Innovative Tire Technology: the Key to Sustainable Agriculture
Tackling climate change, long-term food security and economic stability for rural communities – sustainability in agriculture is more than just a trend: it is a necessity. According to the Continental study "Agriculture in Transition", farmers are ready for the change toward a more sustainable and efficient agriculture, but they need support from modern technologies. Durable and efficient equipment that protects the soil and saves costs in the long term are particularly important here. The innovative agricultural tires from Continental meet these requirements and pave the way for farming that is more sustainable – but also financially attractive.
The subject of sustainability is ever-present, and its importance has long been recognized within agriculture. However, it also poses complex challenges, particularly when it comes to its implementation in practice. It is pleasing to note that there is already a pronounced awareness of sustainable principles among farmers. This has been confirmed by the "Agriculture in Transition" study, which Continental conducted in collaboration with market research institute Innofact AG in the fall of 2023. The results illustrate the willingness of farmers to transform their sector in a way that makes it sustainable.
Farmers, however, are coming under increasing pressure. Rising operating costs, particularly due to the trend in prices for agricultural chemicals and fuels, are placing a considerable burden on their budgets. At the same time, consumers and food retailers are demanding higher standards in terms of product quality, sustainability and traceability, which requires additional investment in technologies and processes. The need to cultivate large areas of land within increasingly short periods of time is also leading to efficiency pressure, which makes the use of modern machinery and precision farming absolutely essential. Farmers are dependent on and expressly want support here: around one in three farmers would like to see their existing machinery upgraded to use more environmentally friendly technologies to avoid the need for making expensive new purchases. In other words, the support of technology companies such as Continental is in demand.
Reliability despite unpredictability: the right equipment for every challenge
The challenges described above show that farmers need to be as flexible as possible in their work, since soil conditions, weather and natural events often make their daily lives unpredictable. To enable them to carry out their work as efficiently as possible and with consistent quality, machines and technologies must function flawlessly and also overcome unforeseen challenges.
Reliable and efficient equipment is therefore important, especially with regard to sustainability. According to the Continental study, longevity – such as the long durability or cut resistance of agricultural tires – is considered the most important aspect by almost two thirds of farmers (62 percent). In addition, around 68 percent of the farmers surveyed rate product quality and availability as particularly or at least somewhat important in their day-to-day work. A further 64 percent pay particular attention to the quality of technologies when making a purchase.
This is where Continental comes in: the renowned technology manufacturer’s agricultural tires are characterized by their high durability and robustness. In addition to a higher load capacity even at low air pressures, they also ensure greater stability. As a result, they provide farmers with reliable support in all weathers and on all surfaces, to make farming as sustainable and efficient as possible.
Cost pressure vs. quality: why sustainable investments pay off
While Continental’s agricultural tires promote efficient farming, farmers still face the challenge of reconciling quality and sustainability with high price pressure: on the one hand, they want to implement sustainable solutions, on the other hand, however, these are often seen as costly. This is also reflected in the Continental study. For 72 percent of farmers, price pressure is their biggest challenge. While the revenues for their products on the global markets are falling, the costs for energy, fertilizers and personnel are rising. The total costs for the machinery and technologies used are therefore a key criterion when making investment decisions. 64 percent of the farmers surveyed emphasized that they expect their technology partners to offer affordable prices for new machinery and equipment.
But it is not only acquisition costs that are a decisive factor here. When assessing prices, it is important to take a long-term view and consider the total cost of ownership (TCO). In addition to the acquisition costs, these also include operating and maintenance costs. Although the premium agricultural tires from Continental are often more expensive to purchase than competitor products, farmers can make considerable savings long-term. Robust construction, optimized bead and belt designs and a more flexible casing material ensure durability, increase service life and thereby increase the efficiency of agricultural tires.
One example of this is N.flex technology, which gives the bead area and sidewall their flexibility thanks to the nylon material and therefore offers improved deflection and optimal force distribution. Lower repair costs, less downtime and a reduced need for replacements help to ensure that the higher initial investment pays for itself. This makes sustainability particularly attractive for farmers from a financial perspective as well.
Down-to-earth and future-oriented: sustainability through soil protection
Not only financial benefits but also protection of the soil is a key element of sustainable agriculture: since soil compaction and declining soil quality, a lack of crop rotation and climate changes also pose major challenges for farmers. These problems lead to plants growing less well, absorbing fewer nutrients, and ultimately producing lower yields. The water absorption capacity of the soil is also impaired, which can lead to erosion and further damage. Good soil quality therefore makes a significant contribution to more efficient and environmentally friendly agriculture.
Sustainable soil management is an important concern for farmers as it is. According to the Continental study, soil quality plays a key role for more than two thirds of farmers (69 percent). Around four out of ten of the farmers surveyed see the materials used – in terms of a lightweight design and soil compaction – as an important factor when it comes to the sustainability of the machinery and equipment used. But this is not the only reason why the premium agricultural tires from Continental come equipped with innovative technologies that are specially designed to protect the soil. Thanks to the option of driving with low air pressure, VF technology significantly reduces soil compaction. In comparison to a standard tire, VF tires can carry approximately 40 percent higher load at the same tire pressure or the same load at around 40 percent lower tire pressure. Three aspects are key here: (1) the wider and stronger belt under the tire tread and the more stable shoulder area increase the strength and durability of the VF tire, (2) the optimized geometry improves the deflection of the bead area and sidewall and (3) the N.flex-technology nylon material gives the bead area and sidewall greater flexibility in order to avoid bumpy rides and quickly return to the original shape. This technology is integrated into Continental’s premium VF TractorMaster, VF TractorMaster Hybrid and VF CombineMaster tires.
Conclusion: the path to green agriculture
One thing is certain: farmers are open to the sustainable transformation toward more resource-efficient agriculture – but they need support in order to manage it. After all, it is not their responsibility alone to ensure sustainability in agriculture – alongside policymakers, technology companies such as Continental in particular also play a decisive role here.
With innovative tire technologies as just one field of action among many, technology companies can and must support farmers on the path to more sustainable and efficient agriculture. Three levers are crucial here: (1) tire reliability in order to minimize downtime and expensive repairs or new purchases, (2) an optimal price-performance ratio (TCO) to enable efficient budget planning and increase the profitability of the farm long-term and (3) a soil-friendly design to reduce soil compaction and maintain high yields.
As an equal partner, Continental is aware of this responsibility and is already working closely with farmers to jointly develop innovative solutions for a sustainable transformation of the agricultural sector. One of them is Samuel Guggisberg. As a farmer from Switzerland, he is well aware of the challenges of day-to-day work in the fields and knows that no two days are the same. In such a dynamic environment, versatile and robust tires such as the TractorMaster and all-rounders such as the Tractor85 from Continental, are indispensable when it comes to working efficiently.
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Julia Reinhold
Communications Manager Commercial Specialty Tires
Specialty Tires
Continental Tires
- +49 511 938-2570