Norbert Schlingmann (right), General Manager at the AEF, joined CropLife Editor Eric Sfiligoj for a Fireside Chat at the 2025 Tech Hub LIVE in Des Moines, IA.
At the 2025 Tech Hub LIVE in Des Moines, IA, in July, Norbert Schlingmann, General Manager at the Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF), joined CropLife for a Fireside Chat to shed light on one of the ag equipment industry’s most pressing issues: interoperability.
For growers and ag retailers, interoperability — how well machines and digital systems from different manufacturers work together — has moved from a “nice-to-have” to a business-critical necessity. As technology adoption accelerates across global farming operations, the ability for equipment and data systems to “speak the same language” directly impacts efficiency, productivity, and decision-making.
A Global Mandate for Compatibility
“The Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation, or AEF, is a global association made up of tech companies, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, universities, and many supporters around the world,” said Schlingmann. Founding members of AEF include major ag OEMs like John Deere, CLAAS, CNH, and AGCO — competitors who recognized the need to collaborate on technology standards.
At the heart of AEF’s mission is ISOBUS, a communication standard that enables tractors and implements from different manufacturers to work together through a single, unified in-cab terminal.
“ISOBUS was developed to solve this, but over time, manufacturers have implemented their own ‘dialects’ of the standard,” Schlingmann explained. “Company A may interpret it one way, Company B another — and they can’t communicate effectively. That’s why the industry created the AEF: to ensure consistent implementation and compatibility.”
Bridging the Brand Divide
This challenge is particularly visible in regions like Europe, where growers often operate machinery from multiple brands.
“In Europe, most growers operate with two or three different tractor brands and up to five different implement brands. They need all those machines to work together seamlessly,” said Schlingmann.
To ensure this compatibility, AEF has developed a conformance testing system, which equipment manufacturers can use to validate their products. Certified machines are then listed in the AEF ISOBUS Database, giving farmers and dealers worldwide easy access to verified interoperability information.
U.S. vs. Europe: Different Landscapes, Shared Needs
While the European market often deals with smaller fields and a higher diversity of crops, the U.S. market presents its own complexity, especially with large-scale farming operations that are early adopters of ag tech.
“In the U.S., we work closely with organizations like AEM (Association of Equipment Manufacturers). They’re a core member of AEF and help us understand the unique needs of the American market,” Schlingmann noted.
Despite the geographic differences, manufacturers build equipment for a global market, which makes standardized, cross-compatible technology all the more vital.
Read more at CropLife.
