Higher tech, lower costs: Netafim to roll out digital farming system for smallholders in Q2 2026, targets Asia – AgTechNavigator.com

Report on Netafim’s GrowSphere Platform and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Empowering Smallholder Farmers for Global Food Security

A new version of the GrowSphere digital farming platform has been developed by Netafim to enhance the accessibility, affordability, and practicality of precision agriculture for smallholder farmers. This initiative directly targets the agricultural segment responsible for producing approximately one-third of the world’s food, with their contribution exceeding 70% in certain regions. The platform’s deployment is a strategic effort to address critical global challenges in food production and sustainable development.

Core Objectives and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The development of this technology is fundamentally aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary aim is to provide smallholders with affordable and user-friendly solutions that leverage AI-driven tools and advanced crop models to improve decision-making and agricultural outcomes.

Addressing Key Challenges for Smallholder Agriculture

Smallholder farmers face a distinct set of challenges that this technology aims to mitigate. A continuous feedback loop, maintained through close collaboration with farmers, is integral to refining the system and ensuring its relevance and effectiveness.

• Economic Viability: A primary need is to increase crop yields and improve profitability, directly contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty) by enhancing livelihoods.
• Climate Resilience: Farmers require tools to cope with increasing climate variability, a key component of SDG 13 (Climate Action).
• Resource Management: The platform promotes the efficient use of water and fertilizers, which is central to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
• Generational Succession: Providing modern, simple digital tools is crucial for engaging the younger generation in agriculture, supporting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Strategic Implementation and Partnerships

Focus on the Asian Market

Asia, home to the majority of the world’s smallholder farmers, is a priority market for the system. The strategy involves deep engagement with this segment to create a meaningful impact on regional food security and economic stability. This regional focus is critical for achieving progress on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) on a global scale.

Collaborative Deployment Model

To accelerate deployment and adoption, Netafim is pursuing a multi-stakeholder approach. This aligns with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

1. Collaboration with long-standing distribution partners.
2. Seeking new partnerships with entities specializing in smallholder engagement.
3. Engaging with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), off-takers, and government programs that invest in farmer training and technology adoption.

Technological Framework: The GrowSphere Platform

System Capabilities

GrowSphere is a comprehensive digital platform that integrates over five decades of agronomic expertise with modern technologies such as IoT, cloud computing, and data analytics. It provides a closed-loop system for precision agriculture management.

• Planning and Execution: Allows farmers to plan and execute precise irrigation and fertigation schedules.
• Monitoring and Analysis: Enables real-time monitoring and review of agricultural operations.
• AI-Driven Recommendations: Delivers tailored recommendations based on advanced crop models, supporting SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by bringing advanced analytics to the farm level.

Design Principles for Smallholder Accessibility

The system was purpose-built with the specific needs and constraints of smallholders in mind, ensuring both efficacy and affordability.

• Cost-Effective Hardware: The unit utilizes fewer valves and sensors and omits a built-in screen, with operation managed entirely via a smartphone or tablet.
• Simplified Installation and Use: Designed for quick installation with minimal technical expertise and features an intuitive user interface.
• Low-Cost Connectivity: Operates effectively using affordable connectivity solutions.
• Localization: The platform can be fully translated into local languages and is supported by a local dealer network to ensure accessibility and effective support.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses several issues related to agriculture, technology, and economic development for smallholder farmers, which directly connect to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The core focus of the article is on supporting smallholder farmers, who “produce about one-third of the world’s food,” to increase their yields and ensure food production.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The technology aims to “improve profitability” and make farming “more profitable” for smallholders, contributing to their economic growth and the viability of their livelihoods.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article centers on a technological innovation—a “digital farming platform” that uses “IoT technologies, cloud computing and data analytics” to make precision agriculture more accessible and affordable.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The platform is designed to help farmers “grow more with less” and “use less resources such as water and fertilisers,” promoting sustainable and efficient resource management.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The company’s strategy involves collaboration with “NGOs, off-takers and government programmes” to accelerate the deployment and adoption of its technology among smallholders.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers. The article directly addresses this by introducing a technology designed to help smallholders “increase yields” and “improve profitability.”
2. Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices. The technology promotes “precision irrigation and fertigation” to prevent crop damage and cope with “climate variability,” which are key components of resilient and sustainable agriculture.
3. Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation. The article describes the introduction of “AI-driven tools,” “crop models,” and a “digital farming platform” as a means to improve productivity for farmers.
4. Target 9.b: Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries. The company is making advanced technology “accessible, affordable, and practical” for smallholders, particularly in Asia, thus supporting technology adoption and innovation at the local level.
5. Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The system explicitly aims to help farmers “use less resources such as water and fertilisers,” directly contributing to this target.
6. Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships. The article states the company is “seeking collaborators who specialise in smallholder engagement, including NGOs, off-takers and government programmes” to achieve its goals.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Increased Yields and Productivity: The article repeatedly mentions the goal to “increase yields” and achieve “better productivity.” This can be measured as the volume of crops produced per unit of land.
• Improved Profitability: The technology aims to make farming “more profitable.” This can be measured by tracking the net income of smallholder farmers who adopt the system.
• Resource Use Efficiency: The article highlights the benefit of using “less resources such as water and fertilisers.” Progress can be measured by the reduction in the volume of water and fertilizer used per crop cycle or per unit of yield.
• Technology Adoption Rate: The success of the initiative depends on how many smallholders adopt the technology. This can be measured by the number of farmers or the total area of farmland managed using the GrowSphere platform.
• Cost and Accessibility of Technology: The article emphasizes making the technology “affordable” through “lower hardware costs” and a simplified design. The cost of the unit and its accessibility in local languages are direct indicators of this.
• Formation of Partnerships: The number and effectiveness of collaborations with “NGOs, off-takers and government programmes” can serve as an indicator for measuring progress on partnership goals.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: agtechnavigator.com