News about drought, climate change, and other environmental concerns are a part of the daily news cycle. As regions of the U.S. continue to experience severe water shortages, there’s obvious concern over how this affects agricultural production and the food supply, as well as the world’s ability to manage its water consumption.
But it’s not all doom and gloom news. Advances in irrigation technology, along with the increased use of AI, are helping growers use water more efficiently and sustainably. Technology companies, along with growers, are stepping up to the plate and helping to solve this big challenge. They are pioneering new precision farming methods and technologies that demonstrably increase water efficiency in the field. By using emerging technologies and devices, and better collecting and analyzing an unprecedented amount of data, many growers are helping preserve one of our most precious natural resources and enabling more productive farming practices.
One big area of innovation in water usage is the wider use of precision irrigation systems. When integrated with drip irrigation systems, growers can now deliver the exact amount of water and nutrients plants need, right at the roots, and prevent overwatering, runoff, and evaporation. By using technology to balance the equation between underwatered and overwatered plants, growers can realize enhanced water efficiency and make more intelligent, data-backed resource decisions. This is a positive story for them and one the public can feel good about. It’s just a matter of how to communicate these advantages to both professional and consumer audiences where they find information.
In addition to being able to turn the water “on and off,” advances in variable rate irrigation also help growers apply the correct amount of water exactly when and where it’s needed within the field. Growers can achieve this in-field “customization” of water by placing sensors in their fields to measure water needs and be alerted when it’s time to water their crops, where in the field to do so and how long to water. They can even schedule irrigation around weather forecasts, soil moisture trends, and points of time during the growing season to ensure the best crops and most efficient use of water.
Being a good steward of the land and natural resources is in a grower’s DNA. Their passion for the land is the springboard to educate and raise awareness for how growers can use water more responsibly. For the irrigation and technology companies pioneering new advances in “precision watering," there is a significant opportunity to communicate the benefits and tangible statistics about the amount of water saved with their newer technologies. Here are some tips for irrigation companies:
- Share studies and statistics about water saved and yield achieved with your latest irrigation technologies.
- Highlight the real-world success stories of growers using your technology.
- Tout how your company enables growers to water their crops sustainably and what the future innovation pipeline holds in terms of ever-increasing water efficiency.
- This information can be shared across various communications channels and could be an angle in news stories if drought and water use are a concern in your area.
With the demand for food growing, we must manage the world’s water consumption responsibly. And while agriculture is a big consumer of water, by continuing to apply precision agriculture and AI, we can ensure the optimal use of water in irrigation and continue to grow better and more robust crops. We would like to hear your stories. How is your company helping protect farming and using water more effectively?