Climbing the Wine-Streaked Slopes: How Drone Tech Revitalizes Perilous Vineyards
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A novel drone helping to safeguard endangered vineyards. - Unveiling the Assistance: How a Novel Drone Could Secure Endangered Varieties of Wine Grapes
Overburdened with labor demands and riddled with hazardous conditions, a crisis grips steep slopes viticulture. For winemakers, tackling these treacherous terrains is both expensive and fraught with danger—yet many of these regions boast prized sites.
Case in point: The Mosel, the world's largest continuous steep slope region, battles an ongoing decay as winemakers abandon sections of vineyard. Once breathtaking vineyards on the Middle Rhine have already vanished, leaving a chasm behind the picturesque river.
Enter drones. Experts have high hopes for these slick airborne helpers, particularly a new agricultural drone from China that gained nationwide approval last year for plant protection. "Drones are the game-changers that will save our steep slope winemakers," states Norbert Müller, the head of the DLR Mosel, at a drone demo over a cluster of vineyards in Bernkastel-Kues. This latest model, Müller explains, represents a colossal leap forward compared to its predecessors. The DLR has upgraded its drift tracking for off-course deviations, securing approval for plant protection tasks.
FAQ
Where are steep slopes most common in viticulture?
Vineyards situated on slopes amounting to at least 30% incline are classified as steep[1]. Approximately 14% of Germany's total vineyard area (approximately 14,000 hectares) falls into this category. The largest areas can be found in Rhineland-Palatinate, the Mosel, and the Middle Rhine, but also crop up in Baden-Württemberg, such as on the Kaiserstuhl and in the Baden Ortenau. There are also steep vineyards in the Hessian Rheingau, Palatinate, Franconia, and Saxony. In addition, they are prevalent in the Portuguese Douro Valley and the Italian Trentino.
What benefits does utilizing drones in viticulture offer?
Spraying fungicides from the air is integral to viticulture in steep vineyard zones in Rhineland-Palatinate, as well as other German states, as the protection of certain vines can only be ensured from on high. Nevertheless, these operations are usually aerial and heliborne[1]. For the past three years, drones have also been airborne over vineyards for spraying; each year, more area is added, says DLR expert Müller. Although currently sprouting over around 200 hectares out of around 3,200 hectares of steep slopes, there's room for improvement.
Drones have comparable "drift behavior" to ground-based machinery, according to the Ministry of Agriculture[1]. They're substantially more precise than tractors or helicopters, especially near residential areas and water sources.
What can the new agricultural drone DJI Agras T50 achieve?
Most importantly, it's able to more efficiently and effectively distribute the spray boom. The reasoning behind this improvement includes a larger tank capacity of 40 liters (a 10-liter upgrade over the T30) and the use of rotary atomizers, which dispense liquid through steady rotation rather than pressure. This setup pushes the liquid flow rate up from the current 7 liters per minute to up to 24 liters per minute. And the DJI T50 automatically generates precise 3D flight paths.
Are there dissenting opinions from winemakers regarding drone adoption?
Certainly—often due to time constraints. A helicopter can cover an area in just 1.5 hours, notes winemaker Stefanie Vornhecke from Senheim on the Mosel. "However, if we want to work our vineyards with drones, we're looking at two days." Additionally, there are steep slopes where there's no landing space for drones—for example, at the Brenner Calmont, Europe's steepest vineyard[1].
Ansgar Schmitz, managing director of the Mosel wine association, advocates that drone technology is vital to fully maintain steep slope viticulture. Moreover, Schmitz believes that the drone could be viewed as a compromise to continue treating steep slopes with aerial fungicides while respecting endangered Apollo butterflies.
What complaints does the German Environmental Aid voice regarding aerial spraying?
"The steep slope viticulture is an essential element of the cultural landscape on the Mosel that must be preserved—but conservation legislation should be respected as well," asserts the federal managing director of the German Environmental Aid (DUH), Jürgen Resch. The decline of the Apollo butterfly puts sufficient time on the table, in Resch's opinion, to pilot the drone technology, which could apply treatments much more precisely than helicopters. The DUH is engaged in legal action concerning their use. Furthermore, some of the fungicides employed belong to the group of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), notes the DUH, criticizing their slow decay in the environment.
How much do drones typically cost for viticulture?
A drone for plant protection agent application in steep and very steep slope viticulture, like the DJI T50, costs roughly 30,000 euros after accessories such as tanks, batteries, pumps, and generators are included[1]. The DLR supports viticulturists in purchasing drones with a 40% contribution.
Can every winemaker utilize drones?
While spraying plant protection agents from drones is generally banned, exceptions can be made in steep slope viticulture according to the Plant Protection Act. However, the applications must be submitted (and are subject to a fee) and permits are issued in Rhineland-Palatinate's largest wine-growing region (the case count in the current season is 15)[1].
The Ministry of Agriculture advocates lifting the ban, which is anchored in EU law, and proposes granting agricultural drones a separate category equivalent to ground-supported application devices. Moreover, State Secretary Andy Becht (FDP) demands simpler approval procedures in this area. "We need things to move faster," he insists.
According to the German Federal Aviation Office's classification, the Open Category A2 is required for drone operation. However, several winery owners often pool resources when purchasing a drone, and contract workers may operate the drone on behalf of the winemaker with a valid driver's license[1].
Viticulture, Wine, High-Tech, Drones, Crisis, Mosel, DLR, Helicopter, Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Middle Rhine, China, German Environmental Aid e.V., Germany, Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg
- The integration of drone technology in steep slope viticulture, such as in the Mosel region, offers a potential solution to the ongoing crisis by providing a more precise and more efficient means of applying fungicides, thereby reducing environmental impact and potential hazards for winemakers.
- As these advanced technological tools like drones become more accessible through partnerships with organizations like the German Environmental Aid and the DLR, they have the potential to revolutionize lifestyle choices, including home-and-garden maintenance, and extend to other sectors like gadgets and technology, offering a more efficient and eco-friendly approach to everyday tasks.
