Extreme farming

How IoT and hydroponics are changing extreme farming

Antarctica is one of the harshest environments on Earth: frozen, isolated, and with nearly zero natural conditions for growing food.

So how is it possible that fresh lettuce and arugula are now being harvested at Marambio Base, Argentina's permanent scientific outpost on the white continent? The answer lies in the convergence of hydroponic agriculture and IoT technology.

A colony of gentoo penguins around a red hut on the snow, with a glacier and fog-covered mountains behind
Gentoo penguins on the Antarctic coast: a landscape with nearly zero natural conditions for growing food.

MAPHI

The Antarctic Hydroponic Production Module

MAPHI is an indoor hydroponic farming system deployed in a 20-foot container at Marambio Base, designed to produce vegetables year-round in an isolated and controlled environment.

The module was developed through a collaboration between INTA (National Institute of Agricultural Technology), UNPA and the Argentine Antarctic institutions.

MAPHI at a glance

Site
Marambio Base, Argentina's permanent scientific outpost in Antarctica
Module
An indoor hydroponic system in a 20-foot container
Developed by
INTA (National Institute of Agricultural Technology), UNPA and the Argentine Antarctic institutions
Harvest
LettuceArugula
Monitored
TemperatureHumidityWater levelpHElectrical conductivity
Goal
Vegetables year-round, in an isolated and controlled environment

A 3D render of the MAPHI module: white racks with three levels of trays of leafy greens, water tanks underneath and a control panel at the side
The MAPHI project, which runs its monitoring on Thinger.io: racks of growing trays above the water tanks.

Hydroponics eliminates the need for soil, using water and nutrient solutions instead. But in Antarctica, even this modern approach requires more than just equipment: it demands precision, real-time monitoring and complete environmental control.

Why IoT

Why IoT is essential for extreme farming

Maintaining a stable environment inside the MAPHI module is crucial.

This is where the Thinger.io IoT platform makes the difference:

Real-time monitoring

Temperature, humidity, water level, pH and electrical conductivity, live.

Automated alerts

Alerts when conditions fall outside the optimal range.

Remote control and supervision

The system supervised and controlled from thousands of kilometres away.

These features ensure that the MAPHI module runs efficiently with minimal manual intervention, which is critical when operating in one of the most remote regions on the planet.

Want to know more?

Food production in places once considered unreachable

For detailed results and technical insights, read the full MAPHI case study.

Projects like MAPHI demonstrate how controlled agriculture and digital technology can bring food production to places once considered unreachable.

Whether in Antarctica, arid deserts or even space missions, the fusion of IoT and hydroponics offers a scalable and sustainable solution to grow food in extreme conditions.

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Read the MAPHI case study

The module, the sensors and the first harvest at Marambio Base, with the detailed results and technical insights.

Read the case studyIoT for agriculture