OneSoil has partnered with Rainbow Weather to launch a new AI-powered rainfall forecasting tool designed to provide farmers with highly localized weather predictions at the field level.
The collaboration introduces a new Hyperlocal Precipitation Forecast feature within the OneSoil platform. The tool predicts both rainfall probability and expected intensity for specific field coordinates in four-hour intervals, helping farmers make better-informed operational decisions.
The feature is aimed at reducing losses caused by unexpected rain during critical fieldwork. Sudden precipitation can disrupt fertilizer application, chemical spraying, harvesting, irrigation planning, and other time-sensitive tasks. According to the companies, extreme weather costs EU farmers about €28 billion annually, equal to roughly 6% of total agricultural production.
The forecasting system uses machine learning to analyze radar, satellite, atmospheric, and historical weather data. Instead of relying on broad regional forecasts, it delivers field-specific predictions that can support practical decisions for individual farms.
OneSoil, based in Zurich, was founded in 2017 and has developed a precision agriculture platform that uses satellite imagery, artificial intelligence, and field analytics to help farmers monitor crops, optimize inputs, and improve productivity. The company says its platform now serves approximately 140,000 active farmers annually across global markets.
Rainbow Weather specializes in AI-powered short-term weather forecasting and was founded in 2021 by technology entrepreneurs Yuriy Melnichek and Alexander Matveenko. Melnichek previously founded AI startups AIMatter, Vochi, and Wanna, which were later acquired by Google, Pinterest, and Farfetch, while Matveenko previously sold mapping startup MapData to Mapbox.
The company has raised €4.87 million in seed funding and today provides forecasting services to more than 120,000 active users worldwide, with around 400 business customers accessing its technology through APIs.
The new precipitation forecasting feature is already being used by more than 15,000 farmers each month, according to OneSoil. By combining field-level agricultural intelligence with hyperlocal weather prediction, the companies aim to help farmers reduce operational risks and make better decisions before weather conditions affect productivity and costs.
The partnership reflects a broader trend across agriculture, where AI is increasingly being used to improve forecasting, automate decision-making, and adapt farming operations to increasingly unpredictable climate conditions. As weather volatility continues to rise, demand for precise, real-time forecasting tools is expected to become a growing part of the agricultural technology market.
