The DISAVIT project, presented by the consortium formed by SOLTEL (ES), SEACON(HU) and BEIA(RU) has received funding from the Eurostars-2 joint program with co-financing from CDTI and the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Framework Programme.
Vine cultivation is a highly important activity in the EU, and especially in Spain. According to the Eurostat report "Vineyards in the EU – statistics," 3.2 million hectares of vineyards were cultivated in the European Union in 2015, representing 1.8% of the total cultivated area in the EU and 45% of the world's vineyard area. Spain has the largest area dedicated to vineyards among EU member states, accounting for 30% of the EU total and 13.4% of the world total.
In recent years, winegrowers have become increasingly technologically advanced, and a growing number of qualified technicians are managing vineyards. This is a sector where quality is the differentiating factor, with the need to expand into new markets and the challenge of remaining competitive in an industry dominated by large, well-established brands. The processing phase, once the grapes are delivered to the winery, is highly technologically advanced. Therefore, it has become increasingly necessary to modernize vineyards, seeking greater quality control in the field and optimizing the use of inputs such as water, fertilizers, and plant protection products.
Regarding efficient harvest management, it is essential to harvest at the optimal time. To produce a great wine, one must start with high-quality, healthy, and ripe grapes, with the desired balance of their components—characteristics achieved through proper cultivation. Choosing the right harvest date allows us to pick the grapes at the best possible moment for our purpose, since once the harvest is complete, it is impossible to improve the quality of the grapes.
DISAVIT offers a novel product to improve the environmental sustainability and performance of grapevine cultivation, targeting a new market characterized by emerging technologies. DISAVIT will provide an innovative, low-cost, user-friendly, and rapid-response solution for Smart Viticulture, covering all phenological stages of the crop and the most important strategic and operational activities: plant health, pesticide detection, resource optimization, grape quality and maturity, and overall production.
The incorporation of a system like DISAVIT into the wine sector will optimize production systems and reduce the environmental impact of agricultural activities. It will promote the adoption of improved management tools, enabling objective, data-driven decisions and leveraging the opportunities generated by the digital services market for smart agriculture. The system will utilize technologies and procedures applicable to any geographic area and any type of vineyard plot and production system. Throughout the project's implementation, end-user support will be provided.
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