Satellite IoT Drives Digital Agriculture in Mexico

Satellite-enabled IoT solutions are driving productivity, sustainability, and data-driven decision-making in agriculture, especially in remote areas. In Latin America, growing adoption and pilot programs in countries like Mexico are accelerating the sector’s digital transformation.

Oscar Delgado, Sales Director, Myriota LATAM, a company specializing in satellite communications, highlights that agriculture is playing a central role in the region’s digital transformation, particularly in addressing the challenges farmers face in remote areas. Delgado highlighted that 58% of Latin American companies already have IoT initiatives underway. In Spanish-speaking countries, that figure rises to 61%, representing a 14% increase since 2021. “This growth underscores a rising awareness of the transformative potential of IoT in sectors such as agriculture,” he said.

In Mexico, public institutions are making headway in researching and implementing this type of technology. IPN, through its Regional Development and Outreach Center in Los Mochis, is leading the Agriculture 5.0 project, aimed at modernizing farming practices in Sinaloa, Mexico’s leading agro-producer. Jesús Irán Grajeda, Director of the Center, explained that advanced technologies, such as drones, Big Data, AI, data mining, and IoT, make it possible to collect real-time information on crop conditions. This helps producers make more accurate decisions and improve their yields.

Improving agricultural processes will also support the transition toward more sustainable farming. During the event titled, Proof of Concept in Precision Agriculture in Mexico Based on Satellite IoT, organized by the National Laboratory for Modeling and Remote Sensing (INIFAP), Víctor Rodríguez, National Leader of the Climate Vulnerability Program, INIFAP, emphasized that technology can be used to build more efficient systems that not only increase crop yields, but also protect the environment, promote best practices in water and soil conservation, and help reduce the digital divide in Mexico.

The satellite IoT market in Mexico reached US$12.6 million in 2024, according to Horizon Grand View Research. This figure is expected to double to US$28.5 million by 2030, reflecting a surge in investment and adoption of satellite-based agricultural technologies, Delgado noted. IoT is also proving useful in other sectors such as logistics, mining, and water management, by enabling real-time monitoring, reducing operational costs, and enhancing decision-making in remote or underserved areas.

Delgado pointed out that the region still faces challenges in fully transitioning to digital agriculture. One of the main barriers, he said, is the region’s complex and varied geography, which limits the expansion of terrestrial networks. Vast rural zones with low population density offer limited commercial incentive for traditional telecommunications providers to invest in infrastructure. “The result is a digital divide that directly affects agricultural efficiency as well as access to modern technologies,” he said.

In this context, Delgado emphasized that Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite-based IoT solutions offer a scalable and cost-effective alternative. These systems are built to operate with minimal power consumption and high reliability, even in areas completely lacking ground-based network coverage, giving farmers greater control over their operations through the collection and transmission of critical data.

Automation is also playing an increasingly important role. Sensor-based systems for irrigation and water monitoring help optimize fertilizer and water usage while detecting leaks or system failures early, supporting more environmentally responsible practices. By integrating sensors with satellite connectivity, farmers can track key variables such as soil moisture, temperature, rainfall, irrigation levels, and crop health.

“This data, collected and analyzed through digital platforms, helps optimize resource use, predict yields, and reduce crop and water losses, paving the way for smarter, more sustainable farming,” Delgado stated.