Here at 30MHz, we’re not exactly quiet about the power of sensor data to transform agriculture. We’ve seen our customers reduce losses from destroyed crops, optimise water and nutrient delivery to maximize yields, and reduce energy costs just days after deployment. Thanks to over 80 customers — most of them in agriculture— we know that even a few well-placed sensors can significantly improve the accuracy of dewpoint and temperature measurements, with insights that have significant financial impact. Take the case of Moors Pepper Farm, which produces 4.5 million peppers a year. After deploying wireless sensors to monitor pepper temperature (aimed at reducing crop burn and optimising water usage), the company saw a 6% increase in yields, an estimated 5-10% reduction in energy costs, and calculates the ROI of smart sensing technology at 3600%.

Analytics on physical space can make fruit, vegetable and flower cultivation more predictable and productive— but the power of smart sensing doesn’t stop at growing.

Agriculture analytics beyond cultivation

In agriculture and horticulture, the impact of smart sensing technology extends well beyond the greenhouse and arable field. Real-time monitoring of storage conditions is critical to the preservation of quality products. So, in practical terms, what do agribusinesses need?

Connectivity for storage conditions

Data is only valuable to an agribusiness if it’s accurate and consistent, so when monitoring storage, industrial-strength connectivity is a priority. We know continuous uptime is non-negotiable, regardless of the environment. We make sure that when customers like CNB Bulbs use 30MHz smart sensing technology to keep track conditions in cold storage containers that are sealed for 9 months at a time, they can capture real-time data even through thick metal walls, and receive alerts whenever conditions change.  

The right combination of metrics

Optimising storage conditions relies on understanding the interplay between metrics. Manual sensor readings or multiple, siloed interfaces are inefficient and ineffective. Agribusinesses need the ability to see all the measurements they need in one central location.

We’ve seen customers like Jan De Wit and Sons maintain the health and quality of their bulbs during processing, washing ventilation and storage with measurements from temperature/humidity, temperature (probe), CO2, ethylene, and air flow sensors. Another customer, one of the Netherland’s leading cacao trading companies, uses temperature/humidity sensors to track and maintain consistent conditions in its storage facilities. The company uses alerts on changing temperatures within silos to prevent fire damage, and PIR (presence) sensorsin rat traps to improve trap placement and position. Optimised trap positioning helps reduce inventory losses, and remote monitoring of traps eliminates the need to manual trap checks, lowering hourly maintenance costs.

Analytics for any agricultural context

From cultivation, to processing and storage, to transport and retail, measuring physical space can optimise the productivity and profitability of agribusinesses across the chain. Large or small, any business can get actionable insights on its environment immediately— set up only takes a few minutes. Get in touch, and let us know what you’d like to measure.