SUPPORT GRAPE PRODUCERS WITH DIGITAL TOOLS TO DEVELOP THEIR PRECISION FARMING APPROACH
Project description
The main objective of GrapePRODIGI project is to assess a learn-in-practice education platform in the related topics of remote sensing, digital mapping, smart sensors and high precision farming for grapevine growers. The platform will include a pilot vineyard managerial system for clearer understanding and organized roadshows will ensure the high level attainment for stakeholders. By the platform farmers will get fit-for-purpose knowledge on how to engage digital tools in viticultural practice.
To ensure a transnational approach linking producers and innovators the project can have a widespread impact for EU producers at the local, national and EU level. This is why GrapePRODIGI has been designed as a transnational project and education platform with tailored content that will ensure the project to reach, beside Italy and Hungary, even marginalised rural regions of Europe. The project activities can be divided in four parts: high precision sensors and IoT systems, digital mapping tools, education content development and disseminating pilot systems for users. All of the partners bear the responsibility of a certain task and contribute to the others to get a well balanced working distribution in the project.
EKCU as coordinator is responsible for the horizontal work packages: management and dissemination, development of the pilot vineyard management system, including the education platform and practical examples. University of Padova will coordinate the creation and assessment of the pedagogical content from the stakeholders needs to their feedback giving process as a whole. CET Electronics by their expertise will contribute to the precision farming approach providing innovative tools and sensors, as an IoT system, for the pilot activity and education to reach a learn-from-practice approach. Borműhely Association of Eger will work in the exploitation of the outcomes of the project by disseminating in professional platforms and social media tools and by organizing a roadshow for Hungarian and Italian growers and stakeholders. The project’s cooperation covers all the actors which can play an important role in digital innovation and smart based management transformation for the targeted stakeholders.
Results
THE ESZTERHÁZY KÁROLY CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY PROJECT HAS BROUGHT STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY TO THE EGER WINE REGION
The project entitled Supporting grape producers with digital tools to develop their approach to precision agriculture led by the Italian-Hungarian international consortium led by the Catholic University Eszterházy Károly (2021-2-HU01-KA210-ADU-000051077) funded by the European Community under Small-Scale Partnerships in Adult Education has come to an end.
Viticultural and oenological education and research have a centuries-old tradition in Eger. The Catholic University Eszterházy Károly is an innovative and service institution built on 250 years of tradition, where, in addition to high-quality work, it is also essential to seek answers to research questions and set goals that are meaningful and can be used effectively both theoretically and practically. It is equally important for researchers to address current issues of concern to winegrowers and winegrowers in coordination and dialogue with industry actors.
This philosophy is reflected in the recently concluded GrapePRODIGI project, in which the Italian-Hungarian international consortium led by the University of Eger was involved in the development of digital tools and technologies used in viticulture. In collaboration with the University of Padua, the Italian company CET Electronics s.n.c. and the Association of Wine Laboratories Eger, remotely controlled sensors have been installed in the vineyards. The device is located in the Síkhegy vineyard. It is no coincidence that it is considered one of the vineyards with the finest volcanic substrate in the wine region, with a large cultivated area of almost 60 hectares.
The device measures and records all important weather factors, such as temperature, relative humidity, soil moisture or wind speed, all of which vineyards and winegrowers may need. During the work, a cartographic base was created which, in addition to the weather data and other data collected by the sensors, shows the interventions carried out and thus serves as a basis for the research and management of the vineyard. In addition to the map, a 3D camera was used to monitor the growth of the vine shoots, any damage caused by ice or wildlife, as well as the absorption and current amount of material to be treated. Thanks to this, it is also possible to determine exactly when and in what quantity plant protection products should be applied to the plant.
Following two years of joint work, which received funding of 60,000 euros, a freely accessible web portal was also created, where the application of innovative tools in viticulture is presented.
