Our team has focused on the challenges of agricultural irrigation in Germany, particularly the anticipated issues due to climate change, declining groundwater levels, and increasing water demand. The primary learnings from our research emphasize the growing need for sustainable irrigation solutions, given the increasing drought periods and higher reliance on rain-fed agriculture.
We evaluated existing irrigation solutions and policies. Based on the research we refined our dual-component solution:

1. Water Information System (WIS): A centralized, real-time water monitoring and distribution system.
2. TerraDrip: A smart, underground irrigation system designed for higher efficiency and reduced water wastage.

These solutions address key gaps in water allocation, efficiency, and sustainability while integrating deep technology into agriculture.

Future Changes & Trends Impacting the Problem Space

• Climate Change: Increasing droughts will intensify water scarcity.
• Regulatory Shifts: Stricter government policies on water use and conservation.
• Technological Adoption: The rise of precision agriculture, IoT, and AI-driven water management will shape future irrigation practices.
• Growing Population: Higher demand for food will increase pressure on agricultural water usage.

Problem Space & Supporting Research

The problem space revolves around ensuring efficient water use for agriculture in Germany to combat water scarcity and inefficient irrigation methods. Research highlights the critical role of groundwater, changing precipitation patterns, and the necessity of modernized irrigation techniques.

Preliminary Chosen Direction & Deep Tech Integration

Our proposed direction integrates deep technology through:

• Water Information System (WIS) for real-time monitoring using IoT (Internet of Things) sensors, predictive analytics, and smart water allocation.
• TerraDrip irrigation system, underground tubing, and automated ploughing to enhance efficiency and water conservation.

Next Steps

Our next steps will include more prototype Development, by implementing a pilot system to test functionality. And we will be interviewing stakeholders to refine our understanding of the problem space and to discuss the prototypes with them.

Team FANNI