ProMeteo – Digital agriculture for smart water management
This is the principle behind ProMeteo, the project that applies digital agriculture to water management, helping farmers in the Arborea Milk Supply Chain optimize irrigation, reduce waste, and protect natural resources.
Launched in 2022, ProMeteo integrates smart technologies and advanced weather forecasting to transform water use in the field into an efficient, sustainable, and crop-specific process.
How ProMeteo works
The project is based on a network of interconnected weather stations and IoT (Internet of Things) sensors installed directly in the cooperative’s pilot farms. These devices collect real-time data on:
- local weather conditions,
- soil moisture and water content,
- water behavior on the surface and underground.
The data is then combined with crop-specific agronomic models, providing farmers with precise guidance on when and how much to irrigate, with the goal of:
- avoiding unnecessary or excessive irrigation,
- improving water efficiency,
- increasing crop yields,
- and protecting groundwater from pollution and overuse.
Scientific partners and field research
The project is being developed in collaboration with the Department of Geophysics at the University of Cagliari, which studies the flow and transport of water from the surface to the subsurface and analyzes water dynamics in agricultural soil.
This research helps to:
- understand the water behavior of soils,
- monitor the quality of percolation water (the water that filters through the soil carrying dissolved substances),
- and prevent nutrient leaching (the process by which fertilizers and other nutrients are washed away by rain or irrigation water into groundwater)
Evolution and future developments
The first two smart weather stations were installed in 2022, followed by two more between 2024 and 2025, now ensuring comprehensive coverage of Arborea’s agricultural district.
In the meantime, several innovations have been introduced:
- new advanced sensors capable of detecting deep changes in soil moisture and the chemical composition of water,
- predictive modeling tools (digital systems that analyze environmental and agronomic data to anticipate changes in soil conditions and optimize irrigation and fertilization practices), designed to support data-driven agronomic decisions.
ProMeteo is a concrete example of smart, responsible agriculture, showing how technological innovation can become a valuable tool to enhance natural resources, strengthen agricultural productivity, and protect the land sustainably.
Learn more about how Arborea invests in water sustainability every day.
FAQs
Why was the ProMeteo project born?
Because every drop of water counts. ProMeteo was created to help our cooperative’s farmers irrigate more intelligently, avoiding waste, protecting natural resources, and ensuring the right amount of water for their crops, season after season.
How does the ProMeteo system work?
Through a network of smart weather stations and IoT sensors installed in the fields, we collect real-time data on climate, humidity, and soil water behavior. This information is then processed to recommend when and how much to irrigate, based on the land’s actual needs.
What does “predictive modeling” mean?
It’s a digital tool that allows us to anticipate crop needs. By analyzing sensor data and cross-referencing it with weather forecasts and agronomic models, we can predict how soil conditions will evolve, optimizing irrigation and fertilization accordingly.
Why is it important to monitor percolation water?
Water seeping into the soil can carry nutrients, but also pollutants. Monitoring its composition helps prevent fertilizer leaching into groundwater, protecting groundwater quality and maintaining the balance of our agricultural ecosystem.
What makes ProMeteo a special project?
Its ability to combine science, technology, and agricultural sensitivity. It’s not just about sensors and data, but a new way of farming, more conscious, efficient, and respectful of our land. This is what makes ProMeteo a concrete example of sustainability, designed to last over time.
Sustainability
Sustainability is not just an opportunity, but a duty and a mission.
Combining economic objectives with environmental and social ones is a choice that represents the Company’s concrete commitment to achieving the common well-being of the community.