The smart water revolution: Xinzo de Limia joins the digitalization of irrigation

The digitalization of agriculture is advancing steadily, and Galicia is no exception. The Laguna de Antela Irrigation Community, in the Ourense region of A Limia, has begun implementing technological solutions that will mark a turning point in agricultural water management . This project, supported by the European Union's Next Generation funds through the PERTE program for Digitalization of the Water Cycle , represents a significant leap forward towards a more efficient, sustainable agriculture, better adapted to the climate challenges of the 21st century.

With a total investment of €183,282.26, the community, which manages 615 hectares, has begun installing the first digital devices that will transform its irrigation system. The initiative falls under the first call for subsidies in 2023, regulated by Order TED/918/2023 of July 21, aimed at modernizing irrigation communities through the digitalization of their infrastructure.

Technology at the service of more precise water management

The new technologies being implemented at the Xinzo Canal , such as GIS map viewers, soil moisture probes, remote management and decision support systems, and volumetric control and water quality monitoring mechanisms, will allow for precise knowledge of soil conditions, crop water requirements, and weather patterns . Thanks to this real-time information, irrigators will be able to adjust irrigation to the exact conditions of each plot, reducing losses, optimizing energy consumption, and ensuring more responsible water use.

But the project goes beyond technology applied to agriculture. The community's digitalization also incorporates a dimension of transparency and governance of water resources. PERTE's support includes the creation of an institutional website, a reporting channel, electronic processing systems, and a presence on social media —tools that will improve communication between the community, government agencies, and users. In this way, water management becomes more open, participatory, and accessible.

Environmental impact and rural development

The implementation of these technologies not only optimizes water resources but also contributes to achieving the environmental objectives established in the hydrological plan: pollution reduction, maintenance of ecological flows, and regeneration of soils and water bodies. Furthermore, it generates skilled technical employment and consolidates the modernization of rural Galicia, demonstrating that innovation also has deep roots in the countryside.

Towards a data-driven Agriculture 4.0

The experience of the Laguna de Antela Irrigation Community confirms that the digitalization of irrigation is not a luxury, but a necessity and an opportunity. With tools that allow for data-driven decision-making, rather than guesswork, water ceases to be merely a resource to be managed and becomes knowledge to be managed. Xinzo de Limia is thus taking a decisive step towards Agriculture 4.0: more precise, more sustainable, and, above all, better prepared for the future.