CAMARILLO, Calif., — Semtech Corp., a supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms, announced that Sensoterra, a technology company offering wireless solutions for real time soil moisture measurement for commercial farms, leveraged Semtech’s LoRa devices and wireless radio frequency technology (LoRa Technology) and Senet’s LoRaWAN-based network into its smart agriculture systems to reduce up to 30% of water usage in commercial farms, including potato and almond orchards.

As water becomes more scarce in many parts of the world, Sensoterra’s LoRa-based solutions allow farmers to manage their irrigation systems more efficiently,” said Jurriaan Ruys, CEO of Sensoterra. “Today’s sensors must be low cost, easy to install and last for long periods of time in the field. These characteristics will allow growers to scale their deployments and benefit from true operational visibility. Semtech’s LoRa Technology and Senet’s LoRaWAN-based network achieves all of these attributes.” 

Sensoterra is a wireless and remote system that offers farmers real-time insight into the soil moisture condition of their crops. Soil is not homogenous and it holds moisture differently in various areas. The company utilizes LoRa-enabled sensors in its probes and a LoRaWAN infrastructure provided by Senet, a provider of global connectivity and IoT network service provider. Sensoterra primarily focuses on the North American and European agriculture markets and has deployed over 4,000 sensors and achieved 720,000 data points to date. Sensoterra’s solutions are now being deployed in Australia, South America and other parts of the world.

“Internet of Things (IoT) technologies continue to transform agriculture and with Semtech’s LoRa Technology, farmers can readily and easily deploy IoT solutions that grow their business as well as improve their crops,” said Alistair Fulton, Vice President of Product Management in Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products Group. “LoRa Technology has a proven track record of enabling efficiencies which reduce environmental impact, maximize yield and minimize expenses. LoRa-based smart agriculture use cases have demonstrated significant and impactful improvements.”