Digitalizing Agriculture in Guanajuato: A Strategic Transformation

for the agricultural sector was approved. This represents a 108% increase compared to the previous year, marking one of the highest national increments.

According to data from the Secretariat of Agriculture of Guanajuato, in 2026, 600 million pesos are allocated exclusively to irrigation modernization, aiming to impact over 10,000 hectares through high-efficiency systems.

According to the National Water Commission (Conagua), a joint fund of 6.4 billion pesos is being managed for irrigation modernization in the region, benefiting over 25,000 producers. This is a direct response to the water stress facing the Bajío region.

Protected Agriculture and Precision: Guanajuato’s Technological Core

According to SADER, the state boasts 2,679 hectares under greenhouse, macrotunnel, and shade net systems, positioning it as the fifth state with the largest technologically equipped surface area in the country.

Macrotunnel units average 12.68 hectares, while greenhouses reach 1.48 hectares per unit, reflecting intensive and highly controlled cultivation models.

For the early 2026 agricultural cycle, the Government of Guanajuato reports that 35,000 hectares of wheat and barley were technologically protected against frosts and extreme weather events using sensors, satellite monitoring, and early warning systems.

Agricultural Modernization: Hard Data Explaining the Shift

According to INEGI, 97% of protected agriculture production units in Mexico have mobile phone coverage, enabling the use of sensors, GPS, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Conagua indicates that only 21% of the country’s 32.4 million arable hectares have irrigation systems, making Guanajuato a key laboratory for water-saving and reuse technologies.

The Economic Weight of Agriculture in Guanajuato

The agri-food cluster is currently the second most important economic sector in the state, surpassed only by the automotive industry.

According to the Government of Guanajuato, the state leads national production of broccoli, lettuce, and carrots, thanks to highly modernized processes.

Between January and September 2025, Guanajuato achieved 30.72 billion dollars in total exports, according to COFOCE data.

The agri-food sector accounts for between 6.5% and 7% of that total, generating revenues exceeding 1.875 billion dollars, with a cumulative growth of 24% in recent years. 1,616 companies export from the state, and according to COFOCE, 80% are MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises).

Guanajuato Exports to the World: Key Destinations and Products

Thanks to technological standardization, Guanajuato exports agri-food products to over 135 countries, according to the State Secretariat of Economy.

Key destinations include:

• United States, the main buyer of fresh vegetables and berries.
• Canada, prominent for broccoli and frozen products.
• Japan, key for value-added products and technologically processed meat.
• European Union, with markets such as Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic.
• Asia and the Middle East, with expansion towards China, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.

Agri-tech, water efficiency, and agricultural digitalization have transformed the state into a leading agri-food exporter, capable of competing in global markets with productivity, traceability, and sustainability.

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