SIP5
IoT-Assisted Organic Compost Production in Open Piles
SIP Leader: EMBIO Diagnostics
Sector: Arable/Cross-Sector / Tomatoes, Cucumber & Lettuce
Country of the pilot: Cyprus
Partners involved: GSC GR Farmers Fresh (3rd party)
Target group: Farmers, advisors, and compost experts.
The Challenge: Improving Compost Quality and Process Efficiency
As the demand for organic farming and sustainable soil management grows, farmers and compost producers face key challenges in ensuring high-quality compost production. The traditional open-pile composting method remains widely used, but it is labor-intensive, inconsistent, and difficult to monitor. The major challenges include:
- Lack of real-time monitoring: Compost pile conditions, such as temperature, moisture, and aeration, must be regularly assessed to ensure proper decomposition, but manual checks are time-consuming and unreliable.
- Inconsistent compost quality: Variability in the composting process often leads to uneven nutrient content, affecting its effectiveness as a soil amendment.
- High labor and operational costs: Frequent turning and moisture control require significant manual effort, increasing overall production costs.
- Environmental concerns: Poorly managed composting can result in excessive greenhouse gas emissions and leachate contamination.
How the ADS Works
SIP5 introduces an IoT-assisted organic compost monitoring system that enables real-time data collection and automation of key composting processes. The system improves efficiency by:
- Deploying wireless sensor nodes in compost piles to continuously measure temperature, moisture, and oxygen levels.
- Providing automated aeration control, activating compost turning mechanisms when oxygen levels drop below optimal levels.
- Integrating with weather data, adjusting water addition based on external humidity and rainfall predictions.
- Offering remote monitoring via a cloud-based dashboard, allowing farmers to track compost conditions without physical inspections.
- Generating automated alerts and reports, notifying operators of necessary interventions to maintain composting efficiency.
This sensor-driven approach ensures a more efficient, uniform, and environmentally friendly composting process while reducing manual workload and improving overall compost quality.
ADS Models
SIP5 is available in two deployment models:
1. Cloud-Based ADS: Sensor data is transmitted to a cloud platform where composting parameters are analyzed, and recommended interventions are provided remotely.
2. Edge-Based ADS: Compost monitoring and control decisions are processed locally, ensuring real-time adjustments even in areas with limited internet connectivity.
OpenAgri OS Services
SIP5 integrates with OpenAgri OS services to optimize compost production and nutrient consistency:
- Environmental Monitoring Service: Logs compost conditions, ensuring optimal decomposition and minimizing emissions.
- Compost Quality Analysis Module: Provides data-driven insights into compost maturity, nutrient balance, and microbial activity.
Remote Monitoring Dashboard: Enables real-time access to composting parameters and historical trends.
Real-World Benefits & Impact
By introducing IoT-powered compost monitoring, SIP5 delivers multiple benefits to organic farmers and composting facilities:
- Reduces manual labor requirements, minimizing frequent on-site inspections.
- Enhances compost quality consistency, improving its effectiveness as a soil amendment.
- Optimizes composting efficiency, ensuring proper aeration, moisture balance, and decomposition rates.
- Supports environmentally responsible composting, reducing methane emissions and nutrient leaching.
- Increases economic viability, lowering operational costs while producing high-quality organic compost.
