Pessl Instruments has officially launched its South African subsidiary, Pessl Instruments South Africa (PI SA), marking a major step toward building what could become Africa’s largest agrometeorological network.

Based in Cape Town, the new entity signals the company’s long-term commitment to scaling climate-smart agriculture solutions across the continent.

Scaling Up Climate-Smart Agriculture

The launch builds on the success of the company’s METOS technology, which has already been deployed in South Africa through initiatives such as the EUREKA Climate Smart Agriculture project. More than 200 weather stations are currently operational in the Western Cape.

With PI SA, the company is now shifting from regional deployment to a continent-wide rollout.

100,000 Weather Stations Across Africa

At the core of the expansion is a privately financed plan to install 100,000 real-time METOS weather stations across Africa. The initiative aims to create the densest agricultural weather data network on the continent.

According to Gottfried Pessl, the goal is to equip farmers with accurate, localized weather intelligence to improve decision-making and productivity.

The network will provide farmers with:

• Real-time weather data
• Forecasting and historical climate analysis
• Guidance on irrigation, spraying, and planting
• Alerts on disease, frost, and harvest conditions
• Boosting Farm Productivity and Resilience

The system is designed to help farmers:

• Reduce production risks
• Lower input costs
• Improve yield predictability
• Strengthen climate resilience

By integrating IoT technology with decision-support tools, the initiative aims to bridge Africa’s data gap in agriculture, a major constraint to productivity.

Flexible Access Model for Farmers

To encourage adoption, the programme will operate on a subscription-based model, offering farmers:

• Free installation of METOS weather stations for the first six months
• Access to tailored digital services based on their needs

This approach is expected to lower barriers to entry and accelerate uptake among smallholder and commercial farmers alike.

Strategic Oversight and Industry Collaboration

The initiative will be guided by an Honorary Executive Advisory Board, comprising experts in climate policy, irrigation finance, mechanisation, and agricultural development. The board will support governance, scalability, and investment strategy.

Ilse Trautmann highlighted that better access to reliable data is critical for improving sustainability and enabling informed decision-making at farm level.

Official Launch in Stellenbosch

The formal launch of PI SA and the 100,000-station initiative is scheduled for 25 March 2026 in Stellenbosch. The event will bring together stakeholders from government, finance, agribusiness, and the broader agricultural ecosystem.

Advancing Africa’s Agricultural Potential

With over four decades of experience in agrometeorology and environmental monitoring, Pessl Instruments is positioning itself at the forefront of Africa’s data-driven agricultural transformation.

The initiative underscores the growing role of private-sector investment in strengthening food security, improving farm profitability, and building resilience against climate change across the continent.