Smart irrigation needs smart policies in Iran | Science

Agriculture accounts for more than 75% of Iran’s water consumption, but water productivity – crop yield per unit of water used – is only 1.35 kg/m3 (1), which can reach more than 2.0-2.5 kg/m3 globally (2). To align with its national food security plan, Iran aims to reduce agricultural water consumption by 30 billion m3 by 2032 (3) through smart irrigation (IS) technology that uses data and, in some cases, sensors to adjust watering, reduce waste and improve water productivity (4). SI would also use artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze data, make predictions about future environmental conditions and better manage crop supplies. Despite its potential, this plan risks failing in the context of Iran’s smallholder agriculture, wasting public resources and undermining efforts to improve food and water security.