TRACTOR OF THE YEAR: THE BKT ERA STARTS AND FOR THE FIRST TIME THE RACE FOR THE AWARD WILL BE ALL DIGITAL

A decisive step into the future. This could be the definition of the new fully digital version which BKT, as main sponsor for the next four years, has created together with the organizers of the Tractor of the Year (TotY) award. The Indian multinational, one of the leading manufacturers in the world of Off-Highway specialist tires, has collaborated on the realization of a project which for the first time will take place digitally, a format in different episodes in which the participants and the jury can interact remotely, from every corner of Europe.

Tractor of the Year (TotY) is an international award, started in 1998, which every year brings together the leading publications in the world of agricultural mechanization, to create a jury of 26 experts who through analysis, discussion, and field tests, presents the award to the best European tractor.

But this year, due to particular circumstances, TotY needed to find another “path”. Hence the idea of hosting it in a new digital version, through a program of events available on a dedicated platform: www.totydigital.com

The program envisages on June 10 at 12.00 the Launch Event for the TotY Award, which will be available for viewing by all, the public, manufacturers and the jury members.

The episodes dedicated to the jury will follow, when participants in the competition present their latest prototypes and products. Then the work of the jury continues focused on analyzing the tractors which are competing for the Award. Everything will take place of course in digital “mode”, again through the platform, following a well-defined schedule; the competing companies will present their tractors, making available videos of the field tests, as well as the test results and comments by experts.

“The idea is that of making TotY a genuine ‘challenge’ with a strong appeal. And moreover, we also want to address the main current agricultural issues – such as connectivity, sustainability, agriculture 4.0 – which through the new TotY platform, will be available to the public, and not just reserved for operators” – said Lucia Salmaso, CEO of BKT Europe. “As for content, on our part we have a lot to offer as regards the world of tires, an essential component for the machinery system.”

The other absolute innovation are the three specific episodes which are not to be missed, dedicated to the main trending topics in agriculture: on June 17 the “Connectivity” episode will be launched, on June 24 the “Driving Experience” episode, and on July 1 the topic will instead be “Agriculture 4.0”.

The same issues have been addressed by the “White Book TotY 2020”, a broad study on the most topical issues for those working in agricultural mechanization. A work in which the creators have analyzed with the latest data and market sentiment issues such as the importance of mechanization for agrifood development, precision agriculture, the future of agriculture 4.0, innovation in consumption, new fuels and decarbonization processes.

Technology, sharing, cutting-edge: these key words describe the new alliance between TotY and BKT, an alliance which becomes the symbol of a common vision of the future, increasingly innovative and sustainable.

From today Tractor of the Year is no longer just an Award. With BKT it also becomes a hub of information and knowledge on agricultural mechanization, where we can pick up ideas, thoughts, information and keep up to date with the very rapid changes in the global agricultural sector.