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SMARTAGRO is a project by xFarm , co-funded by the LGH Foundation as part of the call for proposals titled "Smart Irrigation: Intelligent Solutions for Water Management in Agriculture," which involves the Mazzocchi Farm as a pilot site. The project aims to develop and validate in the field a smart irrigation system based on IoT sensors, aDecision System (DSS), and actuators for remote control of water distribution.
Against a backdrop of growing pressure on water resources—exacerbated by the effects of climate change and the increased frequency of droughts even in areas historically characterized by abundant water supplies, such as the Pavia region—the agricultural sector is called upon to play an active role by adopting innovative technologies that reduce water consumption, ensure crop productivity, and manage water resources in a more efficient and targeted manner. The SMARTAGRO project aims to demonstrate how the integration of DSS based on artificial intelligence algorithms, real-time environmental data, and automated water distribution systems can support farmers in the transition toward precision irrigation management that is sustainable and replicable, with estimated water savings of up to 30% compared to traditional practices.
The project activities are divided into four Work Packages: i) WP1 – Management, dedicated to the overall coordination of the project, administrative management, performance monitoring, and communication among partners; ii) WP2 – System Requirements Analysis, aimed at defining the technological requirements of the IoT infrastructure (sensor types, field positioning, transmission protocols) and the digital platform, as well as planning the experimental layout; iii) WP3 – Field Testing, which involves the installation and calibration of the SMARTAGRO system at the Mazzocchi Farm, the implementation of irrigation practices according to the developed protocol, and a direct comparison—using KPIs for water savings, operational efficiency, and crop yield—between areas managed with the automated system and a control area irrigated using traditional methods; iv)WP4 – Dissemination, dedicated to sharing the results through webinars, on-site training sessions, and communication activities on xFarm channels.The core of the trial will involve the remote transmission of irrigation recommendations generated by the DSS to the xIdro PRO valve control system, capable of managing up to 12 valves and delivering differentiated water quantities to distinct irrigation areas, based on the actual soil and climate requirements of the crops.
The main expected outcomes are the development and field validation of an integrated IoT-DSS solution for precision irrigation, the quantification of benefits in terms of water savings, operational efficiency, and crop quality, and the establishment of a scalable and replicable model across different farm and crop contexts.
The Pavia region, with its agricultural tradition strongly characterized by crops such as rice and soybeans and a growing focus on innovation and precision agriculture, provides an ideal setting for testing and establishing approaches that combine productivity, sustainability, and responsible water management.
DURATION: 18 months (from February 28, 2025, to July 28, 2026)
PROGRAM: Call for Proposals "SmartIrrigation: Smart Solutions for Water Management in Agriculture" – Call Code 04_Oss_Poli_2024 – LGH Foundation
Useful links:
https://fondazionelgh.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/FLGH-Bando_04_Oss_Poli_2024.pdf
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