Cropin & Google Cloud: Tackling Climate Risks in Procurement

Cropin and Google Cloud have launched OrbitAI, an AI platform built to help food and beverage procurement teams manage supply chain risks from climate disruption. The system uses autonomous agents to monitor crop health and predict yield shocks across global sourcing zones.

Procurement managers in the food industry face mounting pressure from volatile weather patterns and shifting geopolitical conditions. OrbitAI could allow teams to identify potential shortages before they affect downstream operations, according to the companies.

The platform combines Cropin's agritech data with Google Cloud's enterprise infrastructure. It leverages Google Cloud's Gemini models to process planetary and agricultural data at scale.

Autonomous agents monitor supply risk

OrbitAI deploys specialised AI agents that operate independently to track crop health anomalies and predict regional yield shocks. The system alerts procurement managers to potential supply issues ahead of harvest cycles.

"OrbitAI represents a milestone in agricultural technology," says Krishna Kumar, Chief Executive Officer at Cropin. "The platform empowers businesses to secure their supply networks autonomously."

Food companies can use the platform to optimise sourcing strategies across different regions. This could enable procurement teams to navigate climate uncertainties with greater precision.

Moving beyond cost to capacity

Sashikumar Sreedharan, Managing Director of Google Cloud India, explains that the industry is experiencing a shift in how automation delivers value for procurement operations.

Sashikumar says: "The next transformation in AI is moving away from technology demonstrations and focusing on measurable outcomes, specifically addressing the core challenge of 'cost to serve' versus 'capacity to serve'."

"By building on Google Cloud's AI infrastructure, OrbitAI allows organisations to deploy agentic workflows that scale capacity exponentially, tackling complex real-world challenges with unprecedented pace and efficiency."

Google Cloud provides the computational power and security required for large-scale enterprise deployments. The system can handle massive datasets across diverse geographies.

Climate shocks hit raw material flows

Climate change continues to disrupt the flow of raw materials to manufacturing facilities. The El Niño weather cycle induced severe droughts and shifting rainfall globally, according to recent weather reports.

Consecutive heatwaves in May and June 2026 cut UK milk deliveries by nearly four% compared to weekly averages. These disruptions demonstrate the volatility procurement teams must now manage.

Cropin provides real-time visibility into the lowest tiers of the agricultural supply chain. The platform helps companies reduce waste by aligning agricultural production directly with processing schedules.

This capability could ensure that food processors maintain consistent production levels as procurement teams gain advance warning of supply gaps that might require alternative sourcing arrangements.

Global scalability for procurement frameworks

The platform is designed to scale from smallholder farms to massive commercial operations. This flexibility could allow multinational corporations to standardise their risk management frameworks on a global scale.

"Our partnership with Cropin brings scalable innovation to the agricultural ecosystem," says Yossi Matias, VP Engineering & Research at Google. "We are helping organisations build more sustainable and predictable supply chains."

As regulatory demands around traceability tighten, the platform also aims to assist in tracking environmental metrics. It provides the data needed to verify sustainable sourcing practices.

The system offers procurement teams a way to document supply chain conditions throughout the growing cycle. This could support compliance with emerging regulations on environmental disclosure and supply chain transparency.