Key Takeaways:
- Arable has partnered with Google to implement innovative agricultural technology aimed at enhancing water conservation and crop productivity in southwest Nebraska.
- The collaboration will deploy Arable’s crop intelligence solution across 25,000 acres, helping farmers make data-driven decisions to optimize irrigation.
- This initiative addresses the growing impact of climate change on water resources and aims to improve agricultural sustainability.
- The project is expected to yield benefits beyond water conservation, including reductions in carbon emissions and support for ecosystem health.
Arable, a leading innovator in climate-smart agriculture, has announced a collaboration with Google to advance the adoption of agricultural technology focused on water conservation and crop productivity. This partnership will equip farmers in southwest Nebraska with Arable’s advanced crop intelligence solution, enabling more precise irrigation practices through data-driven decision-making.
Addressing Water Challenges Amid Climate Change
The collaboration comes at a time when the effects of climate change are increasingly straining global water resources. Rising temperatures and prolonged droughts have led to significant concerns over groundwater depletion, with projections suggesting that climate change could triple the rate of water depletion. This poses a severe threat to agriculture, as 40% of global food production currently relies on unsustainable groundwater extraction.
The Google-Arable partnership aims to address these challenges by supporting sustainable water management practices in agriculture. “We’re committed to being responsible stewards of natural resources,” said Suzie Shin, Data Center Sustainability Manager at Google. “Our goal is to replenish more water than we consume by 2030 and support water security in communities where we operate. We’re excited to collaborate with Arable to promote water conservation in agriculture.”
Deployment and Impact of the Arable System
To support this initiative, Google has provided funding to deploy Arable’s technology across 25,000 acres in the Twin Platte Natural Resources District (TPNRD). The deployment, executed by Arable in collaboration with the TPNRD, includes training and ongoing support to ensure that participating farmers can fully leverage the technology’s capabilities. Arable’s system captures and synthesizes data on weather, crop conditions, soil health, and irrigation, transforming this information into actionable insights accessible via mobile and web apps.
The collaboration builds on Arable’s success in facilitating water savings while maintaining crop quality and yield. In 2023, for example, Nebraska’s Paulman Farms reduced irrigation by 22% across 27 fields using Arable’s solution. “In my 39 years of farming, this is the most revolutionary step I’ve seen irrigation take,” said Roric Paulman, Owner of Paulman Farms.
Long-Term Benefits for Agriculture and the Environment
As water scarcity continues to challenge farmers globally, the widespread adoption of innovative solutions like Arable’s could play a critical role in optimizing irrigation practices. The Google-Arable collaboration not only aims to improve water conservation but also to reduce electricity and diesel fuel consumption, leading to lower carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, the reduction in groundwater pumping is expected to benefit the Platte River system, promoting the long-term sustainability of regional water resources and supporting the health of downstream ecosystems.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Google, the TPNRD, and the local farming community to address what I see as the most pressing challenge in agriculture today—the future availability of water,” said Jim Ethington, CEO of Arable. “This partnership gives growers the tools they need to produce more with less, benefiting both their bottom line and the planet.”
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