The wine industry is one of many verticals investigating the potential of the IoT
Like other agricultural crops, grapes need a certain amount of water and sun, as well as properly fertilized soil to produce the best outcome. IoT can trigger the ideal amount of irrigation and fertilizer for crops to maximize yield, and help let winemakers know the peak times to harvest based on weather data and crop readiness.
According to Verizon’s Internet of Things 2016 report, growers are taking advantage of the benefits of IoT by deploying more technology in their fields— resulting in bigger crop yields, overall operational efficiencies, and reduced costs.
In Germany, Ericsson has already carried out a trial to demonstrate how sensor data from a vineyard environment can be collected and processed in order to better inform wine producers about their grapes.
The trial features Ericsson IoT Security Services, which are part of the Ericsson Device Connection Platform (DCP) providing SIM-based device authentication and secure, encrypted connectivity end-to-end. The trial also used MyOmega’s gateway and radio sensors, as well as technology from Intel and connectivity provided by Telenor Conexion, to form a complete ecosystem for collecting and analyzing data from the vineyards.
The solution used in the trial comprises 5 IoT gateways that connect to 20 solar-powered sensor platforms, which were placed throughout each vineyard. The sensors are designed to measure a variety of environmental factors, including air humidity and temperature, soil humidity and temperature and solar intensity.
The trial tests how the data collected from the vineyards can be utilized in order to perform predictive analysis.
The data collected from the vineyards allows winemakers to assess vineyard conditions in order to define the optimal time and location for fertilization, irrigation and use of fungicides, Ericsson said.
The solution also allow producers to have access to remote monitoring of the vineyard and the ability to predict how and when to use resources.
Several wine companies in California are already implementing IoT technologies to improve process and gain efficiencies. Hahn Family Wines, based in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County, California installed hundreds of wireless sensors on its 1,000-acre vineyard. The sensors are buried 12 to 48 inches below the ground to monitor soil moisture every six acres and can precisely monitor the health and conditions of the vines.
Also, California-based Scheid Vineyards is implementing IoT and other connectivity technologies to improve processes and operations.
At the Enterprise IoT Summit, which took place in Austin, Texas, earlier this year, Greg Gonzalez, Director of Vineyards Operations at Scheid Vineyards, discussed connected agriculture and its benefits for the wine industry.
The executive said that the company is collecting data from the field through IoT technology, which allow the company to monitor several aspects of the operation including soil moisture measurement.
Gonzalez also said that Scheid Vineyard is in process to implement an integral asset management solution.
“We are connected. Everything at the vineyard has a data point. It is traditional information in a new form,” he added.
Last year, Scheid Vineyard and other Californian vineyards had selected Verizon to implement IoT technologies in order to improve farming processes.
Verizon has teamed up with ITK, crop modeling company, to provide Delicato Family Vineyards, Scheid Vineyards and Renteria Vineyard Management with an automated solution that delivers intelligence to help these growers adopt improved planning, irrigation management and sustainability programs.
