Precision Agriculture in Action: GrowSphere’s Role in Climate-Resilient Farming

Climate Change, Digital Farming, and Everything in Between

Climate change is drastically reshaping the landscape of agriculture. Unpredictable weather patterns, droughts, and extreme temperatures are making farming increasingly unstable, and difficult to manage. The lack of predictability means that farmers are constantly grappling with operational uncertainty, as they struggle to answer their most basic day-to-day questions: Am I over or under-irrigating? How can I avoid crop damage caused by severe heat waves? Is my water pressure too high?

These questions have become a daily concern for farmers globally as they try to balance resource use, crop health, and operational efficiency in a time of increasing climate uncertainty. The stakes are high, every decision a farmer makes affects the yield, sustainability, and ultimately, the profitability of their farming operations. That’s where smart farming solutions like GrowSphere™ come into play.

The World’s First Operating System for Precision Irrigation and Fertigation
To help farmers mitigate the impact of climate change and optimize irrigation, Netafim, Orbia Precision Agriculture business developed GrowSphere, an intuitive all-in-one irrigation system that streamlines irrigation and fertigation processes. By integrating hydraulic, agronomic, and operational data, GrowSphere allows farmers to plan, execute, control, and monitor their operations seamlessly within a single platform.
The system automates irrigation using advanced sensors and real-time data on soil moisture, plant health, and weather conditions, preventing over- or under-irrigation, leading to healthier crops and improved resource use. It’s adaptable to both smallholder and large-scale farms, making it scalable and flexible for various operations.

Enhancing Farm Management with Crop Advisor
GrowSphere also features Crop Advisor, an innovative tool that provides farmers with tailored recommendations for irrigation and crop management. Through data analysis, Crop Advisor helps farmers adjust irrigation schedules efficiently, optimizing water use and improving yields. This is especially valuable in regions where water availability fluctuates due to climate change.
Farmers, agronomists, and farm managers can access GrowSphere’s user-friendly dashboard to monitor irrigation status, manage programs, and track crop performance with real-time data and recommendations, ensuring precise, efficient irrigation throughout the growing season. This integrated system helps reduce guesswork, improve sustainability, and support farmers in overcoming climate uncertainties.

GrowSphere’s Global Impact
GrowSphere has been making a difference in various regions affected by climate change. In São Paulo, Brazil, William Ferreira, manager of an established coffee farm, has seen remarkable improvements in efficiency since implementing GrowSphere. “The biggest benefit is its ease of use and reliability. It gives me confidence that my irrigation needs are met, protecting my crops and maximizing farm profits,” says Ferreira. With access to vital data, his farm has reduced water usage, improved fertilizer application, saved energy, and optimized time.

In Vietnam, PepsiCo is expanding its potato cultivation to the Central Highlands and North Vietnam, where they’ve adopted GrowSphere and Crop Advisor to enhance irrigation. Cuong Doan, a Netafim agronomist leading the Crop Advisor implementation, shares, “Farmers here love the simplicity of receiving daily recommendations through the app. With Netafim’s protocols and minor adjustments based on local conditions, they can boost operational efficiency and make smarter decisions. Even small adjustments significantly improve farm management.”
In recent years, Mr. Bünyamin Çuhadar, an extensive crop grower and loyal Netafim customer in Turkey since 2014, has embraced digital farming on a large scale by implementing the GrowSphere MAX controller in his operations.
GrowSphere MAX, designed to manage complex irrigation and fertigation with precision, is ideal for medium to large-scale farms requiring efficiency. “Precise water management is crucial, especially with extreme weather,” Çuhadar notes. “GrowSphere MAX streamlined our irrigation, reduced labor, and provided flexibility to adjust water schedules according to climate conditions.”

Empowering Farmers for a Resilient Future
In an era of increasing climate instability, farming has become more challenging than ever. With unstable weather, reduced water availability, and shifting growing conditions, farmers need innovative solutions that help them maintain productivity and manage their farms efficiently. Solutions like GrowSphere™ are proving essential in helping farmers navigate these challenges.
By optimizing water use, reducing waste, and improving crop resilience, GrowSphere is helping farmers worldwide not only survive but thrive in the face of climate change. As agriculture continues to evolve, technology-driven solutions like GrowSphere™ will be critical in building a more sustainable and resilient future for farming.