Key Takeaways:
- Orbia’s Mega-PULSAR™ delivers pulsed, full-coverage sprinkler cooling to safeguard high-value crops from heatwaves
- Netafim’s technology aims to create a localized microclimate that reduces temperature and raises humidity
- Designed for crops such as avocado, mango, and lychee in subtropical regions
- Modular, wide-spacing system reduces water use, labor, and maintenance costs
- Early 2025 field installations show improved humidity and temperature control in orchards
Netafim’s New Irrigation Innovation Targets Heatwave and Water Scarcity Challenges
Orbia Advance Corporation’s Precision Agriculture business, Netafim, has introduced Mega-PULSAR™, a pulsing sprinkler technology designed to protect orchards from increasingly frequent and severe heatwaves. The launch coincides with Netafim’s 60th anniversary and builds on its portfolio of extreme weather mitigation solutions.
Targeted at growers of high-value subtropical crops such as avocado, mango, and lychee, Mega-PULSAR™ addresses the vulnerability of crops during critical growth stages like fruit set and pre-harvest. The system distributes uniform pulses of low-volume water throughout the orchard canopy, forming a localized microclimate to counteract heat stress.
Key Features and Benefits
Mega-PULSAR™ is engineered for efficiency and adaptability:
- Wide-spacing installation and high uniformity allow for fewer units per hectare
- Low water usage supports growers in water-scarce regions
- Flexible flow rates and spacing accommodate varied orchard sizes and topographies
- Modular design simplifies installation and reduces ongoing maintenance costs
The technology employs a proprietary pulsation mechanism to create a “light rain” effect. This enables direct cooling, lowering tree surface temperatures with water droplets, and evaporative cooling, which cools surrounding air as water evaporates.
Netafim Addressing Climate-Driven Agricultural Risks
“With extreme weather events becoming more common, growers face unprecedented risk,” said Orit Katzir, Global Product Manager at Orbia Precision Agriculture. “We developed Mega-PULSAR™ to provide scalable, efficient orchard protection at every growth phase, in line with our mission to help farmers grow more with less.”
Initial field installations began in spring 2025, with early data showing increases in relative humidity and reductions in orchard temperatures. These results suggest Mega-PULSAR™ can be a practical and cost-effective tool for mitigating climate-related production losses.
Expanding Netafim’s Sustainable Agriculture Portfolio
Mega-PULSAR™ joins Netafim’s range of precision irrigation and climate resilience solutions. By offering high water-use efficiency alongside full-area heat protection, the system supports growers in maintaining yield and quality while adapting to changing environmental conditions.
Netafim
Netafim, part of Orbia’s Precision Agriculture business, is an irrigation and precision agriculture solutions provider operating in over 110 countries. The company offers end-to-end solutions for irrigation, fertigation, and greenhouse systems, serving both smallholders and large-scale agricultural producers.
Established in 1965, Netafim is known for pioneering drip irrigation and developing integrated systems that combine real-time monitoring, data analysis, and automated control. Its operations include 33 subsidiaries, 19 manufacturing plants, 2 recycling facilities, and a global workforce of more than 5,000 employees.
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