Seeland, Switzerland

The test site Seeland, Switzerland is the largest vegetable farming region. However, the regions faces major problems. Loss of fertile soil can be up to 2.5 cm annually. Also, there is a significant potential to increase the efficiency of water resources management by optimizing irrigation and by  increasing the efficiency of the daily operation of infrastructure such as drains and channels or pumps. The changing precipitation dynamics make future production targets vulnerable.

WATERAGRI project will maintain the high level of food production in the long-term through intelligent water and soil management. It will optimize the drainage management through real-time management. Our proposed simulation system is based on numerical models running in real time, and is being continuously updated using sensors installed in the field. The system also considers weather forecasts and simulates all relevant components of the water cycle (including ground- and soil water). Our approach has a significant potential to increase the efficiency and coordination of the local water management. Moreover, the efficiency of costly investments such as new drainage systems or irrigation systems will be assessed together with local stakeholders under consideration of climate change.