Orbia Precision Agriculture Netafim and Phytech collaborate to optimize digital farming

Orbia Advance Corporation’s S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: ORBIA*) Precision Agriculture business group Netafim announced a strategic partnership with Phytech LTD, an innovative agtech company known for its plant and tree-based irrigation recommendations. Orbia Netafim is the world’s leading irrigation company creating tailored precision agriculture solutions that help millions of farmers across 110 countries to grow more with less™. 

Phytech has developed a simplified, alert-driven mobile platform, combining predictive algorithms and data analysis tools that integrate continuous crop health and supportive environmental data, distilled into real-time recommendations. By providing clear visibility into tank level, pumps, filters and valves, Phytech’s hydraulic monitoring capabilities enable real-time problem detection and predictive maintenance of a farmer’s irrigation system, creating a speedy response to any issue. Without these "eyes" in the field, growers depend on manually checking key functions or detecting the problem only after the damage has occurred. 

The partnership will leverage Orbia Netafim’s extensive distribution and service network, providing real-time feedback on in-field irrigation operations and data-driven recommendations to mutual customers.

Phytech’s technology will be integrated with GrowSphere™, Orbia Netafim’s all-in-one irrigation operating system, providing both sets of customers with deeper visibility into their irrigation environment for faster and more accurate monitoring. The new partnership creates synergy by fully leveraging GrowSphere’s advanced control and automation capabilities, enabling customers to benefit from more precise and responsive irrigation solutions tailored to the specific needs of their crops. These can include the detection of water waste, fertilizer waste or low pressure, all of which cause system malfunctions and incur additional costs.   

GrowSphere has delivered significant benefits to farmers for a multitude of crops and across varying topographies during the last year. Since initial fertigation periods, GrowSphere has proven to boost value per hectare by improving operational efficiency and providing reliable implementation for growers at all stages of their irrigation and fertigation journey. 

″Having worked closely with Phytech over the years, we have seen their technology's impressive impact on growers worldwide and we are excited to embark on this partnership,″ said Ofer Oveed, SVP Technology and Crops, Orbia Precision Agriculture (Netafim). ″By integrating Phytech’s technology with our GrowSphere operating system, we will enhance our technology portfolio, providing better support and visibility for our growers. This collaboration aligns with our commitment to advancing precision irrigation and delivering superior solutions to our customers.″ 

Phytech’s CEO Oren Kind remarked, ″Our technology's initial success was driven by its ability to tackle key challenges faced by farmers, including offering valuable support in agronomic decisions and real-time monitoring of their hydraulic systems. By teaming up with Netafim, a global leader in precision irrigation, we are poised to extend the reach of our technology worldwide. This partnership marks a major milestone for our company and will assist growers in initiating a crucial digital 

transformation towards more sustainable and efficient agricultural practices.″