# Agri.iO revolutionizes farming with Flux See how Agri.iO used Flux to design custom farm automation hardware after an off-the-shelf supply disruption threatened a major contract. Written by [Jake Hertz](https://flux.seobdtools.com/jakehertz) Published Nov 2026 - 4 min read [![](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/case-study-agri-io/main.webp)](#) ## Learn how Agri-iO reimagined farm automation with custom hardware designed in Flux. > “Without Flux, it would have taken me months to master another tool. Flux made it possible to design my first board in just a few days, even while I was working a 9-to-5.” > ‍*– Michael van Niekerk, Co-Founder and Head of Technology, Agri-iO*  ### About Agri-iO  ‍[Agri-iO](https://agri-io.co.za/) is an agriculture-focused automation company that augments people's existing farming solutions with connected hardware and software. They aim to solve the problems faced by farmers who have unreliable GSM signals by automating pumps and monitoring water levels in remote areas. With Agri-iO’s solutions, anything on a farm can be automated and driven from one application, even when there's no Wi-Fi or LTE.  ### Agri-iO’s Problem Agri-iO’s Co-Founder and Head of Technology, Michael van Niekerk, has a technical background, but at the onset of the company, he had never designed a PCB. So, when it came time for the team to develop their first product, off-the-shelf (OTS) electronics were the obvious solution. Agri-iO designed its original products using Pycom’s LoPy devices. These products included automating existing irrigation pivots, tank and dam control, and pump automation. These devices were selected because of their MicroPython-enabled ESP32 chipset and support for LoRa, Wi-Fi, and BLE connectivity. With electronics in hand, Agri-iO wrote its MicroPython code, and the team was off to the races.  It wasn’t long before they started securing large contracts. However, right before kicking off a major project with Zambeef in Zambia, Agri-iO discovered that Pycom was going bankrupt, meaning their products were discontinued. Suddenly, Agri-iO was left without a hardware solution and a contract to fulfill. > “We were originally using Pycom's LoPy devices. But the company went bankrupt just before we got a big contract with Zambeef in Zambia, and we found ourselves left without a supply.” > ‍*– Michael van Niekerk, Co-Founder and Head of Technology, Agri-iO* [![a vast agricultural field under a clear blue sky with scattered clouds. In the foreground, there is a white pickup truck with its door open, parked beside the field. The truck is positioned near a large irrigation system that extends across the field, with green crops growing on one side and freshly tilled soil on the other. The scene captures the essence of rural farming and modern irrigation technology.](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/case-study-agri-io/farm-with-agri-io.webp)](#) ### A Path Forward Wasn’t Obvious At first, Agri-iO’s approach was to find a replacement OTS solution, but they quickly found that the right solution was hard to come by. Most OTS products they encountered supported C++, not MicroPython, and porting the original code proved to be too time-consuming and costly. So that left them with one option: designing custom hardware. But this wasn’t as straightforward as it sounded. For starters, Agri-iO had a two-man technical team. Neither Michael nor Stephan Geldenhuys (another co-founder) had ever designed a PCB before. With no support or experience, the team began exploring design tools to pursue their own custom hardware. However, they found that the design tools on the market were far from perfect. Tools like Altium Designer proved too expensive for a small startup like Agri-iO to afford. Other free tools like KiCad proved too cumbersome and difficult to learn in a reasonable time, and they were up against a serious time crunch. > “I considered KiCad and Altium Designer, but Altium was too expensive. KiCad was not easy to use, and we didn’t have time to get past that learning curve. Flux was a few steps ahead in terms of ease of use, so we went with Flux.” *– Michael van Niekerk, Co-Founder and Head of Technology, Agri-iO*  ### The Flux Solution In their research, Agri-iO came across Flux - and it quickly caught their eye.  Flux’s free-to-use nature was the first big draw. The company had limited resources, and a thousand-dollar EDA license was not an option. What proved more important, however, was Flux’s ease of use. Not only was Flux browser-based and compatible with any computing platform, but its extensive library of resources made it possible for the team to hit the ground running. Shortly after finding Flux, the Agri-iO team came across [Flux’s design tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8g-ZlnrNTU) and [project](https://flux.seobdtools.com/nico/rp2040-generative-ai) built around [Raspberry Pi’s RP2040](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/rp2040/). Features and Rust support made the RP2040 the perfect microcontroller for Agri-iO’s needs. So, the team simply forked the Flux example project, and they instantly had a major jump start on their custom design. [![The image showcases two views of an electronic circuit board design, likely related to agricultural automation. On the left, the board features various electronic components, including capacitors, resistors, and connectors, laid out in a neat arrangement. On the right, a different perspective shows a series of identical modules or relays mounted in a row, each with connectors and indicators like LEDs. The design is rendered on a grid background, indicating that this is a 3D model or schematic for a printed circuit board (PCB) used in an automated system, possibly for controlling irrigation or other farming processes.](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/case-study-agri-io/agri-io-boards.webp)](#) From there, the team leveraged Copilot’s guidance to fill in the blanks. Copilot helped them by providing example designs, suggesting components and configurations, answering questions about which pins connected where, and reducing the amount of review work needed. In only a couple of days, even while working 9-to-5 jobs, Agri-iO went from a blank slate and no experience to a manufacturable custom hardware solution. > *“I used Copilot to ask questions about which pins to connect and to get examples for specific designs. It suggested components and configurations. Copilot reduced the amount of review work needed, and overall, it was a wonderful experience.” > – Michael van Niekerk, Co-Founder and Head of Technology, Agri-iO* [![The image shows a man working inside a control unit of an automated farming system. The interior is filled with a series of electrical components, wiring, and devices labeled AGRI-IO which appear to be part of a smart automation system for agricultural management. The wall is painted red, and several cables of various colors are connected to a large array of valves or similar devices, indicating a sophisticated setup for controlling irrigation or other automated farm functions. The man is facing away from the camera, focusing on his work.](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/case-study-agri-io/central-unit-of-automated-farm.webp)](#) ### Results Thanks to Flux, Agri-iO successfully fulfilled its existing contracts and has since deployed dozens of units globally. At the beginning of their journey, the Agri-iO team had never designed a single PCB. Today, they’ve designed four custom boards, each of which is deployed in the field and has a major impact on the agricultural industry.   > “Nothing was more satisfying than seeing our system working in the field, and we really have Flux to thank for it all. Now I can’t wait for our next batch of boards to arrive and to start shipping them out.”  > ‍*– Michael van Niekerk, Co-Founder and Head of Technology, Agri-iO*  ## About the author [Jake Hertz](https://flux.seobdtools.com/jakehertz) Electronics Engineer at Flux Jake Hertz is an Electrical Engineer who works with Flux. He has his M.S. and B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and previously worked for MakerBot Industries where he worked developing the electrical systems for next-generation 3D printers. Find him on Flux [@jakehertz](https://flux.seobdtools.com/jakehertz) Let’s start building Build your big idea together with Flux. All you need to do is describe what you want to make, or what problem you want to solve. Flux will work with you to make it a reality. ![Close-up photo of a PCB made with Flux, with an ESP32 module, buttons, and a microSD slot.](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/miscellaneous/sidebar-cta-pcb.webp) [Try it Free](https://flux.seobdtools.com/signup) ## More in Step-by-Step Projects & Templates [ ![Two custom macro pads designed using Flux and powered by Raspberry Pi Pico. The pads feature 12 mechanical switches with per-key white keycaps, two rotary encoders for additional control, and a slide potentiometer for precise adjustments. Both boards are displayed with a vibrant purple PCB design, showcasing Flux's PCB editor and its newest AI Auto-Layout, and are compatible with popular manufacturer specifications.](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/rpi-macro-2/main.webp) ### Design Your Own Macropad With AI Auto-Layout 8 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/how-to-design-a-custom-macro-pad-with-flux)[ ![This image features two main components: On the left is a detailed layout design of an electronic circuit board named "GREEN DOT 2040E5," dated 2023.11.11, and marked as made with Flux.AI. This board includes an RP2040 microcontroller at its heart, surrounded by various electronic components like resistors, capacitors, a switch, and interface connectors for peripherals, labeled with GPIO pins, I2C connections (SDA and SCL), ground (GND), and power supply inputs (3.3V, 5V, 12V). On the right, there's a physical representation of the IoT device, which is an assembled and operational LoRa IoT Sensor Node powered by a battery pack and RP2040 microcontroller. The node is connected to a long, black antenna, indicating its capability to communicate over LoRa (Long Range) wireless networks, commonly used in agriculture for remote monitoring and control. The setup suggests its application in smart agriculture solutions, utilizing IoT technology to collect and transmit data for agricultural purposes.](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/green-dot-board-how-to/main.webp) ### How to design and deploy a LoRa IoT sensor node with RP2040 14 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/how-to-design-and-deploy-a-lora-iot-sensor-node-with-rp2040)[ ![Using copilot to help design a webcam based on Omnivision's image sensor. Half of the screen is about the schematic and half is about the pcb layout.](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/using-ai-to-design-webcam/main.webp) ### Using AI to Design a Webcam: An End-to-End Example 8 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/using-ai-to-design-a-webcam-an-end-to-end-example)[ ![40+ open-source hardware projects you can build over the holidays with Flux](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/projects-you-can-build-over-the-holidays/main.webp) ### 40+ Hardware Projects You Can Build Over the Holidays 7 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/40-plus-hardware-projects-you-can-build-over-the-holidays)[ ![How to Design a Custom Keyboard PCB](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/how-to-design-a-keyboard-pcb/main.webp) ### How to Design a Custom Keyboard PCB 12 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/how-to-design-a-keyboard-pcb)[ ![Arduino microcontroller board used in a home automation system project. Do it yourself or hobbyist level PCB board.](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/arduino-essential-guides/main.webp) ### Master DIY Electronics: Essential Guides to Arduino Projects 7 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/master-diy-electronics-essential-guides-to-arduino-projects)[ ![Two blurred Arduino boards placed at the background and an upcoming Arduino Matter Board at the foreground. Arduino and Silicon Labs team up to make the Matter protocol accessible to all](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/arduino-matter/main.webp) ### Revolutionizing IoT Design: Flux Brings Arduino-Based Matter Projects to Life 4 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/revolutionizing-iot-design-flux-brings-arduino-based-matter-projects-to-life)[ ![Different reference design PCB boards made with Flux](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/harnessing-power-reference-designs/main.webp) ### Harnessing the Power of Flux for Industrial Sensing Applications 8 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/harnessing-the-power-of-flux-for-industrial-sensing-applications)[ ![Ryan, an electronics engineer holding an AI pin he created using Flux with the help of Copilot.](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/ai-pin-tutorial/main.webp) ### PCB Design Tutorial: AI Pendant 3 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/pcb-design-tutorial-ai-pendant)[ ![Top 5 CES 2025 Hardware Projects You Can Build With Flux](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/ces2025-projects/main.webp) ### Top 5 CES 2025 Hardware Projects You Can Build With Flux 5 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/top-5-ces-2025-hardware-projects-you-can-build-with-flux)[ ![Why you should start designing your PCB from a template](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/start-from-a-template/main.webp) ### Why you should start designing your PCB from a template 3 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/why-you-should-start-designing-your-pcb-from-a-template)[ ![A user interface featuring a dialog box that appears at the start of each new project, providing a selection of pre-designed templates. This feature allows users to quickly initiate their designs by choosing from an array of pre-existing options tailored to different project types.](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/project-launcher/main.webp) ### Never Start from Scratch Again: Introducing the New Project Launcher 3 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/never-start-from-scratch-again-introducing-the-new-project-launcher)[ ![Flux app screenshot with raspberry pi pico schematic diagram](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/raspberry-pi-pico-in-20mins/main.webp) ### Raspberry Pi Pico Schematic in 20 minutes using Flux Copilot 4 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/raspberry-pi-pico-schematic-in-20-minutes-using-flux-copilot)[ ![Tilt Tracker smart sensor mounted on a door lock, with a phone app showing the door is locked](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/case-study-tilt-tracker/main.webp) ### He'd never designed a PCB. Now Tilt Tracker is taking pre-orders. 6 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/building-tilt-tracker-first-pcb-in-flux)[ ![Top 10 Popular Microcontrollers for Embedded Systems including STM32F103C8T6, ESP32, ESP8266, ATtiny85, PIC16F877A, ATmega32U4, ATmega328P, and more. Essential MCUs for IoT, DIY projects, and professional PCB designs with key features like Wi-Fi, USB, and Bluetooth support.](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/top-10-popular-mcu/main.webp) ### Design Your First PCB: 10 Popular Microcontrollers to Get Started 5 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/design-your-first-pcb-10-popular-microcontrollers-to-get-started)[ ![New NextPCB Templates For More Streamlined Manufacturing](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/nextpcb-templates/main.webp) ### New NextPCB Templates For More Streamlined Manufacturing 4 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/new-nextpcb-templates-for-more-streamlined-manufacturing)[ ![Flux + Seeed: From Template to PCB in Minutes](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/blogs/flux-to-seeed/main.webp) ### Flux + Seeed: From Template to PCB in Minutes 3 Min Read](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/blog/flux-seeed-from-template-to-pcb-in-minutes) See All (17) ## Let’s start building. Let’s build your idea together. All you need to do is describe what you want to make, or what problem you want to solve. Flux will work with you to make it a reality. [Try it Free](https://flux.seobdtools.com/signup) ![Close-up of a Flux-designed printed circuit board](https://flux.seobdtools.com/p/assets/homepage-v2/mission-visual.webp)