continued to introduce new technologies at a rapid pace, with 14 new features introduced last year and another 12 that will be launched in 2026. He described the retrofit market as an important pathway for bringing these innovations to farmers.
Autonomy
Autonomy is another area receiving increased attention. While some farmers may still view autonomous machinery as a technology of the future, Hansotia compared its adoption to the introduction of machine guidance systems.
When guidance technology first appeared, farmers had to develop confidence in allowing computers to assist with operating expensive equipment. As farmers experienced the technology and saw improvements in accuracy, fuel efficiency and input management, adoption increased.
Hansotia believes autonomy is following a similar path. Farmers may initially need hands-on experience before fully trusting autonomous systems, but practical use can demonstrate how the technology can support daily operations.
Autonomous equipment could be particularly useful during planting and harvest, when workloads are high, weather windows can be limited, and farms continue to grow in size.
Retrofit technology may also provide a more practical route to adopting autonomy. Farmers do not necessarily need to purchase new pieces of machinery every year, particularly when existing equipment still has substantial mechanical life remaining. Upgrading older machines with the latest technology can extend their usefulness while adding modern capabilities.
AGCO is prioritizing retrofit applications for many of its latest innovations, often releasing them first as aftermarket solutions, giving farmers an opportunity to access new technology without completely replacing existing equipment. The approach could help farmers improve productivity while managing the significant cost of new machinery.
Watch the video of the interview with AGCO Corporation President and CEO Eric P. Hansotia below.
Photo Credit: ptx