IoT solutions for the optimization of agricultural production systems: cases of vermiculture, melipon farm and greenhouse in Cauca, Colombia

The use of IoT technologies in the agricultural and livestock environment has proven to be a key enabler for real-time monitoring and efficient management of production systems, aligning with global demands for sustainability, precision and competitiveness. This paper documents the implementation and evaluation of IoT monitoring systems in three strategic productive systems for the region: a vermiculture unit, a greenhouse and an apiary (meliponarium) located in the SENA Cauca farm with the participation of students from the National Open and Distance University. The technological solution integrated three wireless communication protocols -Sigfox, WiFi and LoRaWAN-, selected for their complementarity in coverage, energy consumption and scalability, which allows adapting to the heterogeneous conditions of rural environments.

The implemented designs include sensors for recording critical variables such as temperature, humidity, pH and biological activity, whose data are processed and visualized in centralized management platforms. This technological infrastructure not only optimizes the control of production processes, but also generates valuable information for decision making, reducing losses and improving product quality. The choice of emerging technologies such as LoRaWAN and Sigfox, together with traditional networks such as WiFi, reflects the potential of agriculture 4.0 to transform agricultural production in Colombia, especially in contexts where connectivity and resources are limited.

Finally, this work highlights the importance of technical training and technological adaptation as pillars for the adoption of agriculture 4.0 in the country, thus contributing to the modernization of the agricultural sector and the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those related to innovation, responsible production and climate action.