OpenCeres@TVI is a pioneering initiative designed to address the pressing issue of water scarcity in the Balearic Islands, where drought and overconsumption have made access to water resources increasingly challenging. Agriculture, as one of the largest consumers of water in the region, is a critical sector for implementing water-saving measures. The project’s central aim is to promote and deploy more efficient irrigation techniques and sustainable water management practices to preserve this vital resource for both agricultural and broader societal needs.
The core objective of OpenCeres@TVI is the development and deployment of an innovative, open-source digital platform that empowers farmers to optimize their irrigation processes. This platform is characterized by its frugality and accessibility, focusing exclusively on irrigation management to ensure simplicity and effectiveness. By leveraging data from both simple connected sensors installed in the fields and publicly available open-data sources, the platform transforms raw data into actionable indicators. These indicators support farmers in making informed decisions about when and how much to irrigate, thereby reducing water consumption while maintaining expected crop quality.
The project is a collaboration between TVI, which brings deep expertise in agronomy and regenerative agriculture, and Flutilliant, which specializes in data processing and indicator development. This partnership ensures that the platform is both agronomically sound and technologically robust, with a strong emphasis on practical usability for farmers operating in semi-arid environments like the Balearic Islands.
A key component of the project is the real-world implementation and validation of a sensor-based irrigation control system at TVI’s demonstration sites. This system will be optimized throughout the project, with continuous feedback from field trials guiding iterative improvements. TVI is committed to sharing its methodologies and knowledge, building on its previous work with the TERRACERT project, to benefit the wider agricultural community on the island.
OpenCeres@TVI is deliberately designed to meet two major European Commission objectives: open-source development and frugality. By making the platform open-source, the project ensures that its benefits are accessible to all farmers, including those seeking to build low-tech solutions tailored to their specific needs. The focus on frugality means that the platform remains simple, affordable, and dedicated solely to addressing irrigation challenges, avoiding unnecessary complexity and ensuring that all resources are directed toward maximizing water use efficiency.
The anticipated impact of OpenCeres@TVI is significant. By providing farmers with easy-to-use, data-driven tools for irrigation management, the project aims to achieve substantial reductions in water use across the agricultural sector. This not only supports environmental sustainability but also helps ensure that water resources remain available for other vital industries, such as tourism, which are essential to the region’s economy.
In summary, OpenCeres@TVI represents a new, frugal, and innovative approach to sustainable agriculture in water-scarce regions. By harnessing local and global data, fostering collaboration, and prioritizing open-source accessibility, the project seeks to empower farmers, advance regenerative agriculture, and promote long-term sustainability for the Balearic Islands and beyond.
Project Partners
