In 2021, Metos SA and TerraClim spearheaded the Eureka Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) project to provide local farmers with climate-smart tools that help mitigate the risks of climate change. Four years later, the project looks set to transform agriculture in Africa.
This successful private-public partnership was backed by intergovernmental funding body Eureka and received funding from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) through the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and FFG, the Austrian Research Promotion Agency. The infrastructure was rolled out by Metos SA, the exclusive local distributor of Pessl Instruments.
When the project concluded two years later, in June 2023, the result was a dense weather station network of over 200 weather stations enabling TerraClim to generate accurate high-resolution climate and terrain maps across the Western Cape.
“Each producer who received a weather station through the project was given a two-year licence to a hyperlocalised weather forecast and disease model on FieldClimate, Metos SA’s online platform,” says Gabrielle Redelinghuys, Project Lead for Incubator Projects at WinField United, who led the project. “The network of weather stations gives producers access to hyper-localised weather forecasts and practical, real-time decision-making tools that empower them to make better day-to-day decisions on farm management. This not only makes them more climate resilient, but also improves operational efficiency.”
A Metos weather station probe on site.
Building a data beast
TerraClim harnesses the data from weather stations to give access to detailed climate and terrain information that help producers navigate climate change.
Rozanne Vos, who joined TerraClim in November last year, emphasises the significance of these stations in contributing to a larger network of TerraClim stations. The company is actively building what Vos describes as a “data beast”.
These 200 stations provide tangible data points for identifying climate trends. “There’s no other database like it in South Africa,” Rozanne says. “This growing database allows TerraClim to consolidate historical data, compare past trends with current climate patterns and develop and refine climate models.”
Until now, producers have had to rely on satellite information for weather forecasts and interpolations, which are often designed along European or American conventions and can be quite temperamental. “TerraClim can use the weather stations to make our data more accurate than ever on a micro-climatic level, which makes it better suited for local conditions. It gives us the ability to capture nuanced differences in climate conditions, even between opposite sides of a mountain.”
Visualising complex data
TerraClim doesn’t just collect the raw data; it also transforms the code into actionable insights for producers. “The data doesn’t mean much to producers on its own; it has to be interpreted and verified,” Rozanne says. “We present complex meteorological information as user-friendly maps or ‘rasters’, giving producers a visual representation of chill units, humidity levels, or frost risk, for example.”
This visual approach makes the data accessible even to those without technical expertise. “Instead of trying to explain the data to someone through text and tables, even a first-generation producer can understand a presentation that uses colours and familiar terrain.”
Expanding the network
But an accurate representation requires massive amounts of data – more weather stations enable more accurate interpolations and better projections. “The 200 stations are a good start, but there are still gaps in the data. On a slope, even just twenty meters can make a difference.”
Since TerraClim will integrate with any available network of weather stations, such as iLeaf and the South African Weather Service, it has built a consolidated database for the country. The Eastern Cape has been identified as a key area for expansion and TerraClim is in talks with the DSI to replicate the success of their project in this region. “There’s a big need, but also a big opportunity for the economy and for agriculture,” Gabrielle says.
TerraClim’s use as a tool to determine what to plant where is key to sustainable agriculture in South Africa. Unlike responses to weather and climate, climate modelling is a proactive measure which helps producers determine the optimal crop selection and placement.
This is made possible by 43 biophysical indices, including hydrological zones, temperature patterns, solar radiation levels and humidity, to construct detailed recommendations for which cultivars to plant and to determine what the risks are. “We can repeat this analysis for any kind of crop, down to the level of individual blocks, so in terms of expansion, this is definitely a big focus for both Metos SA and TerraClim.”
Into Africa
The macadamia and avocado industries have shown great interest in the system. The berry industry in particular stands to benefit as a climate-sensitive crop. “There will be a massive uptake in agriculture across Africa. It’s predicted that Africa will become the breadbasket of the world,” Rozanne says.
“We want to be prepared with accurate data and have something to present to anyone who is serious about food security. Because it’s crucial. We need to start looking at practical solutions, and it’s very exciting to see these station going up which we know will make a direct contribution to food security. It’s the practical application of climate readiness.”
Metos SA has already begun setting up stations in Lesotho and Zimbabwe, with enquiries coming from as far as Malawi, Zambia and Nigeria. “We’ve already installed a station for a pilot project in Angola, and have engaged with groups in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana,” she says. “The southern African interior is forecasted to warm at twice the global average.”
As climate change continues to pose significant challenges to agriculture, the work of companies like Metos SA and TerraClim becomes increasingly vital. By providing accurate, hyper-localised data and innovative tools, they empower producers and stakeholders to adapt to changing conditions and ensure food security for the future. Collaboration between technology providers, governmental bodies, and primary producers represents a powerful alliance in the face of climate uncertainty, paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector in South Africa and beyond.
