The 2024 Irrigation Industry Report details the sector’s latest trends, innovations, and market developments. This report provides an analysis of the industry’s growth drivers and challenges. It highlights the significant advancement in technologies, such as nanotechnology and smart sensors, as well as the adoption of sustainable practices and investments that will shape the future of irrigation.
Moreover, this irrigation report serves as a reference for stakeholders within the industry, investors, policymakers, and economic analysts, providing a snapshot of the industry’s health to map its trajectory for innovation and growth in the coming years.
StartUs Insights Irrigation Industry Report 2024
- Executive Summary
- Introduction to the Irrigation Report 2024
- What data is used in this Irrigation Report?
- Snapshot of the Global Irrigation Industry
- Funding Landscape in the Irrigation Industry
- Who is Investing in Irrigation?
- Emerging Trends in the Irrigation Industry
- 5 Irrigation Startups impacting the Industry
Executive Summary: Irrigation Industry Outlook 2024
This report is created using data obtained from the Big Data and AI-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering more than 4.7 million global companies, as well as 20K+ technologies and emerging trends. We also analyzed a sample of 800+ irrigation startups developing innovative solutions to present five examples from emerging irrigation industry trends.
- Industry Growth Overview: The irrigation industry comprises over 13380 companies. It showcases a slight dip in its annual growth trend by 0.79%.
- Manpower & Employment Growth: The sector employs 1 million individuals globally. Over the last year, the industry added about 47K new employees.
- Patents & Grants: The industry holds over 10K patents and received 640 grants. This emphasizes the support for research and development.
- Global Footprint: The major hubs in the irrigation industry span the USA, India, Australia, the UK, and Canada. Key city hubs include Dubai, Sydney, Melbourne, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai.
- Investment Landscape: The average investment value per funding round is USD 16 million. More than 480 investors actively participated in closing about 1340 funding rounds and supported over 580 companies.
- Top Investors: Some of the top investors include SVG Ventures, Origin Enterprises, and AC Ventures. The combined value of the top investors exceeds USD 8.5 billion.
- Startup Ecosystem: The top five startups include RAINCATCHER Technologies (irrigation water conservation), M8 Systems (fluid flow management), CropRigate (IoT-based irrigation product), IrWise (irrigation control system), and EOD Europe (nano-bubble technology).
- Recommendations for Stakeholders: Investors should prioritize funding startups that focus on sustainable and precision irrigation technologies to enhance resource efficiency. Implementing policies that incentivize research and development in water-efficient irrigation practices to combat water scarcity remains crucial for numerous governments. Moreover, companies will benefit from investing in upskilling the workforce and ensuring they efficiently utilize new irrigation technologies.
Explore the Data-driven Irrigation Industry Report for 2024
The Irrigation Industry Report 2024 uses data from the Discovery Platform and encapsulates the key metrics that underline the sector’s dynamic growth and innovation. For the irrigation industry, our database includes 801 startups that indicate an innovative sector with new entrants continually emerging. With over 13380 companies listed in the database, the industry showcases an extensive landscape. However, the industry saw a slight dip in its growth rate by 0.79% annually. The industry showcases its intellectual property portfolio with more than 10K patents registered and 640+ grants awarded.
Employing 1 million individuals globally, the industry contributes to job creation and economic activity. The sector experienced a net employee growth of 47K in the last year and demonstrated its capacity for expansion and employment generation. The leading country hubs for industry activities are the USA, India, Australia, the UK, and Canada. These countries represent major centers of innovation, production, and market presence. Prominent city hubs include Dubai, Sydney, Melbourne, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai, each playing an important role in driving regional industry dynamics.
What data is used to create this irrigation report?
Based on the data provided by our Discovery Platform, we observe that the irrigation industry ranks among the top 5% in the following categories relative to all 20K topics in our database. These categories provide a comprehensive overview of the industry’s key metrics and inform the short-term future direction of the industry.
- News Coverage & Publications: With more than 8010 publications in the last year, the irrigation industry received media attention and scholarly interest.
- Funding Rounds: There have been 1340 funding rounds documented in our database. This number indicates the investment activity and financial support within the industry.
- Manpower: The industry employs over 1 million workers to reflect its contribution to the global workforce. In the last year alone, the industry added more than 47K new employees.
- Patents: More than 10000 technologies in the industry filed for patents.
- Grants: The industry received 640 grants and showcased its financial support directed toward research and development.
- Yearly Global Search Growth: The irrigation industry experienced a 10.32% increase in global search interest over the past year.
- and more. Reach out to us to explore all data points used to create this irrigation report.
A Snapshot of the Global Irrigation Industry
The industry employs a workforce of 1 million individuals globally. This employment figure underscores the sector’s importance as an employer and its role in driving economic activity. Last year, the industry added about 47K new employees. This growth highlights the sector’s expanding footprint and its capacity to generate new job opportunities. The industry also comprises more than 13380 companies and reflects the extensive number of businesses operating in this sector.
Explore the Funding Landscape of the Irrigation Industry
The average investment value per funding round stands at USD 16 million. This figure points to investor confidence and the availability of substantial financial resources to support industry growth and innovation. More than 480 investors participated in funding rounds within the industry.
Further, the industry closed over 1340 funding rounds and demonstrated active investment activity and ongoing financial support for both established companies and startups. In this, more than 580 companies received investment and indicated the distribution of financial backing for increasing innovation across the sector.
Who is Investing in Irrigation?
The top investors in the industry collectively invested more than USD 18 million and underscored the financial confidence in the sector’s potential for growth and innovation. Here are the key details of the leading investors:
- SVG Ventures backed 6 companies with a total investment of USD 450K.
- Origin Enterprises demonstrated investments totaling USD 12 million across 2 companies.
- AC Ventures invested USD 2 million in 2 companies.
- African Youth Adaptation Solutions Challenge contributed USD 200K to 2 companies.
- EIT Food contributed USD 3K to 2 companies.
- Yield Lab invested USD 3 million in 2 companies.
- and more. Contact us to explore all investment data in the irrigation industry.
Access Top Irrigation Innovations & Trends with the Discovery Platform
Precision Agriculture leverages advanced technologies to optimize crop yields and resource management. With 1310 companies identified in this sector, the sector employs 74K individuals and reflects its scale and impact. In the past year alone, about 6K new employees joined the precision agriculture workforce to indicate its expansion. The sector provides an annual trend growth rate of 19.18% and offers innovations such as GPS mapping, drones, and data analytics.
Solar Irrigation emerges as an important solution for sustainable farming, particularly in off-grid and remote areas. About 161 companies focus on this technology and employ a total of 9K individuals. The sector saw the addition of 627 new employees in the past year and showcased its growth and increasing adoption. With an annual trend growth rate of 18.57%, solar irrigation gains momentum due to its cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits.
Soil Moisture Sensors for efficient water management in agriculture help farmers optimize irrigation schedules and conserve water. This sector includes 206 companies and employs 5K individuals dedicated to developing and implementing this technology. In the last year, the industry added 422 new employees and reflected a steady growth. The annual trend growth rate of 10.07% indicates a rising interest in soil moisture sensors as farmers seek to enhance crop productivity and sustainability.
5 Top Examples from 800+ Innovative Irrigation Startups
The five innovative startups showcased below are picked based on data including the trend they operate within and their relevance, founding year, funding status, and more. Book a platform demo to find promising startups, emerging trends, or industry data specific to your company’s needs and objectives.
RAINCATCHER Technologies conserves Irrigation Water
UAE-based startup RAINCATCHER Technologies develops a water irrigation conservation technology, Raincatcher. This technology is a super-absorbent fertilizer that transforms water into a solid form to reduce evaporation. It applies beneath the plant roots where the solid water reservoir works as micro-sponges to reduce the soil-draining effect. The startup’s AI-driven algorithm calculates the farm’s water balance to decide the terroir’s performance. This algorithm updates in real time by linking to IoT sensors to manage accurate irrigation and forecast agricultural yields.
M8 Systems manages Fluid Flow
US-based startup M8 Systems offers a smart agricultural platform for fluid flow management and water conservation. The startup’s FarmLink IoT Irrigation Management System integrates all farm processes into a unified cloud-based dashboard. The system allows remote irrigation and fertigation management via the FarmLink Universal IoT Controller. This controller connects existing farm infrastructure to the cloud without needing prior infrastructure changes. The system reduces operational costs by automating irrigation, detecting leaks, and eliminating water waste. Additionally, it provides real-time control and alerts, optimizing farm management and crop yield.
CropRigate develops IoT-based Irrigation Product
Indian startup CropRigate offers a smart irrigation platform that automates and optimizes water usage. The platform utilizes IoT devices to regulate water levels based on factors like weather predictions and soil moisture. Its irrigation control system communicates with sensors to determine the optimal times for watering. Automated and customizable schedules support irrigation throughout the crop lifecycle, from planting to harvesting. Smart fertigation features deliver appropriate nutrients based on soil conditions and crop requirements. The system also manages soil pH levels and releases alkaline or basic solutions as needed to maintain soil health.
IrWise builds an Irrigation Control System
Tunisia-based startup IrWise builds an irrigation control system comprising an IoT gateway, a water management software platform, and an electro-valve control module. The IoT gateway collects data from sensors placed in the field to ensure accurate information gathering. The water management software platform processes and analyzes this data to provide actionable insights and recommendations to farmers. The electrovalve control module regulates water flow to crops and ensures optimal water usage and maximum crop yields. The platform enables precise farm management and monitoring through advanced tools and real-time updates.
EOD Europe provides Nano-Bubble Technology
Finnish startup EOD Europe uses its Nano-Bubble technology to reinforce irrigation water with plant-strengthening properties to reduce the need for pesticides and enhance plant growth. The startup’s EOD Nanoboost product increases oxygen levels in water to improve nutrient absorption and plant health. Its irrigation solutions maintain ecological balance by minimizing chemical usage and enhancing natural plant immunity. These technologies contribute to reduced carbon footprints and improved energy efficiency in agricultural practices.
Gain Comprehensive Insights into Irrigation Trends, Startups, or Technologies
The 2024 Irrigation Industry Outlook underscores the role of irrigation in enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability. As the market adapts to technological advancements such as precision irrigation, smart sensors, and water recycling systems, it will have to see growth and development. Stakeholders are encouraged to leverage this information to foster collaboration, drive investment, and support the ongoing transformation of the irrigation industry. Get in touch to explore all 800+ startups and scaleups, as well as all industry trends impacting irrigation companies.