Taralinda Willis, CEO In agricultural insurance, risk has traditionally been assessed using broad averages.
Agrograph , led by CEO Taralinda Willis, is changing that by bringing field-level intelligence to insurers.
By harnessing satellite imagery and artificial intelligence, the company delivers detailed insights about individual crop fields across different geographies. This approach allows clients to move beyond county-level averages, enabling them to understand the nuanced conditions of each plot of land.
Willis explains, “Instead of working with county-level yield averages, Agrograph looks at individual fields to extract metrics that are relevant to the insurance space.” This precision helps insurers verify claims faster, set more accurate premiums, and design innovative insurance products that were once difficult to offer.
A Faster, Smarter Solution
Agrograph specializes in parametric, or index-based, insurance. Unlike traditional coverage that requires post-loss assessments, parametric insurance pays out automatically when predefined conditions, such as drought or flooding thresholds, are met.
This reduces administrative delays and simplifies the process for both farmers and insurers. Agrograph’s data provides the backbone for these offerings, making parametric insurance more accessible and reliable.
Clients approaching Agrograph typically seek to launch new parametric products but lack the detailed data needed to support them.
The company partners with insurers to fill that gap, delivering actionable analytics while leaving underwriting and claims management to its partners. This collaborative model ensures that insurers can offer products quickly and confidently, while farmers benefit from a streamlined claims process.
Granularity and Timeliness: The Core Advantages
Two features set Agrograph apart. The first is granularity. The company evaluates nearly thirty-five variables for each field, including crop type, planting and harvesting dates, soil management practices, and risk of severe weather events. Insurers can use these insights to reduce basis risk, which is the difference between what the index covers compared to what the policyholder actually lost, and tailor premiums for individual fields based on weather risk.
The second advantage is timeliness. Agrograph monitors the landscape almost daily through satellites and weather information. Any event that threatens crop yield triggers a signal, allowing insurers to respond promptly. Willis notes, “We monitor the landscape with the help of satellites almost every day, so if there is a weather event that pushes a farmer below that threshold, we know the impact on the yield in each individual field due to that peril which leads to faster and more effective settlements.” This combination of precision and speed is helping insurers assess and manage crop risk more effectively.
Driving Innovation Through Data
Agrograph’s data is not only precise but also validated through rigorous academic research. The company was founded by Dr. Mutlu Ozdogan, a professor at the University of Wisconsin – Madison with decades of experience in remote sensing and agriculture. Ongoing innovation and investment in AI ensures that the models are robust, replicable, and reliable across various geographies and crop types.
This research-backed foundation allows Agrograph to apply its solutions internationally, providing consistent quality whether crops are in the United States, Latin America, or other emerging agricultural markets.
One example of Agrograph’s impact comes from a major insurance company evaluating multiple data providers for a parametric insurance initiative. Agrograph’s data consistently outperformed competitors and became central to the insurer’s ongoing product development. This case highlights the value of detailed, validated data in shaping parametric insurance products and demonstrates how actionable insights can lead to better outcomes for both insurers and farmers.
Comprehensive Analytics and Risk Management
The thirty-five variables Agrograph tracks offer more than yield history and estimates; they provide a holistic view of field management. These variables include tillage practices, crop rotation, the use of cover crops, irrigation patterns, and planting schedules.
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Instead of working on county-level yield averages, Agrograph looks at individual fields to pull out metrics that are interesting in the insurance space.
These insights allow insurers to understand how management decisions influence risk and enable premium adjustments based on sustainable practices. By incorporating management data, Agrograph provides a nuanced understanding that goes far beyond simple weather metrics, supporting more accurate and fair insurance pricing.
In adjacent applications, these analytics support farm management advisory services, giving agribusinesses additional agricultural context. This broader approach strengthens the connection between data, risk insight, and agricultural productivity.
Building a Collaborative Ecosystem
Agrograph does not operate in isolation. Its partnerships extend across the agricultural insurance ecosystem, including brokers, carriers, and financial institutions. By acting as a central data provider, Agrograph ensures that all stakeholders have access to consistent and precise information, aligning interests and enabling smarter decision-making.
The company’s client-centric approach emphasizes collaboration, turning data into a tool for shared success rather than a standalone product.
It also works closely with carriers seeking to expand their parametric offerings. This involves providing historical and real-time data, predictive modeling, and field-specific insights that allow insurers to launch products with confidence. In doing so, Agrograph plays a crucial role in improving agricultural insurance and risk assessment.
International Expansion and Research-Driven Approach
Agrograph’s emphasis on research and validation sets it apart from competitors. The company’s work has been tested and validated across diverse geographies, multiple crop types, and varying climate conditions. This focus ensures that its predictive models are accurate, reliable, and applicable in both domestic and international markets. The company continues to expand its reach, applying its data and AI models to global agricultural insurance challenges.
This broader perspective is essential for insurers looking to diversify their risk portfolios and offer parametric products across different regions. By delivering consistent, high-quality data, Agrograph enables these organizations to scale their offerings internationally without sacrificing precision or reliability.
Building Parametric Insurance at Scale
Today Agrograph is enabling carriers to design products powered by continuous satellite monitoring and predictive analytics. Predictive modeling, combined with real-time satellite monitoring, allows parametric products to respond more quickly to threshold events rather than waiting for post-loss inspections. This proactive approach benefits both insurers and farmers by offering immediate financial support and enhancing operational efficiency.
By integrating granular, validated insights across multiple use cases, Agrograph continues to expand its influence in agricultural insurance, positioning itself as a critical partner in risk management and product development.
Agrograph operates at the intersection of technology, agriculture, and insurance, delivering actionable intelligence that transforms risk management. Its precise, timely, and research-driven data supports innovative insurance products, empowers better decision-making, and enhances operational efficiency. Under Taralinda Willis’s leadership, the company demonstrates how technology can create tangible value in agricultural insurance.
By bridging the gap between farmers and insurers with insights that are practical, precise, and actionable, Agrograph is redefining what is possible in agricultural insurance and setting new standards for how data can drive smarter, faster, and fairer financial solutions across the globe.