Netafim has launched GrowSphere FLEX, a smart irrigation and fertigation controller designed to bring automated water and nutrient management to smallholder and mid-sized farms.

The new controller expands Netafim’s GrowSphere digital farming portfolio, which also includes GrowSphere MAX for larger commercial operations. The company says FLEX is designed as a more accessible entry point for growers looking to adopt connected irrigation without the scale or complexity associated with larger farm systems.

Farms smaller than two hectares account for about 84 percent of farms worldwide and produce roughly one-third of the world’s food, according to Netafim. However, many smaller farms have limited access to automation technology designed for larger operations.

FLEX is intended to help address that gap by automating irrigation and fertigation tasks, reducing manual work and providing growers with more information to support irrigation decisions.

“Innovation in digital farming cannot stop at large-scale agriculture,” said Gaby Miodownik, president of Orbia’s Precision Agriculture business (Netafim). “With FLEX, we are bringing Agriculture 4.0 within reach for farms of different sizes, needs and stages of digital adoption. It reflects Orbia Netafim’s commitment to expanding access to smart irrigation and fertigation, giving more farmers practical tools to manage their operations with greater clarity, control and confidence.”

The controller features quick installation, built-in cellular connectivity and flexible configurations for different crops, field layouts and farm sizes. Through GrowSphere Workspace, growers can remotely manage irrigation and fertigation, monitor field and system performance, and receive sensor-based reports and alerts.

The system also includes Crop Advisor, which provides recommendations based on crop growth stages to help growers make irrigation and nutrient management decisions.

FLEX can be used in open fields, orchards, vineyards, citrus operations, greenhouses and nurseries. It is designed for soil-based production systems and can operate under challenging water-delivery conditions.

Netafim tested the controller through a year-long beta phase under field conditions in multiple regions and climates to assess its performance across different irrigation systems. FLEX is being introduced through a phased global rollout.