A real-time technology platform will become accessible to Riverland grapegrowers after a $134,000 State government grant helped to launch the new pilot program this week.
The six-month digital, precision control system pilot program will aim to assist growers to optimise production and support overall vineyard efficiency, profitability and sustainability.
Riverland Wine is teaming up with the University of Adelaide and Wine Australia to trial a Digital Vineyard Guidance System – a technology platform that can provide real-time information to improve decision making.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Tim Whetstone said the trial could be a game changer for the industry.
"The State government is proud to support innovative technological developments like this, to help wine grape growers make better business choices and become more responsive and competitive," he said.
"This system will help our growers make better on-the-ground decisions as part of their day-to-day work and will enable stronger community connectivity to provide a platform for information sharing."
The pilot is funded from the SA Wine Industry Development Scheme and comprises three key components.
Sensing and retrieval, to incorporate multiple sensing and data streams at the soil, information and analytics in a dashboard format to help growers better understand and gain important insights into data and, prediction and control by using targeted crop interventions strategies such as canopy management, sprays and fertiliser.
"The Riverland is Australia's largest wine producing region and is well placed to be part of this trial," Mr Whetstone said.
