Boosting Food Security and Climate Adaptation in Cuba through Smart Irrigation Systems

Cuban agriculture is increasingly affected by drought, water scarcity, soil salinity and an unstable energy supply. At the same time, an ageing agricultural workforce makes labour-intensive irrigation practices increasingly difficult to maintain. Although centre-pivot irrigation is widely used, these systems are often still operated manually, without real-time information on soil moisture, weather conditions or crop water requirements. 

This project investigates how low-cost sensors, automation, artificial intelligence, satellite observations and renewable energy can be combined to make existing irrigation systems smarter and more efficient. Rather than replacing existing infrastructure, the project focuses on developing affordable technologies that can be integrated into irrigation systems already in use.

The project will develop a low-cost monitoring and control system that collects local environmental data, including soil moisture and weather conditions, and uses this information to control irrigation. An existing irrigation system in Cuba will be retrofitted with a low-cost control unit to demonstrate the feasibility of sensor-based automated irrigation under real agricultural conditions. 

These field measurements will be complemented by AI-based modelling and Copernicus Sentinel satellite observations. Reinforcement-learning techniques will be investigated to improve irrigation decisions based on local soil, climate and crop conditions, while satellite observations of vegetation health will be used to evaluate and further optimise the approach. 

The longer-term ambition is to contribute to irrigation systems that use water and energy only when and where they are needed, while maintaining or improving agricultural productivity.

The project brings together the Antwerp Maritime Academy (AMA), the University of Antwerp (UAntwerp) and Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas (UCLV) in Cuba. The partners combine complementary expertise in low-cost sensing and automation, AI and sustainability modelling, satellite observations, and the implementation of technology under Cuban agricultural conditions. 

AMA builds on its experience with rugged, low-cost environmental sensor systems. UCLV leads the adaptation and testing of the technology in Cuba and provides the connection with agricultural practice. UAntwerp contributes expertise in AI-based modelling and satellite data analysis. 

The project is conceived as a feasibility and partnership-building project. In addition to developing and testing the technological concept, it will strengthen cooperation between the Belgian and Cuban research teams and prepare a larger follow-up research project on climate-smart agriculture. 

By focusing on open-source and low-cost technology, the project aims to develop solutions that can be maintained and further developed locally. The approach could ultimately also be relevant to other regions in the Global South facing similar combinations of water scarcity, energy constraints and climate pressure.

Project partners: Antwerp Maritime Academy (AMA) – University of Antwerp (UAntwerp) – Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas (UCLV), Cuba

Funding: AUHA Seed Funding for Research Partnerships / Global Minds

Research domains: Smart irrigation · Low-cost sensors · Artificial intelligence · Climate adaptation · Food security · Sustainable agriculture · Renewable energy for irrigation