Use of the integrated precision viticulture system NITREOS, for climate change adaptation of the wine sector.
NITREOS VINEYARD
The current situation regarding the subject of the project
In the last thirty years, climate change has significantly affected the microclimatic conditions in the wine-growing regions of Greece. Climate change, in addition to affecting the biology and physiology of the vine, has a significant impact on the spread and intensity of pest and disease attacks, the appearance of new weeds and the quantity and quality of the product produced. It is obvious that adaptation to climate change requires comprehensive programs.
The use of Precision Viticulture is the tool for transitioning to a new, more efficient era for winegrowers, with the aim of economic sustainability and reducing the environmental footprint of the units. Precision Viticulture with the management of the field in zones it achieves contributes to limiting inputs, energy consumption and natural resources. Thus the crop can adapt more easily to changing environmental conditions due to climate change.
The aforementioned is made possible by the use of the electronic information system NITREOS which is a platform for registration, processing and analysis of agricultural and meteorological data, to assist decision-making regarding the agricultural care applied in order to limit inputs and control production costs.
The project is deemed necessary to be implemented in more than one Region in order to include a large number of users that will help to validate the correct operation of the platform and to draw correct conclusions from users in areas with differences in soil, climate, and cultivation factors.
The Innovation
NITREOS is an integrated application, adapted to small and large scale wineries. The online platform has an easy-to-use and friendly user interface. It adapts to areas with varied climatic characteristics, to organic and conventional agriculture. The application consists of the combination of three main modules. The processing of multispectral images allows the assessment of spatial variability and the definition of management zones within the vineyard.
Irrigation planning is based on the hydrological unit of the application. Warnings about favorable conditions for the growth of enemies and diseases and the planning of cultivation interventions result from the analysis of the meteorological module of the application. NITREOS differentiates itself from existing models as it can provide full advisory support for decision-making at all levels of a vineyard’s production process.
European Innovation Partnership “Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability”
The objective of Measure 16 is to strengthen the culture of cooperation between the involved bodies with the aim of:
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- strengthening the competitiveness of businesses in primary production (agricultural holdings) in the food sector, mainly local products but also as well as
- the search for new cultivation practices and production practices that contribute to the protection of the environment but also to adaptation to climate change
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Through the partnerships that will be developed, the opportunity will be given to utilize new technologies and innovative processes for:
- the production of safer and healthier food.
- the reduction of water consumption and in general the cost of inputs for economic and environmental benefit
- ensuring the uniqueness of certified agricultural products