“My name is Anton Caratan. I work as a consultant for Four Star Fruit and Blanc Vineyards. I am presently involved with a water conservation irrigation project on table grapes. We are trying to reduce the volume of water necessary to grow and mature a crop of table grapes. The project requires controllers and measuring devices for various aspects of moisture content and water volume. I have been working on this project for about 4 years. Prior to collaborating with Max and his team I had encountered many setbacks.
I have been collaborating with Max Safai from M8 Systems for about a year. Dave Higdon invited me to talk to Max about M8 and the work they are doing to control water applications in agriculture. I explained to Max our goals and our problems during our meeting. From that point Max designed what we needed to control and monitor the trial. Max’s team have been dedicated to the success of our trial. When M8 did not have what was needed Max went and designed what we needed and installed it. He then proceeded to monitor the system to ensure that all the objectives were reached.
His theory for all irrigation is that M8 can work on any existing system without any changes to the original layout. I like the fact that all our valves and drippers and mainline did not need to be cut up to accommodate M8. As I stated earlier, Max designed something that plugged right into the project without any changes on our existing system.
He and his team continue to make additions to make our trial more user friendly along with making sure that all updates are working properly. As a result of M8’s dedication to the trial we have irrigated this trial with less than half of the water that we are applying to our other acreage. Any farming operation that is considering a new installation or an eQiciency upgrade needs to have the M8 team working for them. Integrity, honesty, and dedication are three words that come to mind when I think of the M8 team.”
Anton Caratan
CTO, Four Star Fruit Inc., Delano Farms Co.
“It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation for M8 Systems. Perricone Farms has been collaborating with M8 Systems for the past four years, during which we participated in the beta testing of their first-generation remotely operated automated valves and pump control system.
Their first product was installed at our Serrato 2 Farm corner of Lancaster Mountain Road and W. Lilac Road, in late 2019. We have used their product continuously and have not encountered any problems. As this initial phase was successful, we have decided to pull the trigger and equip all our 70+ Farms in Southern California with their automated valve and pump technology. The M8 Systems team has been very receptive to our feedback and have not stopped to continuously improve their technology, particularly their irrigation management module. Further, their controllers are at the right price point.
From leak detection to monitoring well levels, M8 Systems has provided innovative solutions that have significantly enhanced our operations. Max and his team do not hesitate to show up at our farms and help with the installation and training of our staff whenever we have asked.
I highly recommend M8 Systems for their exceptional products and unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction. Their ability to listen, adapt, and innovate has made them a valuable partner for us. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with M8 Systems and are confident that they will remain at the forefront of precision agriculture, delivering solutions that meet the evolving needs of all farmers.”
Michael Perricone
Perricone Farms and Juice
“My name is Andre Daccache, and I am a professor of irrigation engineering and agricultural water management at the University of California, Davis. I was introduced to Max Safai by a colleague three years ago, and since then, I have been working closely with M8 Systems.
Agriculture is undergoing a rapid technological transformation, driven by volatile markets, extreme weather events largely associated with climate change, and increasingly restrictive environmental regulations. In this context, M8 Systems offers an innovative automation solution that enables growers and district managers to save on labor costs, make timely decisions for higher crop productivity, reduce unnecessary water use, irrigate based on volume rather than time, control irrigation infrastructure (including pumps, pressure drops, and water levels), detect leaks, and document water usage for better irrigation management and compliance with Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requirements. By leveraging these capabilities, M8 Systems enables more efficient and effective water management, meeting the challenges of modern agriculture.
As an irrigation expert, I regularly meet with the M8 Systems team to discuss technical challenges, farmers' needs, best practices, and the integration of various sensors (soil, plant, and weather) into their automation system. I have also had the pleasure of using their automated controller and testing the accuracy and reliability of their solutions. Over the past three years, I have witnessed significant improvements in the design and supporting software of their controllers and most of those changes are the result of technical consultation meetings with experts and growers. A key factor in the company's success is the integrated automation solution, which covers irrigation to fertigation, design flexibility and adaptability to different pipe sizes and valve types, reliability and technical support from professional and highly expert team.
Today, M8 Systems offers one of the most cost-effective, reliable, and elegantly designed controllers on the market. I am confident that M8 Systems' success will continue to grow, not only due to the pressing need for irrigation automation solutions but also because of the company's clear vision, professionalism, and eagerness to transform new knowledge from growers and experts into effective practical actions and solutions.”
Andre Daccache PhD, MSc, AFHEA
Associate Professor
Agricultural Water Engineering and Management