Globally, agriculture accounts for 70% of all water withdrawals from freshwater, such as rivers, streams, lakes, canals and wells, as well as from collected rainwater. Irrigated land has double the productivity of non-irrigated land: irrigated areas make up 20% of the total area dedicated to crops, yet they contribute 40% of the food produced worldwide (data: World Bank).

Unfortunately, however, water resources are scarce in many areas and this has major consequences on nutrition conditions for the people affected. And the situation is destined to get worse. The global population is growing and by 2050 there may be over 9 billion people on the planet (20% more than today’s population), a demographic increase that will mainly affect developing countries (data: FAO). It is estimated that agricultural production will have to increase by 70% in the meantime in order to feed everyone.

It is not just a question of food: population growth will also have an impact on urbanization, industrialization, pollution and – by no means negligible – needs related to hygiene. Management of these resources requires urgent improvement.

“We need to do more with less”: this is the strategy that drives research in the sector and, according to many experts, the only way to achieve this is through technology.

GPS: a compass to direct irrigation

One of the classic methods to irrigate cultivated land involves the use of a central pivot and a movable arm that enables 360° water distribution. It works, but it is very haphazard. The arm is “blind” and cannot assess what areas really require watering: it therefore risks watering areas that are already wet, wasting water.

Several research projects are focused on overcoming this problem. One of the most interesting projects is led by a team of researchers from the University of Georgia, who have created a technology based on the use of GPS, which allows farmers to more accurately identify the irrigation needs of their land. It has proven to reduce water consumption by as much as 15%.

The system is based on so-called Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI), which enables selective, temporary deactivation (and reactivation) of specific nozzles while the pivot rotates over surfaces that do not need (or, on the contrary, require more) water. The farmer simply needs to go to the area affected by the different water request and to report it on the system using special software: the device will then adjust the irrigation accordingly.

Sensors to “sniff out” moisture

In areas where crops are too extensive and checks by farmers do not suffice, we must invest in automation. Imagine one thousand eyes continuously watching our fields, ready to report the needs of every single plot of land with scientific precision and in real time. This is what is being devised by projects such as CropX, a start-up that bases its strategy on sensors distributed in a widespread network on cultivated surfaces, designed to control humidity and temperature.

Irrigation, once somewhat approximative, is now an almost surgical process. Special cloud-based software collects all the data and determines the correct distribution of water for every small plot of land, or even for every plant, in order to save water and energy.

“Sponges” to retain water

Innovation focused on achieving sustainable development goals in terms of efficient water use does not only relate to irrigation. Other strategies include the design of fertilizers and other soil additives that retain moisture, almost like sponges, and gradually release it as the soil becomes drier.

One of the best-known start-ups to have taken this approach is mOasis, which has created a gel for the soil that stops water from dispersing deep in the ground and prevents the evaporation of excessive water, keeping it near the roots and supplying plants when they require it. Practical tests supervised by the University of California, Davis, reported a yield increase of 30-50% for some vegetables, using 25% less water.

Hi-tech for everyone

Since a new technology truly represents innovation, it must not only demonstrate that it works properly, but must also reach its user base. Truly smart agriculture will not only involve tools that are increasingly sensitive and attentive to the needs of plants, but will also become part of the practices of farmers, who are often discouraged by the substantial investment required to initially install hi-tech water management systems.

Research is therefore focused on the development of systems that are not only efficient, but are also increasingly accessible, both from an economic point of view and in terms of ease and immediacy of use.