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Lugano, January 27, 2026 - Seed company KWS ITALIA announces the launch of the #MORE program - More security with FAO 500 KWS corn, in collaboration with Zurich Italia, the global leader in the insurance sector, and tech company xFarm . The collaboration between these three leading companies in their respective fields introduces an innovative model of integration between seeds and parametric insurance to cover the extra costs of irrigation, which can be activated digitally.
A recent report published by Istat (March 2025) shows that corn is the crop with the highest incidence on the total irrigated Utilized Agricultural Area (UAA) (19.0%)1. In a context in which the agricultural sector is increasingly exposed to climate variability and rising irrigation costs, the three companies are proposing an initiative with transformative potential for the seed sector, dedicated to the Po Valley (Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Piedmont, and Veneto).
The aim of this new partnership is to provide an increasingly comprehensive solution, thanks to technological innovations capable of supporting and safeguarding the profitability of agricultural businesses.
The partnership in detail
The new FAO 500 KWS corn hybrids in the Brioso, KWS Alcanto, and KWS Udo varieties are a strategic choice for those seeking a balance between cycle, productivity, and resilience, and will be further benefited by a Zurich parametric policy. The insurance coverage will support farmers in the event of extra irrigation costs, i.e., the additional expenses that farmers face when water requirements exceed expectations.
This is an innovative parametric insurance product that can be activated digitally, thanks to the dedicated sectionapp xFarmapp , an FMIS (Farm Management Information System) platform designed by xFarmTechnologies for the management,activation, and monitoring of the entire farm.
“#MORE FAO 500 KWS corn hybrids represent much more than just an agronomic choice: they are an investment in the production security of our farmers. With the new generation of hybrids, we offer not only high performance and reliability in all climatic conditions, but also concrete added value. With the #MORE FAO 500 KWS program, we want to give something extra back to those who choose to believe in us: not only high-performance seeds, but a concrete gesture of solidarity, such as the extra Zurich irrigation protection included. Because for us, being a SeedPartner means really being there, season after season, alongside farmers who aim high and who grow the future every day." Kathrin Reuter, Lead of Marketing & Communication KWS Italia S.p.A.
Risk management in agriculture plays a central role today, especially given the great unpredictability caused by the ongoing climate crisis. This is particularly true for corn cultivation, a crop with significant seasonal water requirements, making it highly vulnerable to adverse phenomena such as drought and extreme heat. The landscape of northern Italy, so strongly characterized by vast expanses of corn, can now count on an extra layer of security: a program that, thanks to technology, supports agricultural entrepreneurs in addressing one of the main daily challenges facing the entire agri-food sector, namely climate change," comments Matteo Vanotti, CEO of xFarm .
Mechanism of the parametric policy
The parametric policy offered within the program is completely digital. In fact, throughapp xFarmapp , it is possible to activate the policy, check the parameters, and verify whether the adverse event exceeds the thresholds set for access to compensation, which is automatically paid without the intervention of experts.
To join the #MORE program, you must complete your seed purchase by March 25, 2026, activating the policy between January 7 and March 29, 2026.
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