Digitalization of the countryside: an ally for the future of irrigation in the La Nava Irrigation Community

Digitalization has become a key tool for addressing the major challenges facing agriculture in the 21st century: water scarcity, climate change, and the need to produce more with fewer resources. In this context, new technologies applied to irrigation, such as sensors, data platforms, automation, and remote management, are transforming how farmers plan and manage their crops. This revolution, known as Agriculture 4.0, not only improves efficiency but also promotes a more sustainable, transparent, and competitive model.

An example of this change can be found in the La Nava Irrigation Community in Palencia, which has begun implementing its first digital solutions thanks to funding from the Water Cycle Digitalization Project (PERTE), within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, using Next Generation EU funds. Located in the Tierra de Campos region, the La Nava Irrigation Community manages nearly 5,000 hectares and comprises some 500 farmers from municipalities such as Becerril, Villaumbrales, Mazariegos, Revilla, Villamartín, Grijota, and Cascón de la Nava. In this area, where crops such as wheat, alfalfa, oats, and barley predominate, water is an essential resource that requires increasingly precise and sustainable management.

The digitization project, with a total investment of €662,189.71, aims to improve the efficiency of irrigation water use and reduce energy consumption, while minimizing environmental impact. To achieve this, advanced tools are being implemented, such as GIS map viewers, soil moisture probes, water quality and volume monitoring systems, network automation and remote management, and decision support platforms based on real-time data and weather forecasts.

In addition, the project includes the creation of a new website, a complaints channel, electronic processing tools and the improvement of the digital presence on social networks, reinforcing transparency and communication between the community, the administrations and the users.

Innovating to protect water and the land

The main objective of this initiative is to contribute to a more rational and transparent use of water, aligned with the environmental objectives of water resource planning. With the information provided by new technologies, irrigators will be able to precisely adjust irrigation schedules, understand soil conditions, and anticipate crop needs, thus saving water and energy and improving productivity. But digitalization also has a broader impact: it fosters the creation of skilled jobs, promotes technological independence through the use of open-source software, and ensures the sustainability of public investments.

In short, the La Nava Irrigation Community project represents a firm step towards a more modern and sustainable agricultural model. It's an example of how innovation can take root in the region and serve as a driving force for change, creating a more competitive, resilient, and future-oriented agricultural sector.