Water for Agriculture

According to the World Bank, irrigated agriculture is two times as productive per unit of land as rainfed agriculture. Deploying more advanced irrigation (e.g. drip, digital technologies) enables increased production and crop diversification. Within this context, the competitive landscape across the water for agriculture value chain is evolving through new strategies and positing.  More broadly, Bluefield has identified and analyzed three key groups of stakeholders:

• OEMs expanding towards smart irrigation through new data gathering sensors and online platforms
• Data collection & decision specialists in gathering data through soil sensors, drones, precise imagery, or weather sensors to support advanced decision-making processes
• Decision-making analysis software providers focused on online platforms, software, and apps to analyze data

Indoor, vertical farms are typically deployed in three key approaches– hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics– with an aim to to improve energy and water management in key areas. The result is driving a range of channel strategies, including turnkey system delivery, integrated partnerships with distributors, and exclusive B2B agreements. Behind the scenes of this activity are private equity and venture capital firms seeking an acceleration in growth.

Agricultural pain points, including the cost of water– shaped by water rights, availability, and policy– is placing greater focus on irrigation methods and pumping costs. Of the three irrigation methods deployed in open fields, more efficient drip systems have grown 19% since 2013 in the U.S. This transition is expected to accelerate away from traditional gravity-fed and sprinkler systems because of technology innovation, climate concerns, and operating costs. >>Learn More