Smart Irrigation Control System with 40% Savings in Water for Universal Use

Project Information

IRRISAVE

Grant agreement ID: 720235

DOI

10.3030/720235

Project closed

EC signature date 27 February 2016

Start date 1 February 2016

End date 31 May 2016

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

YODFAT ENGINEERS (1994) LTD
Israel

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - IRRISAVE (Smart Irrigation Control System with 40% Savings in Water for Universal Use)

Reporting period: 2016-02-01 to 2016-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

In a global context of water scarcity, increasing costs of irrigation and increasing prices of fresh vegetables and fruits, the demand of smart water management systems that help saving water and other resources is increasing. IRRISAVETM is an innovative smart water management technology developed by YODFAT Engineers Ltd. This technology maximizes the efficiency in water irrigation and can be integrated with all kinds of irrigation systems. The system saves ca. 40% of water, and improves sustainable crop production compared to other existing solutions. IRRISAVETM integrates an innovative soil probe that scans soil moisture through several sensors. The measures are sent to on-cloud intelligent software that controls the soil water level through electrical valves. The user can supervise the process via a multi-system, user-friendly interface. Introducing IRRISAVETM systems will provide a universal and user-friendly technology that will have a huge impact on savings of fertilizers and energy as well as avoiding water table pollution for all irrigation methods. Previous investment on IRRISAVETM technology (1.1 M€) has yielded a tested prototype that works under real field conditions for different end users. The next objective, during Phase 2, is to further develop IRRISAVETM to a fully operational SWM system. In order to achieve that objective, the on-cloud software, the communication system and the end user interface will be improved. Furthermore, YODFAT plans to carry out field demonstrations of IRRISAVETM in real farm conditions to show the benefits of this technology to end users in EU target countries and Israel, and by obtaining valuable data from tests under a variety of conditions.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the four months of execution of the Phase 1 of IRRISAVETM, YODFAT has carried out a number of activities to analyse and ensure the feasibility of the project in the next phase of the H2020 SME Instrument, Phase 2. Three main tasks have been accomplished. First, the company has developed a technical feasibility study that has defined the parameters needed for the optimization of the on-cloud controlling software. This will ensure that all the data gathered in field tests will serve to optimize the performance of the system at any combination of environmental conditions and crop species. Second, YODFAT has carried out a business plan, including: an analysis of the existing smart water management solutions that pinpoints the technical and commercial advantages of IRRISAVETM, a geographical analysis of the market that gives a better understanding of the key markets and the expected trends, and a commercial strategy that will serve to enter those key markets and gives information about the financial projections of the project in three different scenarios. Third, the company has developed a freedom to operate analysis showing that the existing patents protecting IRRISAVETM are shared by YODFAT, and the expected further improvements of the technology may be protected by an utility model instead of patenting them. Finally, the company has identified key partners to attract the attention of major international players in the field of irrigation management and irrigation systems, manufacturers and distributors as well as major farming players.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

YODFAT’s previous investment on IRRISAVETM technology (1.1 M€) has yielded a tested prototype that works under real field conditions for different end users. The next objective, during Phase 2, is to further develop IRRISAVETM to a fully operational SWM system, both by demonstrating its benefits for end users in EU target countries and Israel, and by obtaining valuable data from tests under a variety of conditions. More specifically, the benefits IRRISAVETM will bring are technical and commercial:
• IRRISAVETM is managed by an intelligent software with a feedback self - correction system: Accurate and real time predictions that do not need calibration because it is self-calibrated by iteration.
• Track the location of the wetting front, final position of drainage front, and active root zone. This ensures that the optimal moisture is reached in the active root zone.
• Water savings of up to 40% in crop fields and up to 50% in urban lawns. This means that IRRISAVETM not only saves water, but also, in the same proportion, energy needed to irrigate and the associated CO2 emissions. The technology also reduces fertilizer leaching and soil salinization.
• It is reliable. The risk of crop damage caused by incorrect irrigation management is avoided. An excess or deficiency of irrigation (e.g. root diseases, crop mortality, etc.)
• 100% adaptability to end used requirements (urban or agricultural), and potentially all kinds of irrigation systems.
• Economic savings: water (40%), energy (50%) and approx. 1200€/Ha money savings per year (only from water savings).
• Easy installation and user-friendly interface.

After Phase 2, YODFAT aims at commercializing IRRISAVETM first in the EU and Israel and, after three years, expanding the sales to USA and Australia. The estimated sales will be approx. 6500 units during the first year in the European target countries plus Israel, the Return on Investment, ROI, will be 2.94 in 2023 when our expected turnover will be 22 M€ with a total profit of about 8.9 M€. We will reach the payback in 2021. 40 people will be hired thanks to IRRISAVETM during the first 5 years.

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