Real-Time Data for a Smarter Farm

by | Aug 27, 2025 | Case Studies

In the heart of modern agriculture, STEM Minds and Boreal Farms is pioneering the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology to gain a deeper, more accurate understanding of its crops. They are building tools and exploring how to move away from subjective, manual assessments. They are testing a network of Climate Trees, which will provide real-time, precise data on environmental conditions. This technology is enabling a more efficient, data-driven approach to farming.

The Challenge: The Limitations of Manual Observation

Before the installation of Climate Trees, Boreal Farm monitored its environmental conditions with a labor-intensive, manual process. Conditions like temperature, soil moisture, and humidity were assessed by walking from plant to plant and assessing its health by eye. This method was limited by:

  • Human Error: Visual assessments were subjective and lacked the precision of sensor-based data.
  • Lack of Specificity: The manual process provided only a general idea of plant health, missing crucial, localized changes in microclimates.
  • Time and Resource Drain: The time it took to manually inspect each plant was a significant drain on resources.

This lack of precise, real-time data meant that the farm was always a step behind, reacting to problems after they had already become visible.

The Solution: A Mesh Network of Climate Trees

Boreal Farms addressed these challenges by installing a network of Climate Trees. These are essentially smart, connected climate stations that work together to provide a comprehensive view of the farm’s environment. The system functions as a mesh network, where each individual node or station collects data from a specific point on the farm.

System Components and Functionality: Each node is composed of several key components:

  • LoRa Radio: For wireless communication.
  • Sensors: Including a temperature sensor, humidity sensor, soil moisture sensor, and pH sensor.

Each node transmits its data to a central node, which then sends the information to a cloud-based server. The data is stored on an Amazon Web Services (AWS) server, where it can be viewed and processed by the farm’s management team.

This system provides a far more detailed and accurate picture of the farm’s health than was ever possible with manual checks.

The Impact & Results: A More Efficient Operation

The implementation of Climate Trees has provided the farm with a new level of understanding and control:

  • Localized Data: The mesh network allows the farm to gather significantly more accurate and localized data about different parts of the farm, identifying unique microclimates that affect specific crops.
  • Proactive Management: Having access to real-time, precise data allows the farm to make proactive decisions instead of reactive ones. For example, by monitoring soil moisture, the team can adjust irrigation schedules to optimize water use, preventing both under- and over-watering.
  • Enhanced Efficiency: The ability to access data instantly on a server saves a considerable amount of time and effort that was previously spent on manual inspections. This leads to a more efficient operation overall.

Future Outlook: The Path to Full IoT Integration

The farm has a clear vision for the future of IoT in its operations:

  • Expanding Data Collection: While the current nodes collect climate data, the system could be expanded to gather even more detailed information about the crops and their environment.
  • Broader Implementation: The farm plans to expand the use of Climate Trees to cover more areas, leveraging the technology’s ability to provide a comprehensive overview of the entire farm.

The use of Climate Trees at Boreal Farms represents a significant step forward in modern agriculture. By transitioning from subjective, manual observation to objective, real-time data collection, the farm is making smarter decisions that lead to greater efficiency and a healthier operation. This case study demonstrates how a single IoT solution can empower a farm to optimize its resources, improve its yield, and set a new standard for intelligent, data-driven farming.