Smart agriculture to address climate change-induced droughts

The University of Pisa's Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment is leading trials in vineyards near Lucca, Italy where climate change is putting increasing pressure on water resources. The location was specifically chosen due to the rising frequency and intensity of droughts affecting local farmers, making it an ideal testing ground for water conservation solutions.

Their system uses sensors to monitor three key factors – atmospheric water demand, soil moisture and crop temperature. The data is processed by local smart devices, then first sent through a 5G network, then transmitted via satellite to a control centre. This satellite connection is crucial, as many rural farming areas lack reliable internet coverage, where the deployment of terrestrial systems is not convenient from a commercial perspective.

Based on the processed data, the system automatically controls irrigation valves to deliver precisely the right amount of water exactly when and where it's needed. This smart approach helps farmers adapt to increasingly frequent drought conditions while conserving water.