Oficina de Comunicació

The Catalan company ModpoW and researcher Sadegh M. Astaneh, PhD, have developed a monitoring system based on Big Data and Machine Learning to optimize water and fertilizer use in professional agriculture. This solution, which can save more than 30% of annual water and fertilizer consumption, monitors underground liquid data to provide real-time irrigation recommendations tailored to each plot’s specific conditions.

The project has received support from the European Union—under grant agreement MSCA 712949—and ACCIÓ, the agency for business competitiveness attached to the Department of Business and Labor, through the TECNIOspring PLUS program. This program fully funds the hiring of researchers and promotes the integration of experienced talent into Catalan companies and R&D agents. ModpoW hired the researcher in 2019, and this funding has enabled the joint development of the project.

To implement the solution, named MATAI, the process begins with an analysis of the relevant farm to assess the terrain characteristics. The area is then divided into sections, and its behavior is studied. The next step involves installing sensors that monitor data such as water absorption and drainage, sending it to a cloud platform developed by the company. Finally, using the collected data, the technology provides farmers with irrigation and fertilization plans based on the actual soil conditions.

According to Jordi Barceló, the company’s CEO, “This system gives us eyes underground, informing farmers about everything that happens beneath the surface that they cannot see. As a result, we save significant amounts of water and fertilizer, as many producers overwater out of caution, which ultimately harms their crops.”

Barceló adds, “By maintaining the soil in optimal condition with the necessary amount of water and fertilizer, production is maximized, and the quality of the produce improves.”

Meanwhile, Astaneh highlights that “The precision of the guidance and the information collected by the devices are key to ensuring that the recommendations are as accurate as possible.” He adds, “This R&D project provides added value to fruit and vegetable cultivation activities.”

ModpoW focuses its market on countries such as Portugal, France, and Tunisia, “where water scarcity is a significant issue,” explains the CEO. However, the company has also worked with brands in Florida, USA. Currently, the company serves over 300 clients, including Girona Fruits, Giropoma, Conca de la Tordera, Agromillora, and Señorío de Rioja.

Based in Barcelona, with a team of 20 employees, the company plans to launch a funding round this year, seeking between €500,000 and €1 million from public and private capital. In addition, in 2020, ModpoW created a water rational use certification named Droptimus, which endorses brands that make efficient use of this valuable resource.