JOHNSTON, Iowa — Growers Edge, a provider of data-driven financial technology, or fintech, solutions for the agricultural industry, announced the launch of a fully digital financial software and services platform for the agriculture industry.
The customizable platform is built for ag retailers and input manufacturers of any size to process and manage loans quickly and efficiently. Powered by Growers Edge technology and software, the retailer’s branded online platform features apps for loan submission, management and payment to simplify the process for both retailers and their grower customers. The platform also features a suite of tools and services to analyze and manage the retailer’s lending portfolio.
“Growers Edge is introducing a digitally-driven, end-to-end solution in agricultural lending,” said Dan Cosgrove, Growers Edge CEO. “The combination of an experienced lending team with a powerful data science and IT team allows us to use data science and analysis to make loan decisions faster and more secure than traditional agricultural lending.”
The Growers Edge platform uses data and analytics to help partners make informed lending decisions and provide an objective, data-driven review of their lending portfolio.
The company has developed a streamlined underwriting scorecard that analyzes a grower’s credit using traditional lending analysis factors combined with credit and risk factors relevant for specialized short-term financing.
The Growers Edge software and services platform features three products:
• Software as a Service Plus, or SaaS+: Retailers utilize the Growers Edge financial analytics and loan processing platform to streamline finance operations and improve growers’ experiences.
• Funded Lending Program: Using the company’s SaaS+ platform, retailers partner with Growers Edge to deploy fully customized, funded financing programs.
• Sustainability Lending Program: Growers Edge tailors programs to provide lending services to growers adopting regenerative agricultural practices.
“We’re excited to be able to bring the speed, efficiency and flexibility that we’ve come to expect in consumer lending to the agricultural arena,” said Hollie Bunn, Growers Edge chief lending officer. “Our goal is to provide retailers, cooperatives, or input manufacturers with the tools they need to better serve their customers, streamline their internal processes and grow their businesses.”
Pilot projects are currently underway across Midwestern states. The company’s first pilot is in partnership with Puris, the largest pea producer in North America.
The financial solutions help Puris farmers purchase the seed and inputs used to grow crops. In turn, Puris purchases and turns the crops into pea protein, pea starch and pea fiber.
“Transitioning to diverse cropping systems and regenerative agriculture practices can be a huge financial risk for our grower partners,” said Nicole Atchison, CEO of Puris Holdings. “Our pilot project with Growers Edge has given farmers more flexibility to pursue these practices with confidence and security and allows Puris to better support them along the way.”
Growers Edge is currently building a broad network of partnerships with agricultural retailers for the 2022 growing season.