Tobacco Asia

12 tobaccoasia Issue 4, 2026 July / August Q&A THE TA Q A By Thomas Schmid Tobacco Asia (TA): AOI is presently trialing its newly launched Pyxus Alliance™ platform in Brazil. What does this app do, what reporting data does it record, who uses it and why? Samuel Streck (SS): Pyxus AllianceTM is a pro- prietary interactive platform that serves as a link between integrated growers and the company. At this stage, the application covers all data required for the digital self-contracting process and pro- vides growers with the option to digitally request crop inputs, access crop-related data and update personal records. Samuel Streck. director crop science & value chain, Alliance One Brazil. Credit: Junio Nunes, for Alliance One Brazil AOI Platform Paves Way for Global Digitization TA: Why did AOI recognize a need for such a platform, when was the idea first conceived, and when was the platform ready to go into pilot trials? SS: Pyxus, the parent company of Alliance One, created the application to improve efficiency, agility, and transparency, to strengthen the relationship between growers and the company, and as part of the business' broader digital transformation strategy. The application was officially launched on March 18, 2026, and its implementation in Brazil began as a pilot project following a testing phase conducted in a real operating environment. TA: Prior to the platform's launch, how did individual farmers usually report their production data? SS: Prior to Pyxus Alliance, growers were contracted on farm by our company's field technicians, using our proprietary GMS (grower management system) to manage the contracting process. TA: Were there some "teething problems" during development, and how were these solved ahead of the pilot project? SS: The application was preceded by a testing phase that evaluated performance, usability, and alignment with production routines. The platform demonstrated stability and was validated in a real operating environment. TA: What is this new platform ultimately able to achieve that the old reporting method could not? SS: Pyxus Alliance enables digital self-contracting, faster formalization of the crop, reduced use of physical documents, centralized access to services, and mobile interaction between growers and the company. (Note: According to company representatives and growers' testimonials, the platform reduces time spent on bureau- cracy, increases autonomy, improves access to information, and streamlines processes.) TA: Why was Brazil specifically chosen for the pilot project? Why not one of the other countries where AOI is active? SS: Brazil was chosen because it offered the most practical setup for a pilot, particularly given the strong local business sponsorship and leadership presence based there. Many members of the app's steering committee are located in Brazil, which allowed for hands-on support, faster decision- making and quick issue resolution throughout the

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