A lesser-known but crucial fact is that Southeast Asia’s agricultural carbon footprint is significantly higher than the global average, largely due to the region’s high consumption of rice.
Southeast Asia’s agricultural sector accounts for 50% of the region’s total carbon emissions—far above Asia’s average of 26% and the global average of 34%. Addressing this challenge requires the widespread adoption of green technology, particularly those solutions that reduce water and fertiliser consumption.
Anyone travelling through Southeast Asia will be familiar with the acres of lush green paddy fields. While picturesque, these fields contribute significantly to environmental issues, with rice cultivation responsible for about 10% of global methane emissions. As one of the world’s major rice-producing regions, Southeast Asia must adopt climate-smart agriculture (CSA) solutions.
Data collected by Cisgenics demonstrates that its CisgenX technology can reduce water usage by 40 to 70%. Building on this success, Cisgenics is collaborating with Temasek Life Sciences Laboratories to conduct trials on small rice farms in Southeast Asia. These trials aim to conserve water and increase crop yields by using drip irrigation instead of the conventional flood irrigation method.
“Not many people are aware that rice cultivation significantly contributes to emissions,” says Sam Rebera, CEO of Cisgenics. “Rice farmers typically flood their fields, creating anaerobic conditions that are ideal for bacteria to thrive on decomposing organic matter, which releases methane. There’s also the overuse of fertilisers by farmers, leading to high nitrous oxide emissions.”
Regarding the rice paddies project, Rebera states, “We are implementing the CisgenX irrigation control system for precision irrigation and nutrient management. It operates using live sensor data, capturing evapotranspiration rates, monitoring fertiliser usage, assessing plant health, and tracking yield.”
Next-generation irrigation technology has the potential to transform rice production, making it more sustainable and environmentally friendly. By partnering with Temasek Life Sciences Laboratories, the company is taking a step towards creating sustainable food production methods, particularly in urban areas with limited land, like Singapore, and in drought-prone regions across Southeast Asia.
Smart Irrigation to Reduce Water Use and Carbon Emissions
Adaptable to any scale, CisgenX represents the future of irrigation, offering effective solutions across different sizes and types of operations.
“When it comes to effective water use,” Rebera explains, “We noticed that even in a small country like Singapore, satellite data on rainfall can vary widely from place to place. At Gardens by the Bay, water requirements differ based on whether plants are in the shade or out in the open, or what variety they are. This means our system has been tested to work in microcosms—small, controlled environments. At Gardens by the Bay, for example, we identified multiple microclimates, each requiring its own soil moisture sensor.”
As governments in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia increase efforts to ensure corporations meet ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals, tax incentives are being offered to companies that adopt green technologies like those provided by Cisgenics.
“By using our systems, agricultural startups and larger corporations can meet their ESG goals. This is particularly important for clients in regions with strict environmental regulations and for those looking to improve supply chain sustainability,” says Rebera. “It can also benefit exporters targeting the EU and North American markets if they can demonstrate that their entire supply chain is using green technology and reducing carbon emissions.”
Cisgenics highlights that its technology is sensor-agnostic, meaning it can integrate data from various sources, such as weather stations or mobile apps used by startups, corporations, or city municipalities. “Our open platform supports integration from any API, enabling us to gather data across different parameters and develop machine-learning algorithms for yield prediction, weather forecasting, and water demand management,” says Rebera.
With operations in the US, Middle East, and Southeast Asia, Cisgenics is planning to establish a subsidiary in Australia and expand its presence in Southeast Asia within the next six months. The company will showcase its innovations at the Irrigation Australia Conference 2024 and aims to participate in events across Southeast Asia.
“Irrigation doesn’t have to follow traditional methods. We’re redefining it by offering a scientific approach and giving people more options,” says Rebera.