Objectives and expected beneficiaries

The central objective was to significantly reduce fresh water use at farm level with an affordable precision irrigation management platform.

The platform combines:

• real-time data from field sensors;
• satellite data and weather forecasts;
• simulation models calibrated for each crop, soil and climate.

From these it gives precise advice on when and how much to irrigate, and helps reduce fertiliser use.

Who was expected to benefit

• The environment: less fresh water drawn for irrigation and a smaller water footprint.
• Farmers: an easier way to meet European rules that increasingly require managed irrigation.
• The food industry: better regulatory compliance and a credible claim to a lower water footprint.
• Policy makers and water managers: tools to monitor irrigation, fertigation and the use of saline or brackish water.
• Consumers: food grown with less fertiliser and water.