Annual awards program recognizes innovation in agricultural & food technologies around the globe

BOURNE, Mass., – HOBO Data Loggers, a LI-COR® brand and leading manufacturer known for accurate and reliable data loggers, today announced it has been awarded “Crop Monitoring Solution of the Year” in the 5th annual AgTech Breakthrough Awards program conducted by AgTech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies, and products in the global agricultural and food technology markets today.

The HOBOnet Wireless Sensor Network delivers cost-effective, distributed, wireless, and scalable in-field crop monitoring. Designed to empower growers with real-time environmental data for improved decision-making, HOBOnet provides precise, site-specific insights that enhance productivity, irrigation efficiency, and crop health across a wide range of agricultural applications, including agricultural research and greenhouse operations.

The solution’s robust network of wireless sensors automatically transmits data to a central HOBO RX Station and then to the LI-COR Cloud platform. This provides growers with 24/7 remote access to a range of data, including air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, soil moisture, soil temperature, solar radiation, leaf wetness, and more. LI-COR Cloud’s intuitive interface and alerting system helps users to respond quickly to changing field conditions, reduce water usage, prevent disease, and protect yields.

With its wireless self-healing mesh technology, HOBOnet is easy to install, expand, and maintain across large or remote fields. The solution supports up to 50 wireless sensors per station, enabling distributed, comprehensive monitoring across varying microclimates. With real-time and historical data analytics, growers can make informed decisions that support smarter irrigation scheduling, optimize fertilization timing, and help anticipate pest or disease risks. Built for harsh environments, HOBOnet sensors are rugged, weather-resistant, and field-proven for durable, reliable performance.

Key advantages include a wide coverage with 900 MHz wireless mesh technology that provides a strong, reliable signal for communication through vegetation. Growers have remote data access through LI-COR Cloud, as well as a customizable dashboard for analysis, and can receive alarm notifications when conditions exceed user-set thresholds. 

“Growers depend on insights from HOBOnet to respond to drought conditions, manage disease risks, and fine-tune growing strategies. By eliminating manual data collection, HOBOnet helps farms reduce labor costs and inputs while maximizing output,” said Tom Reslewic, CEO of HOBO Data Loggers and LI-COR. “We’re thankful to AgTech Breakthrough for this recognition, and we remain committed to sustaining a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and world-class customer service. Our solutions are built to empower researchers and growers to solve complex problems, conserve water, maximize yields, reduce costs, and support sustainability.”

The AgTech sector is rapidly redefining how food is produced, managed and distributed – transforming one of the world’s most essential industries. From AI-driven crop analytics and precision farming platforms to sustainable agriculture solutions and autonomous equipment, AgTech is delivering greater efficiency, transparency, and environmental responsibility.

The mission of the annual AgTech Breakthrough Awards program is to shine a spotlight on the breakthrough innovators who are not only keeping pace with this dynamic industry but also actively driving it forward. By conducting one of the AgTech industry’s most rigorous evaluations of technology companies, reviewing thousands of award nominations each year, AgTech Breakthrough aims to inspire continued innovation and help propel the global agriculture sector into a smarter, more sustainable future.

“The HOBOnet Wireless Sensor Network provides a cost-effective and scalable solution for web-enabled monitoring of field conditions. Collecting localized weather data is vital for better crop and greenhouse in-field management. However, most monitoring systems require complex integration or specialized IT, making it difficult to leverage predictive models for better decision-making,” said Bryan Vaughn, Managing Director, AgTech Breakthrough. “HOBOnet is purpose-built for the field - with simplicity, flexibility, and actionable data at its core. Its proven reliability, ease of use, and powerful analytics platform make it an indispensable tool for modern agriculture. We’re thrilled to award HOBOnet with "Crop Monitoring Solution of the Year!’” 

HOBOnet is trusted by growers worldwide, from vineyards in California to soybean fields in Brazil.

About HOBO Data Loggers

HOBO® Data Loggers, a LI-COR brand, delivers award-winning environmental monitoring solutions. Based in the USA, HOBO designs and manufactures data loggers and weather stations that are used globally across numerous applications, including agriculture, coastal research, green building performance, renewable energy, and temperature-controlled environments. With the support of LI-COR, the industry leader in greenhouse gas measurements backed by global investment firm, Battery Ventures, HOBO is poised to expand its product line of affordable, scalable monitoring solutions that provide unrivaled accuracy and reliability.

About AgTech Breakthrough

Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the AgTech Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in agricultural & food technologies, services, companies and products around the world. The AgTech Breakthrough Awards program provides a forum for public recognition around the achievements of AgTech companies and solutions in categories including farm management, indoor farming, IoT and robotics, FoodTech, analytics and more. For more information visit AgTechBreakthrough.com.

Tech Breakthrough LLC does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our recognition programs, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with award designations. Tech Breakthrough LLC recognition consists of the opinions of the Tech Breakthrough LLC organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Tech Breakthrough LLC disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this recognition program, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. 

About LI-COR

LI-COR is a leader in environmental measurement and monitoring solutions. With high-precision field instruments, software, and services, LI-COR enables comprehensive research and analysis of parameters critical to food, water, and energy security. Their solutions facilitate precise measurement and monitoring of gases, plant physiology, water, and climate conditions, both indoors and outdoors. By providing these advanced tools, LI-COR empowers customers to address critical questions related to some of the world's most significant human and planetary health issues. Learn more at https://www.licor.com and https://www.hobodataloggers.com/.