Title : A look into the new era of viticulture
Abstract:
The article examines the specifics of viticulture as a part of crop production during the period from the Neolithic subsistence economy to the emerging digital era of crop production. Digitalization with elements of artificial intelligence in viticulture can significantly improve the efficiency of the industry. Smart vineyards with digital technologies for monitoring and managing cultivation processes are becoming increasingly popular. Agroecological mapping of vineyards and allocation of micro-terroirs is carried out using unmanned aerial vehicles to determine, based on "computer vision", the moisture content, the state of plants, the presence of pests-causes of diseases in the fields, etc. This allows for the application of differentiated agricultural techniques, modeling the accumulation of sugars, acidity, and phenolic composition of berries, managing irrigation and plant nutrition, and mechanization and automation of all technological processes in the field without human intervention. Digitalization replaces intuitive vineyard management with scientifically based, predictive models of programmable yields, methods of creating precise vineyards. Currently, some form of precision agriculture technology is used on 15-40% of large farms in the United States, 20% of farms in Australia and Canada, 85% of farms in Scotland, 43% of farms in Ireland, and 30% of farms in Germany, as well as 68% of small farms in Western Europe. Australian winemakers are considered to be leaders in the use of "precision" vineyards. Here, increased yields and quality of grapes are achieved with minimal environmental impact and risks by measuring local differences in factors affecting the yield and quality of grapes (soil, topography, microclimate, vine condition, etc.) and applying appropriate viticulture methods (trellis design, pruning, fertilization, irrigation, harvest timing, etc.). In California (USA), artificial intelligence was used for the first time in a vineyard. Sensors and cameras on the bushes capture indicators of the vine's condition in real time and transmit them to the research center for analysis using artificial intelligence. In Burgundy and Bordeaux (France), large chateaux are implementing precision viticulture systems: They install networks of soil and weather sensors, use drones for monitoring, and train algorithms to understand the intricacies of their terrains. New technologies include vertical farming and hydroponic technologies, which are the most promising for use in urban environments. In the digital era, the demand for grape-based products is becoming increasingly important. Currently, wine is the primary product derived from grapes. However, current dietary trends are leading to a decrease in alcohol consumption, which will impact the future use of grapes. In addition, research is currently being conducted on the use of plants, and then plant cultivation, in space (the space era of plant cultivation is opening), which opens up new prospects for viticulture as well.
Keywords: Plant Cultivation, Viticulture, Digitalization, Precision Viticulture, "Smart Vineyards."
