A new vineyard project aims to create an open source data integration initiative that could revolutionize wine production in the UK and globally.
With digital mapping becoming increasingly important in decision-making, the Vineyard Information System for Technology and Automation (VISTA) will create an open standard for digital mapping of commercial vineyards within the UK and potentially globally as well, potentially supporting greater automation in agricultural operations.
The project will begin digitally mapping vineyards in a row and even at an individual vineyard level, using JoJo's Vineyard in Oxfordshire as the first test site in the Defra-backed programme. Drones, robots and field sensors will be used to monitor climate, weather, crop health, soil moisture, fruit numbers and fruit quality, with the VISTA map providing a digital platform for data processing.
Sprinkle flour
In the second year of the project, the map will then be used to operate precision sprinkler systems on the farm, and to produce accurate maps of farmers' pre-harvest productivity.
The project is led by a consortium of collaborating technical experts from the Agri-EPI Centre, crop mapping specialists from Outfield Technologies, roboticists from Antobot, viticulture consultants from Vinescapes, and robotic mapping researchers from the University of Lincoln.
Elliot Dixon, head of engineering at the Agri-EPI Centre, said the industry had a “strong need” for increased data integration to unlock the potential of precision agriculture.
Just the beginning
“As an industry that is inherently infrastructure-focused, the key to getting this integration right is the ability to communicate in a language-centric infrastructure,” he said.
“This is what VISTA is about as a project, creating a mapping standard for agriculture that allows robots, drones, sensors and decision support tools to communicate, integrate their data and provide maximum benefit to farmers. Viticulture is just the beginning; we hope to see this basic principle used in other sectors.”
Strong belief
Ian Beecher-Jones, co-owner of JoJo's Vineyard, said he was “delighted” to be the lead vineyard in the project, and has been developing precision viticulture techniques for the past two years.
He said: “(We) have a strong belief that the project will continue the work we achieved in the Innovate UK Viticulture 4.0 project, which highlighted the importance of creating a robust digital infrastructure on which all other technologies can operate efficiently and effectively.”
Ollie Hilburn, CEO and co-founder of Outfield Technologies, added that the project was a “fantastic example” of the power of UK innovation funding.
He said: “The UK wine industry is growing rapidly, learning best practice from other wine growing regions. With VISTA, the UK wine industry has the opportunity to set international standards and export our knowledge to the rest of the wine growing world.”
