Winner Spotlight: Invences Wins “Private Network Excellence in Agriculture” for its private network deployments at FarmGrid, with Trilogy Networks.
As the global agriculture sector embraces digital transformation, Invences has emerged as one of the key innovators driving this change through private 5G networks, edge AI, and IoT integration. What began as an exploration into enterprise private networks has evolved into a mission to connect farmlands across the United States — enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and yield outcomes.
Expanding Smart Farming: FarmGrid’s Multi-State 5G and IoT Rollout
Invences initially built its private 5G expertise working across industrial sectors such as oil and gas, utilities, and manufacturing. But agriculture soon became a compelling focus area. The turning point came when the company met Trilogy Networks, led by George Woodward and Winky Singh, whose Rural Cloud Initiative (RCI) sought to deploy ten digital corridors across ten states, connecting 100 rural sites and transforming how farms operate.
This shared vision gave rise to FarmGrid, an intelligent agriculture platform that integrates private 5G, edge computing, and IoT technologies to digitize farm operations. By gathering, synthesizing, and transmitting real-time data, FarmGrid enables farmers to make data-driven decisions that directly impact yield, sustainability, and profitability.
According to Bhaskara, Invences’ spokesperson, the collaboration was motivated not only by technological opportunity but also by global necessity. “By 2050, the world will face a significant food shortage,” he explained. “We see this as both a challenge and an opportunity to apply innovation and connectivity to increase agricultural productivity.”
The company’s first project began in Fargo, North Dakota, serving as a proving ground for the platform’s capabilities. Following its success, Invences and Trilogy are now expanding the program to multiple states — including new deployments in Yuma, Arizona — to create a more connected and resilient agricultural ecosystem.
How FarmGrid Uses Edge AI and Private 5G to Create Digital Twins in Agriculture
Modern farming increasingly depends on data-driven insights, and Invences’ FarmGrid platform brings together three essential technologies: Azure IoT, edge AI, and private 5G.
Through partnerships with equipment manufacturers such as John Deere and Caterpillar, Invences integrates IoT sensors, drones, cameras, and smart machinery to generate detailed, real-time field data. Private 5G serves as the high-performance, low-latency transport layer that securely connects these devices to the Microsoft Azure cloud, where Azure IoT and edge AI refine and analyze the data.
This fusion of technologies enables the creation of digital twins — virtual representations of fields, machinery, and entire farm networks. Farmers can visualize operations in real time, simulate outcomes, and remotely control equipment through mobile devices.
“Digital twins make it possible to manage entire agricultural operations virtually,” explained Bhaskara. “Farmers can now make faster, more informed decisions about planting, irrigation, and harvesting — all from a single interface.”
The outcome is greater precision, improved efficiency, and a step-change in agricultural productivity.
Boosting Crop Yields and Saving Resources with Smart Farming Technology
The results from early deployments of FarmGrid have been remarkable. Participating farms have reported 20–30% improvements in yield and up to 25% savings in resources such as fuel, water, and fertilizers.
For large-scale farms managing thousands of acres, logistics are a major challenge. The FarmGrid platform helps farmers digitally map operations, allowing them to optimize when and where to spray, cut, and harvest based on real-time weather, soil, and crop data.
This digital visibility also enables a shift from reactive to proactive management. Instead of responding after damage occurs—whether from pests, nutrient deficiency, or weather—farmers can now predict and prevent issues using continuous monitoring and predictive analytics.
Moreover, by improving machinery utilization and routing, farmers reduce operational costs and equipment wear, further enhancing the sustainability of their operations.
Closing the Rural Connectivity Gap with 5G and Edge Partnerships
Rural connectivity remains one of agriculture’s greatest challenges. Today, nearly 70% of U.S. farmland—and much more globally—lacks reliable broadband access. To solve this, Invences and Trilogy Networks are pursuing a Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT) model that combines technological and business innovation.
Under this approach, Invences and Trilogy build private 5G and edge networks with the help of wireless internet service providers (WISPs) and regional operators. They then operate these networks while providing training and support to local providers. Finally, they transfer ownership and management to local partners, enabling self-sustaining ecosystems.
“This model empowers local operators to maintain and monetize their own networks,” said Bhaskara. “It’s a financially sustainable way to accelerate rural connectivity while ensuring long-term local benefits.”
By localizing both ownership and expertise, the model bridges the connectivity divide while fostering regional economic growth.
Future of Farming: Scaling Smart Agriculture and Climate Resilience
Invences envisions a connected agricultural future where every acre of farmland becomes part of a digital ecosystem. With roughly 900 million acres of farmland in the U.S. — most still unconnected — the company’s long-term goal is “connecting the unconnected.”
To achieve this, Invences plans to integrate private enterprise networks with satellite communication systems like Starlink, ensuring connectivity even in the most remote areas. The team is also collaborating with “Big Iron” equipment manufacturers to bring autonomy to tractors, harvesters, and sprayers through 5G-enabled dongles and SDKs. This would allow farmers to remotely manage multiple machines simultaneously, optimizing both time and cost.
Beyond the field, FarmGrid is expanding into the broader food supply chain. Working with food manufacturers and processors, Invences aims to bring traceability and transparency to agriculture — ensuring every step, from seed sourcing to chemical usage, is digitally documented.
“As regulations evolve, such as USDA requirements on crop traceability and sustainability, our goal is to make every stage of production verifiable,” said Bhaskara. “What was once tribal knowledge on the farm will now be recorded, analyzed, and accessible across the food supply chain.”
Final Takeaway: How 5G and Edge AI Are Reimagining Farming
The partnership between Invences and Trilogy Networks demonstrates how private 5G, edge AI, and IoT can reshape the agriculture industry. Through FarmGrid, farmers gain not only better yields and resource optimization but also a path toward sustainability, transparency, and digital inclusion.
As Bhaskara summarized, “Our mission is simple but powerful — to connect every acre, empower every farmer, and create a smarter, more resilient agricultural ecosystem for generations to come.”
