05 irrigation and fertigation management through a connected platform that enables remote monitoring and control. The controller features built-in cellular connectivity, allowing growers to connect field operations without requiring extensive communications infrastructure. Through the company’s GrowSphere Workspace platform, users can manage irrigation schedules, monitor system performance, review alerts, and access operational reports from remote locations. The platform also incorporates sensor integration and cloud-based analytics intended to help growers make more informed management decisions throughout the season. Rather than relying exclusively on manual field checks and fixed irrigation schedules, producers can use available field data to adjust watering and nutrient applications as conditions change. As digital farming continues to evolve, one of the industry’s recurring challenges has been translating complex technology into tools that are practical for day-to-day farm use. GrowSphere FLEX appears to have been developed with that objective in mind. The company said the platform was designed to simplify deployment and operation while still providing access to automation and data-driven decision- making capabilities. Another component of the system is Crop Advisor, which provides crop-stage-based recommendations intended to help growers better align irrigation and nutrient applications with crop development. This functionality reflects a broader trend within precision agriculture toward decision-support tools that combine agronomic data with operational management systems. The controller is also designed to accommodate a wide range of production environments. According to the company, GrowSphere FLEX can be used in openfield agriculture, orchards, vineyards, citrus production, nurseries, and greenhouse operations. The system is compatible with soil-based growing environments and can operate under a variety of hydraulic conditions, providing flexibility for diverse production systems. Prior to launch, the technology underwent an extensive beta-testing phase in multiple regions and climates. Field installations were used to evaluate performance across different irrigation setups and production environments. That testing process helped validate the system before its commercial introduction and provided feedback that influenced final development. Orbia Netafim executives view the new controller as part of a broader effort to expand participation in Agriculture 4.0 technologies—ie to expand access to connected irrigation, automation, and data-driven farm management tools. “Innovation in digital farming cannot stop at largescale agriculture,” commented Gaby Miodownik, President of Orbia’s Precision Agriculture business (Netafim). “With FLEX, we are bringing Agriculture 4.0 within reach for farms of different sizes, needs and stages of digital adoption. It reflects Orbia Netafim’s commitment to expanding access to smart irrigation and fertigation, giving more farmers practical tools to manage their operations with greater clarity, control and confidence.” The company also highlighted feedback from growers who participated in field testing. “On a smaller farm, every irrigation decision shows up quickly in the crop,” said Theo Minnaar, a sugarcane grower in South Africa. “What FLEX gives me is better visibility and more control. I can see what is happening, respond earlier and manage water and nutrients more accurately without making the system complicated.” The launch of GrowSphere FLEX represents the latest expansion of Orbia Netafim’s digital farming strategy as the company continues to broaden its GrowSphere platform. While advanced irrigation automation was once primarily associated with larger enterprises, the introduction of solutions targeted at smaller and mid-sized operations signals a growing industry focus on making precision agriculture technologies accessible across a wider range of farm sizes and production systems. Orbia Netafim employs approximately 4,500 people worldwide and serves agricultural producers in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.netafim.com. | pag PHOTOS: Orbia Netafim “INNOVATION IN DIGITAL FARMING CANNOT STOP AT LARGE-SCALE AGRICULTURE.”
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