Land O’Lakes Inc. and Microsoft Corp. announced a multiyear strategic alliance to advance agricultural innovation through artificial intelligence. Building on five years of collaboration, the partnership will focus on co-developing AI tools, including a digital assistant named “Oz,” designed to provide farmers with data-driven insights to optimize operations, maximize yields and manage risks.
U.S. farmers face rising production costs, shrinking margins and decreasing farmable land, making efficiency and resilience critical. Oz, built on Microsoft’s Azure AI Foundry and Land O’Lakes’ extensive agricultural data, delivers fast, accurate, and mobile-friendly responses tailored to farmers’ unique needs.
“For more than 100 years, Land O’Lakes has supported American agriculture, and these AI technologies will be key to the next 100,” said Teddy Bekele, Land O’Lakes’ chief technology officer. “Our goal is to provide data-driven recommendations that lead to the best outcomes for farmers who feed the nation.”
Oz is currently in beta testing with plans to expand access to retail agronomists next year. By streamlining access to agronomic data, Oz helps advisors recommend precise solutions throughout the growing season, enabling farmers to control costs and improve yields.
The partnership also reflects Land O’Lakes’ broader digital transformation, including migrating much of its IT to Microsoft Azure and piloting Microsoft Copilot licenses customized for agriculture.
