In Italy, the first half of 2022 was the warmest ever recorded. The temperature was 0.76 degrees higher than the historical average – an incredible figure – but rainfall has also been almost halved along the Italian peninsula, according to Coldiretti. In Spain, average rainfall has also decreased, but by 25%, and the estimated economic loss in the period 2021-2022 is between 8 and 10 billion Euros.
Treetoscope, a start-up specialized in the management of precision irrigation, operates in this field. This Israeli company has announced a partnership with Toro Company, a supplier of advanced irrigation solutions, to develop a decision support system in the specific field.
The direct detection of the characteristics of each plant is carried out with single-probe Sap Flow sensors. Once inserted into the tree trunk, these patented sensors provide direct and continuous measurement of water flow in almond, avocado, citrus, apple, and wine grape trees. As validation trials are completed, more crops will be added over time.
Real-time data from Sap Flow sensors are integrated with terrain, weather, and satellite information thanks to Treetoscope AI engine, which implements a SaaS (Software as a Service) irrigation management platform.
Over-irrigation puts limited water resources under further pressure, contaminates groundwater with fertilizers and other chemicals present in the soil, and increases costs, while under-irrigation leads to poor crop yields and unhealthy trees.
This solution offers unprecedented accuracy in measuring actual water use by trees in real time, supporting the farm in decisions for optimal irrigation to maximize yield and reduce inputs to crops (water and fertilizers).
In addition to normal management, the Treetoscope platform is essential in the presence of historical heat waves and droughts, which are expected to become increasingly frequent and extreme.
Toro Company is a provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment, including maintenance of green areas and landscape, snow and ice management, underground utility construction, rental and special constructions as well as irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions. In Italy, Treetoscope is already being tested on apple and pear trees at the Aquacampus of the Emilia-Romagna canal, on citrus trees with Irritec. In Spain it is active on almond and citrus trees in Andalusia (University of Seville). Other tests are underway in the United States. The company has partnerships in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
