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With a launch scheduled for 2027, the new agricultural irrigation technology developed in Brazil combines AI and IoT to optimize costs and preserve water resources.
By the year 2027, the Brazilian agribusiness is expected to have an unprecedented tool capable of automating complex decisions regarding the use of natural resources. Researchers from Embrapii’s Competence Centers are finalizing the development of a new agricultural irrigation technology that promises to revolutionize the management of center pivots.
The project, which is part of the so-called Agrointelligent Network, is led by Future Grid with the collaboration of Cedra, and focuses on creating a hardware and software solution that integrates, in one place, the management of water and energy on farms. The initiative acts as a strategic bridge between academic science and the production market.
In addition to increasing productivity, the goal is to strengthen the national innovation ecosystem, stimulating the creation of new startups and ensuring that Brazil maintains its leadership in digital and sustainable agriculture.
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Behind the creation of the new technology
The development of this new technology is divided into specialized fronts to ensure that the final product is robust and reliable. While Future Grid is dedicated to the technical validation of electronic components and mathematical models, Cedra applies its expertise in sensing and precision agriculture.
Together, they work to overcome critical obstacles, such as adapting the system to the seasonality of different regions and ensuring that the data collected in the field is transmitted without failures. The proposal goes beyond a simple timer. It is an intelligence capable of analyzing the financial viability of irrigation every minute.
The system considers fundamental variables for the success of the crop, such as:
- Water availability: Real-time monitoring of how much water can be used.
- Energy sources: Integration between grid electricity and self-generation (such as solar panels).
- Storage: Use of battery energy storage systems (BESS) to ensure energy autonomy.
- Operational cost: Identification of times when the energy tariff is cheaper for the producer’s pocket.
How artificial intelligence optimizes agricultural irrigation
At the heart of the project is the embedded electronics, which allows for immediate decisions without relying solely on human intervention. Through sensors installed in the plantation, the new technology processes environmental data and automatically schedules the activation of water pumps.
This intelligence allows the system to choose “when, how much, and how to irrigate,” ensuring that the plant receives the necessary hydration at the exact moment of maximum absorption, avoiding waste due to evaporation or waterlogging.
Therefore, agricultural irrigation ceases to be a heavy fixed cost and becomes a data-optimized operation. The integration with the Internet of Things (IoT) allows all equipment on the property to operate in harmony, prioritizing periods of greater energy availability.
Thus, the rural producer gains a tool that acts both in environmental preservation and financial efficiency.
Impact on sustainability and water economy
One of the greatest expected benefits with the consolidation of this tool is the rational use of water, an increasingly scarce and monitored resource. By combining AI and IoT, the Brazilian solution directly addresses waste, promoting a significant reduction in production costs.
Meanwhile, the efficient use of energy contributes to a more resilient agriculture in the face of global climate change. The current applied research phase focuses on scalability, aiming for the model to be replicable for different crops and sizes of properties.
By uniting cutting-edge science and the real needs of the field, the network of researchers hopes to deliver a solution that not only transforms the farmer’s routine but also establishes a new global standard of sustainability for the irrigation sector.
With information from Compre Rural
