KWS, a global agricultural leader and the world’s fourth-largest seed producer, transformed their European seed trial operations by implementing a satellite IoT soil monitoring solution. The company, which conducts extensive research and development to create high-performance seeds for farmers worldwide, partnered with Wyld Networks and DFM Technologies to overcome connectivity challenges in remote agricultural areas while achieving more precise data collection, improved irrigation efficiency, and enhanced R&D capabilities.
Key Results: KWS eliminated connectivity gaps across their European trial sites, reduced crop stress by 35% through optimized irrigation timing, and achieved 20-25% water savings while enabling global scaling without terrestrial infrastructure deployment.
What is Satellite IoT Soil Monitoring?
Satellite IoT soil monitoring represents the next evolution in precision agriculture, combining Internet of Things sensors with satellite connectivity to provide real-time soil data from any location on Earth. Unlike traditional IoT agriculture solutions that rely on cellular or WiFi networks, satellite IoT enables continuous soil parameter monitoring in remote agricultural areas where terrestrial connectivity is unreliable or non-existent.
This smart farming technology measures critical soil conditions including moisture levels, temperature variations, and nutrient content at multiple depths, transmitting data directly to low Earth orbit satellites for immediate analysis and decision-making support.
The Smart Agriculture Challenge: Connectivity in Remote Farming Areas
Geographic and Technical Constraints
KWS conducts critical seed trials across Europe, particularly in France and Italy, in remote agricultural areas where traditional cellular connectivity is unreliable or non-existent. These trials require continuous data collection on soil moisture and temperature at multiple depths, real-time monitoring to enable timely irrigation decisions, reliable data transmission from remote locations, and scalable infrastructure that doesn’t require extensive ground-based network deployment.
Without reliable connectivity, KWS faced significant operational challenges. Data gaps compromised seed trial validity, while manual data collection required frequent site visits and increased costs by 25-30%. Decision-making on irrigation and crop management was delayed by 24-48 hours, leading to crop stress, and the company had limited ability to expand trials to optimal but remote locations. Trial sites experienced 30-40% connectivity gaps during critical growing periods, fundamentally limiting KWS’s research capabilities.
Satellite IoT Agriculture Solution: Technology Stack and Implementation
IoT Agriculture Technology Components
KWS implemented a comprehensive satellite IoT soil monitoring system through strategic partnerships with Wyld Networks and DFM Technologies. The precision agriculture solution centers on DFM Soil Probes that measure moisture and temperature at up to six soil depths, connected to Wyld Connect Terminals that transmit data directly to LEO satellites using ISM, L-band, and S-band frequencies. Data flows through the Wyld Fusion Platform for integration with KWS’s existing smart farming analytics systems.
The implementation followed a careful phased approach, beginning with a pilot deployment across five trial sites in France, then expanding to fifteen sites across France and Italy. The system integrates seamlessly with KWS’s global analytics platform and includes automated alert capabilities for irrigation optimization. The technology stack features multi-depth soil monitoring, real-time satellite transmission across multiple frequencies, weather-resistant low-power sensors, and comprehensive data integration capabilities.
Smart Farming Results: Precision Agriculture Benefits
The satellite IoT implementation delivered remarkable results across multiple dimensions. KWS achieved 100% connectivity reliability across all trial sites, enabling real-time data availability for immediate decision-making while reducing manual data collection interventions by 80%. The enhanced data granularity from multi-depth soil monitoring significantly improved their research capabilities.
From an agricultural perspective, the system optimized irrigation timing and reduced crop stress by 35%, while achieving water usage reductions of 20-25% through precision application. The continuous environmental monitoring improved seed trial accuracy and enabled KWS to conduct trials in previously inaccessible locations, enhancing their R&D capabilities considerably.
The environmental benefits proved equally significant. Water conservation through precision irrigation, reduced fertilizer runoff via optimized application timing, and elimination of frequent site visits lowered the carbon footprint while supporting sustainable agriculture practices through data-driven decisions.
For KWS’s business operations, the solution reduced operational costs by eliminating the need for terrestrial infrastructure, accelerated product development through enhanced trial capabilities, and improved market competitiveness via superior seed performance data. Most importantly, it enabled global scalability without geographic connectivity constraints.
Technology Deep Dive
Satellite IoT Architecture
Multi-Band Communication:
- ISM Band: Local data collection and device coordination
- L-Band: Primary satellite uplink for data transmission
- S-Band: Backup communication and system updates
Power Efficiency:
- Solar-powered sensor nodes with battery backup
- Intelligent duty cycling to optimize power consumption
- Weather-resistant design for multi-season deployment
Data Integration
Wyld Fusion Platform Features:
- Real-time data processing and validation
- Integration APIs for KWS analytics systems
- Customizable alert and notification systems
- Historical data storage and trend analysis
Conclusion
KWS’s successful deployment of satellite IoT soil monitoring represents a paradigm shift in agricultural R&D, proving that connectivity constraints no longer need to limit scientific advancement or sustainable farming practices. By leveraging satellite technology for precision agriculture, KWS has not only solved immediate operational challenges but positioned itself as a leader in next-generation smart farming innovation.
This case study demonstrates that satellite IoT agriculture is becoming essential infrastructure for global farming, enabling data-driven precision agriculture regardless of geographic constraints while supporting the dual imperatives of productivity and sustainability in modern agriculture.
Learn how satellite IoT soil monitoring can transform your agricultural operations. This case study illustrates the growing importance of IoT agriculture technology in achieving sustainable, productive farming worldwide.