Four University of Costa Rica students have created InnoBIA, a smart irrigation prototype that came second at the Central American 5G Innovation Hackathon. The idea came from visits to farms in Llano Grande de Cartago.
The system measures soil moisture and temperature, electrical conductivity, weather and water flow. When moisture drops below a set level, it automatically switches on the irrigation pump. Data is sent over a 5G network to digital platforms.
Studies cited by the team suggest water savings of 20% to 50%, but the prototype still has to be tested on a real farm. Next steps include a compact farm installation and maintenance services.
