The rise and rise of smart-irrigation companies

Investment in smart-irrigation companies has been on the increase over the past few years, and this trend shows no signs of abating. Janine Ryan and Glenneis Kriel look at some of the companies in the industry, both local and international, that are likely to make headlines in the near future.

- Janine Ryan and Glenneis Kriel

FAST FACTS

The global smartirrigation industry reached an estimated value of US$1,15 trillion (about R17,5 trillion) in 2021.

Smart irrigation enables farmers to optimise yields and efficiency, while using less water and energy.

Farmers are not the only buyers of smart-irrigation systems; companies are also marketing their systems to city dwellers.

The global-smart irrigation market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 15,2% from 2021 to 2030, according to Quince Market Insights. And remarkably, this is off an already a huge base: the market reached an estimated value of US$1,15 trillion (about R17,5 trillion) in 2021.

In its January 2022 global report, Quince Market Insights explains that the smartirrigation market is being driven by efforts to promote water conservation; the expansion of smart cities; the demand for efficient irrigation systems; and the falling cost of sensors and controllers. Smart-irrigation systems are data-driven, and are thus more efficient than conventional irrigation systems; sensors monitor water saturation of the soil and other parameters, and use this information to increase or decrease irrigation. The constant monitoring of soil and crop health also means that crop production can be optimised at lower cost.