Precision viticulture

The Agriculture Innovation Agenda 2020-2030 refers to the precision agriculture as one of the key lines for the innovation in the sector. This theme was also praised in the “Economic recovery plan for Portugal 2020-2030”. Hence, being one of the most relevant approaches to deal with two of the main difficulties the sector has to face (climate change and labour shortage), the development and implementation of technologies and precision viticulture strategies constitute one of the current milestones of ADVID’s action.

It is estimated that the implementation of these strategies will increase the agricultural production up to 20%, while reducing water consumption and the use of fertilizers and, consequently, groundwater contamination, leading to a more ecological and sustainable agriculture.

These developing technologies include automation, mechanization, and sensing – comprising the use of data collected by drone/satellite, which should be implemented alongside the use of technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), big data and artificial intelligence.

Additionally, this approach also comprises the study and the dissemination of adaptation methods of the systematization of sloppy soil and mountain wine regions, such as the DDR, in order to control erosion and ensure the sustainability of the proposed systems, as well as the possibility of allowing the introduction of new technologies, such as the installation of vineyards that represent an appropriate interface which will allow the mechanical harvest, as well as the automation of other cultural operations.

Goals

• Support the implementation of new technologies as way of mitigating labour shortage.
• Develop and implement new technologies that will improve resource use efficiency, increasing the sector’s sustainability.
• Transfer of sensing technology, automation, and artificial intelligence to support the vine and the wine sector.
• Development and disclosure of zoning tools that will support the implementation of precision viticulture practices.

This investigation line has been supported by the works developed on the following projects: