A Meeting for Innovation in Water Management
The first Open Innovation Forum (OIF) of the Smart Green Water project took place in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, bringing together 36 participants for a day dedicated to innovation and collaboration around smart water management and agricultural digitalization in southwestern Europe. The event established itself as a space for exchanging ideas, where experts, companies, and farmers explored together the challenges and opportunities of the digital transition in the agricultural sector.
Structure and Dynamics of the Day
The day began with an introduction by Agri Sud-Ouest Innovation, project partners, who emphasized the importance of creating alliances between public and private actors to address the current challenges of agriculture and the efficient use of water. Next, a technical conference led by a specialist from ARVALIS addressed techniques and challenges in agricultural irrigation, highlighting the need to adapt irrigation strategies to changing climate conditions and to leverage digital tools to optimize water resource use.
Afterwards, a review of digital innovation in irrigation was presented, based on a transnational survey conducted in France, Spain, and Portugal. The results showed a low level of adoption of digital tools among farmers and highlighted the need for training, practical demonstrations, and accessible solutions to drive digitalization in the field.
During the roundtable, representatives from the agricultural sector discussed how digital solutions can help farmers manage water during critical periods, emphasizing concrete experiences and the importance of collaboration among different actors in the agricultural ecosystem.
Challenges Addressed
The forum revolved around four major challenges proposed by the participants:
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Collective water management: Improving digital tools for managing irrigation authorizations, facilitating reporting and access to information for both users and operators, and promoting more transparent and efficient management.
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Efficiency and optimization in new projects: Designing and selecting irrigation systems adapted to agrivoltaic projects and new storage infrastructures, prioritizing energy efficiency and adaptation to different types of crops.
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Innovation in micro-sprinkling under solar panels: Developing specific solutions for efficient irrigation of crops under solar panels, aiming for both energy and financial savings.
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Advanced diagnosis of water stress: Creating direct and advanced methodologies to characterize water stress in plants, integrating physiological and environmental indicators to optimize irrigation according to the real needs of each crop.
Solutions Presented by Providers
Eight companies and specialized entities presented their innovative proposals during the forum. Among them were satellite monitoring platforms, sensor systems accessible to farmers, open source solutions for irrigation management, and diagnostic tools based on artificial intelligence and geospatial data. Each pitch highlighted the diversity of available approaches and technologies, as well as the importance of adapting solutions to the concrete needs of the territory and users.
The event also included workshops for reflection and networking, where attendees could share experiences and explore possible collaborations to carry out pilot projects and validate the proposed solutions in real conditions.
Final Thoughts
The first Open Innovation Forum of the Smart Green Water project made it clear that the digitalization of irrigation and water management is an ongoing process, marked by technical, economic, and human challenges. The low adoption of digital tools highlights the need to continue working on training, practical demonstrations, and the creation of accessible solutions tailored to the reality of the agricultural sector. Collaboration between farmers, technology companies, and public entities will be key to moving towards a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable agriculture in terms of water use.
