Page 21 - Food & Drink Magazine April 2020

growing advantage
VitiVisor has potential to create dramatic savings for growers on irrigation and spraying.
LEFT: The Riverland region makes the most wine of any wine region in Australia
digital data inputs can be integrated in such a way that they can be presented back to the grower in the form of a dashboard. By having algorithms that will read those inputs and come up with the best, the most appropriate formula, you’re beginning to have a vineyard that is a lot more efficient,” he says.
various canopy management strategies relate to vineyard outcomes such as fruit yield and quality,” Byrne says.
The vineyard level information can also be combined with market and farm cost information, which can guide decisions to maximise farm returns.
Byrne says it has been a shift in thinking for those involved. “We are still in the trial stages, but those who’ve been most directly involved are really enthusiastic. In about two years we will have a lot more evidence of its value.”
PRECISION DECISIONS
Soil moisture monitors have been used for a long time and are used to inform irrigation practices, but VitiVisor is giving grapegrowers a more sophisticated picture.
Byrne says: “Soil moisture is one thing, but the atmosphere on the day, the direction of the wind, the temperature, all of those factors has a part to play as well. We’re beginning to see remote sensing devices used to measure things like humidity,
and the rates of the rate of evapotranspiration. We can even measure the rate of sap flow through the trunk of the vine or a tree.”
The interconnectedness of a vineyard also benefits greatly from the technology, he says.
The leaf area index looks at the ratio of an area of grapevine to air. The critical components for growing and ripening grapes are air and light.
To manipulate the canopy to allow more of those involves managing the vine’s – or cane’s – growth and the best way to do that is through how much water it receives.
“Technology lets us make that decision with precision. If you begin to just fractionally ease back on the water that might be applied each day, you might cut back by five to fifteen per cent, depending on the variety. Then you just progressively send signals to the vines to slow down growth.
“It’s quite remarkable how the vines can read those signals, slow down the growth, lignify the canes, and you’ve got a much
more balanced canopy,” he says. The added benefit is an
optimal canopy also reduces mildews and other diseases, which means reducing the need for spraying, another direct cost benefit to the grower on one of the biggest costs to a vineyard.
“Not starting up the tractor means no vehicle, no labour, no chemicals, and no more water
BEVERAGE BUSINESS
“ By having algorithms that will read those inputs and come up with the best, the most appropriate formula, you’re beginning to have a vineyard that is a lot more efficient.”
to spray. In our region it’s quite common for growers to spray six to ten times a year.
“Even if you can reduce that to five, it means a dramatic saving on all of those input costs, labour, diesel, chemicals, water as well as the capital cost of equipment.
“The right range of sensors strategically placed around the vineyard, with the right sort of
For Byrne, the project is
a key part of the company’s strategic plan to transition
the industry to a new wine
era by building members’ knowledge, rebuilding the brand and influencing industry decisions. The technology
will empower and enable growers to achieve excellence in all aspects of their wine growing and winemaking. ✷
www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au | April 2020 | Food&Drink business | 21