Agriculture Technology and Adoption Centre (AgTAC) Projects Sweeter water use

Sweeter water use

Instrumentation in cane field

Dr Eric Wang utilizes electronics and the Internet of Things (IoT) to provide an innovative solution that improves irrigation practices across the sugarcane industry.

By actively engaging with local sugarcane farmers across the Burdekin region, Eric was able to understand the needs and challenges of the industry in regard to irrigation practices, water quality and its impact on the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding wetlands.

Weather station

Eric used this knowledge, as the key developer in the project, to design and implement a closed-loop solution for smart irrigation. His expertise in electronics and IoT enabled the seamless integration of sensors, actuators, and automated irrigation devices.

"Adopting efficient irrigation for sugarcane farms near the Great Barrier Reef enhances farm productivity and protects the reef. By reducing runoff, these practices prevent harmful impacts on the reef's ecosystem, supporting its biodiversity and tourism value. Economically, it means lower water costs and healthier crops for farmers, ensuring sustainable agriculture. This approach balances agricultural needs with environmental conservation, benefiting both the economy and the ecosystem."

Dr Eric Wang

The NESP Project 3.1.2 Improving water quality for the Great Barrier Reef and wetlands by better managing irrigation in the sugarcane farming system aimed to address the environmental challenges associated with sugarcane farming, particularly concerning water quality and its impact on the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding wetlands. Systems that increase water use efficiency can deliver practical, profitable and environmental benefits to irrigated agricultural systems worldwide.

It was important to ensure data was collected in real-time and that the irrigation adjustments made were based on crop needs and environmental conditions. It was found that the closed-loop solution could effectively manage irrigation scheduling by incorporating irrigation decision support tools with practical constraints.

Eric then provided training and support to the farmers so they could effectively implement and confidently use this new innovation.

The project’s closed-loop solution was successfully implemented on over 1000 hectares of sugarcane farms. This shows great potential for scalability and broader adoption across the sugarcane industry.

This project is jointly funded through James Cook University, Burdekin Productivity Services, SQR Software Limited, Sugar Research Australia, NQ Dry Tropics, WiSA Global, Growers, AgriTech Solutions and the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Programme.