AIRSI-TT project: how to enhance water-use efficiency and climate resilience for sustainable sugarcane production in Ethiopia

Challenge

Agriculture accounts for more than 70% of the global freshwater withdrawal, with sugarcane cultivation representing a major component of agriculture water demand. While sugarcane is relatively water-efficient in terms of produced per unit of water consumed, its extensive cultivation over vast areas can exert considerable pressure on local water resources.  

In Ethiopia, where sugarcane production is central to the national agricultural strategy, sustaining yields amid climate variability requires a shift toward precision irrigation and enhanced soil management practices. However, the adoption of these approaches remains constrained by technological limitations, insufficient monitoring capabilities, and operational challenges. Highlighting the need for innovation-driven water management solutions. 

Applied expertise 

The AIRSI-TT project combines renewable energy, digital technologies and artificial intelligence to transform irrigation practices, making them more precise, resource-efficient, and resilient. 

At the core of the initiative is an AI- and IoT-enabled precision irrigation system that delivers water and nutrients directly to the crop root zone, providing the right quantity at the right time. The system is powered by solar energy, supported by  battery storage to ensure operational continuity. In parallel, sugarcane residues are converted into biochar to enhance soil health and productivity, creating a circular approach that links water, energy and soil management. 

AIRSI-TT strongly aligns with our mission of integrating competences and technologies into scalable solutions, that bridge the gap between innovation and real-world application. As project coordinator, we lead the development of the system’s digital architecture and oversee the integration of its technological components into a coherent and scalable solution. 

Our contribution also includes the development of the  artificial intelligence models capable of transforming drone-acquired imagery into real-time assessment of crop water stress, enabling irrigation decisions to be driven by actual plant needs rather than fixed schedules. Leveraging our expertise in unmanned aerial systems, we support sensor selection, deployment, and  field data acquisition to ensure reliable monitoring performance. 

To maximise long-term impact, we will deliver targeted training programmes for local operators on both drone technologies and precision irrigation systems, building local capacity and ensuring that the solutions can be sustainably operated, replicated and scaled beyond the project lifetime.  

Impact 

The AIRSI-TT project will contribute to the transformation of sugarcane production in Ethiopia by promoting more sustainable, efficient and climate-resilient water management practices. 

Through the deployment of an AI- and IoT-enabled precision irrigation system at the Wonji Shoa Sugar Factory pilot site, the project will demonstrate how digital technologies, renewable energy and data-driven decision support can optimise irrigation performance. Solar-powered pumping systems and real-time monitoring tools will enable more efficient use of water resources while supporting stable crop productivity under changing climatic conditions. 

Beyond its technological innovation, AIRSI-TT is designed to generate lasting benefits by strengthening local capacities and fostering knowledge transfer. The project will adapt and transfer expertise, methodologies and best practices from Brazil, the world’s leading sugarcane producer, to the Ethiopian context, while providing targeted training to local operators, technicians and stakeholders. The development of a national roadmap and a policy-oriented white paper will further support the uptake of climate-smart agriculture and evidence-based decision-making. 

By combining innovation, capacity building and international collaboration, AISI-TT will lay the foundations for the wider adoption of sustainable sugarcane farming across Ethiopia, contributing to improved use of water, enhanced local expertise, and a stronger enabling environment for future agriculture development. 

Partner

• RINA Consulting S.p.A.
• University of Campinas
• Addis Ababa University
• Wonji Shoa Sugar Factory