IrrigationNZ News Spring 2024

Pictured above is 2022 winner - Brendan Hamilton 'H2Ortigator'

INNOVATION IN IRRIGATION AWARD FINALISTS 2024: Highlighting irrigation innovation in New Zealand

The biennial Innovation in Irrigation Award is to celebrate, encourage, and promote innovation and the positive things being undertaken in our communities with and because of irrigation. It’s about ordinary people doing extraordinary things on farms, in schemes, in business, and in supporting service industries.

We’ve received a diverse range of impressive entries, each highlighting different facets of innovation in water management. After careful consideration, we’ve selected four standout finalists. An outline of each of their innovations is below.

The winner will be announced at our IrrigationNZ Awards Evening on November 6.

RANGITATA SOUTH IRRIGATION SCHEME (RSIL) AND METEOROLOGY SOLUTIONS

The Rangitata South Irrigation Scheme (RSIL), in collaboration with Meteorology Solutions, has introduced an innovative AI-powered river flow prediction system. RSIL, a farmer-owned irrigation scheme in South Canterbury, relies on capturing flood flows from the Rangitata River. By integrating 40 years of river flow data with advanced weather models and machine learning, Meteorology Solutions has developed a system that predicts flood events up to six days in advance, offering crucial information to scheme operators.

This system provides several benefits, such as an extended forecasting window that allows operators more time for planning engineering work and coordinating bird surveys when diverting a river braid to the intake canal. Additionally, the model is calibrated for different seasons, enhancing the accuracy of water collection predictions. This improved forecasting enables better-informed decisions about water releases from storage dams, optimising the water supply for RSIL shareholders.

The tool is anticipated to become a vital operational asset for RSIL and could potentially be adopted by other irrigation schemes to manage water restrictions and prepare for future rainfall events. This entry highlights the benefits of precise data management for our natural water resources.

BACTOSURE

Bactosure has presented its advanced portable microbiology testing technology. This innovation significantly advances water quality monitoring by providing rural communities with an efficient, reliable solution for detecting and counting harmful bacteria in irrigation water, such as E. coli and total coliforms.

Bactosure’s portable, battery-powered device automates laboratorygrade testing, making it field-accessible. Users simply collect a water sample, add a reagent, and start the device, which delivers results in under half a day. The device features Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity for real-time data transmission, and offline capability for operation in remote areas.

This system offers profound benefits for rural communities by eliminating the need for lengthy and costly sample transportation, ensuring faster results, and reducing contamination risk. With a costeffective subscription model, Bactosure provides high-end testing access to financially constrained areas, aiding in regulatory compliance and safeguarding community health.

This approach simplifies water testing, enhances environmental sustainability, and supports the safety of rural drinking water supplies, making it a strong contender in the 2024 competition.

CROPTIDE

Croptide has introduced a groundbreaking plant-based water status measurement technology. Designed to improve water management for growers, Croptide’s novel sensor attaches directly to the stems of permanent crops such as grapevines, apple trees, and kiwifruit vines.

The sensor collects continuous electrical data from the plant’s tissues, including membranes and sap. This data is analysed using Croptide’s

proprietary algorithms to provide precise insights into plant water status. The information is then transmitted to the cloud and displayed in real-time via an app, allowing growers to monitor crop water needs with exceptional accuracy.

The device’s simplicity and ease of installation make it scalable for widespread use in orchards and vineyards. Real-time plantbased insights enable growers to make more informed irrigation decisions, optimising water use, enhancing fruit quality and yield, and reducing environmental impacts.

Currently deployed across over 100 pilot sites in New Zealand, including with leading companies like Zespri and Villa Maria, Croptide’s technology shows promise for transforming irrigation practices in permanent crops and improving agricultural sustainability.

NANOBUBBLE AGRITECH

Nanobubble Agritech has introduced its advanced nanobubble technology, which has demonstrated significant improvements in irrigation efficiency and pasture growth. This technology injects high concentrations of oxygen nanobubbles into irrigation water, enhancing soil aeration and plant uptake of water and nutrients.

Implemented on five commercial farms across New Zealand – including Henderson Farms, where it covers 92 hectares under a pivot irrigator – the technology has reduced water use by 15 percent and increased pasture production by 25–30 percent compared to control areas. Additionally, the system allows irrigation three out of every four days while maintaining optimal soil moisture, unlike other pivots on the farm that must operate continuously.

Nanobubble Agritech’s solution is cost-effective in the long term when accounting for capital, operational, and maintenance costs, as well as water savings and production gains. This technology holds significant potential, especially in challenging environments affected by strong El Niño summers.

IrrigationNZ’s Innovation in Irrigation Award is sponsored by Vantage NZ.