“Automation is gaining ground in Argentina’s hydroponics sector”
Source: VFD.com
However, the increase in production area is raising a second issue that is becoming just as important as the installation of the hydroponic system itself, since maintaining stable production parameters 365 days a year requires reducing dependence on manual controls and using tools capable of continuously monitoring the variables that determine crop performance. "It is precisely this combination of infrastructure, equipment and automation that makes it possible to move towards more consistent production, with lower labour requirements and more uniform quality throughout the year." With this in mind, Verdeagua added GrowDirector solutions to its portfolio this year, becoming a partner of the Israeli company in Argentina and integrating technology capable of monitoring and automating various operations that are still carried out manually in many greenhouses.
The GrowDirector 4 PRO platform is based on scalable wireless modules capable of controlling irrigation, fertigation, climate control, lighting and sensor monitoring, as well as tracking parameters related to water quality, including pH and electrical conductivity. "Latin America currently includes farming operations with very different levels of technology and, precisely because of this diversity, there is considerable scope for low-tech greenhouses to incorporate tools typically associated with intermediate-level facilities, while more technologically advanced operations can continue refining their processes and increasing productivity through more precise control systems." From manufacturing NFT channels to supporting the entire production project Verdeagua was founded eight years ago as a manufacturer of channels for NFT systems, with the aim of reducing dependence on imported components that significantly increased the cost of hydroponic installations and limited the wider adoption of hydroponics.
However, as projects grew in size, the company also broadened its commercial approach, incorporating inputs and international brands until it was able to offer a comprehensive solution for hydroponic growers, within which GrowDirector automation now represents a new technological layer designed to support the expansion of their operations. "Before implementing the system, the grower had to check every day, and sometimes several times during the day, that the electrical conductivity and pH of the irrigation solution remained within the established parameters, sending staff to take measurements and subsequently adjusting the values with fertilisers or corrective products whenever deviations occurred." "Following automation, monitoring and adjustments are carried out continuously, keeping the nutrient solution within the established parameters and allowing the grower to check the operation of the installation remotely.
Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?
Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.
What is the operator takeaway from this trial?
If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.
