Smart Crop Storage Monitoring: Optimizing Agricultural Quality with IoT

Background

Good storage is the most valuable asset in maintaining the quality of agricultural commodities, especially for growers focused on maximizing yields, buyers looking to benefit from long shelf-life, and supply chain operators who need to meet even the most stringent regulatory standards. Viasat's Crop Storage Monitoring addresses these needs by remotely monitoring storage environments in real time. This comprehensive solution improves visibility and quality control of agricultural products at every touch point - from on-farm storage to warehouses and in-transit throughout the supply chain.

Challenges

Agricultural products are particularly sensitive to changes in temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels - all of which can have a significant impact on quality, product life, and market value. Historically, it has been difficult to monitor these conditions in real time as raw materials move through global supply chains. Lack of visibility increases the risk of spoilage, loss, and non-compliance, resulting in financial loss and reduced product quality.

Viasat addresses these challenges with IoT-based connectivity solutions that enable farmers to receive reliable data on the condition of their crops at any location. This allows stakeholders to monitor or intervene when necessary, minimizing potential losses and preserving the integrity of the crop.

Solution Overview

The Viasat solution uses a collection of low-cost sensors integrated with advanced connectivity services to provide real-time monitoring and reporting. Sensors can be designed to work in many types of storage and transport environments, thus providing great flexibility to growers and supply chain operators regardless of commodity type. Typical data collected includes temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels-key factors in determining the environment's impact on crop quality.

It works in cooperation with Viasat connectivity services and its partners to ensure seamless information flow from the sensor network to the cloud-based dashboard. This infrastructure enables continuous monitoring of key parameters, providing visibility at every stage of the crop's journey.

The Viasat solution's multiple connectivity options ensure that data is collected consistently. LoRaWAN, Viasat's proprietary IoT Direct, IoT Nano, IoT Select, and IoT Pro service systems operate over the L-band satellite network for reliable coverage with 99.9% availability worldwide, providing global reach for monitoring locations so remote or in areas so challenging that traditional cellular or Internet networks cannot access them.

The data collected by the sensors is transported to a cloud-based dashboard that can be accessed by users through a real-time application. The metrics can be easily visualized on the dashboards and alerts can be sent in the event of extreme fluctuations in storage conditions facilitating timely intervention.

Key Features

Real-time monitoring: Real-time key metrics include temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels, making it much quicker and easier to monitor crop quality and react to any deviations.
Real-time alerts: The system provides immediate notification of critical changes in storage conditions, allowing users to take corrective action before commodities are compromised.
Global coverage: The solution features Viasat's L-band satellite network, which assures it of reliable 99.9% global coverage for consistent monitoring from any location in the world.

Benefits of the Solution

Increased marketable yield: Growers and operators can manage raw materials in an optimal environment by continuously monitoring storage conditions, maximizing yield with minimal loss.
Improved transparency and compliance: The solution provides full traceability and visibility at every stage of the supply chain. This allows for quality control by stakeholders and easier regulatory compliance by providing proper handling and storage.
Reduced complexity: Viasat's solution helps to reduce the need for manual monitoring and management of data by automating collection at the grassroots level and integrating it at the center. This would streamline operations to higher levels of accuracy and efficiency, with information flowing easily throughout the supply chain.

Bottom Line

Viasat's crop storage monitoring solution provides a well-developed IoT-based methodology to help solve the problems of maintaining the quality of agricultural commodities along the global supply chains. It enables stakeholders to make proactive decisions through reliable connectivity, real-time data monitoring, and global coverage, enabling better quality control and reducing crop losses. It therefore helps maintain optimal conditions, improves product traceability, and provides a way to meet regulatory requirements - all of which contribute to a resilient and efficient agricultural industry.