The Growing Popularity of the IoT in the Wine Industry

The challenges facing the wine industry are mounting, indicating that the introduction of new technology has come at a critical time.

Viticulture is an ancient profession, but advances in the internet of things (IoT) assist vineyards in increasing efficiency and producing higher-quality wines through real-time data analysis and precision recommendations.

The wine industry is confronted with numerous challenges. Climate variability and irrigation uncertainty have harmed the viability of several large wine grape production regions worldwide.

Pests and crop diseases also have a significant economic impact. Globally, the annual cost of crop loss due to plant disease is estimated to be $60 billion. In comparison, the impact of pests and diseases on Australia's wine industry is estimated to be 251 million Australian dollars ($169 million).

While global wine consumption has declined over the last decade, consumers' focus has shifted to the wine's quality and production method.

As a result, sustainable viticulture is influencing consumer purchasing motivations and, as a result, growing practices. Meanwhile, regulatory compliance for exporting products adds to the industry's growing complexity.

The role of technology in the wine industry

The IoT can help address these issues by transforming farms into intelligent systems capable of sensing and communicating climatic, environmental, and other operational practices and risks. To make informed predictions, data from the sensors is combined with information from other sources, such as historical data on vineyard characteristics and previous vintage results.

Vineyards can use weather stations, soil sensors, and drones to collect data on moisture, nitrogen content, biomass index, soil electrical conductivity, and weed and disease infestation – and then compare it to the expected growth stage using IoT principles.

This comparison enables farmers to receive the appropriate advice at the appropriate time regarding applying appropriate inputs such as fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, and irrigation plans.

The goal is "precision viticulture," in which daily optimizing operations enables IoT to quickly reduce labor costs and increase farm efficiency while also providing a valuable tool for preventing devastating loss due to diseases and pests in the long run.

IoT sensors can assist with irrigation

A critical parameter in precision viticulture is the vine's water content; the grapes' maturation is slowed when a vine is dehydrated. 

IoT sensors that monitor soil moisture can assist winegrowers in determining the areas where roots are absorbing the most water, allowing them to monitor the effect of rainfall and, more specifically, irrigation in New World vineyards. Harvesting grapes should be completed as soon as possible to avoid altering the taste and preserve the quality—predicting the optimal time for picking is critical.

Inputs to crops and soil quality

Understanding and monitoring environmental factors, including air and soil temperature, pH, rainfall, and exposure to UV and solar radiation, can directly improve production practices, including where to plant for the best results. The IoTs can identify and monitor areas with distinct climatic conditions to create a unique wine. Vineyards can also benefit from next-generation precision planters, which assist farmers who rely on technology to increase yield.

The wine industry's technology can aid in the prevention of diseases and pests.

Crop diseases can have a devastating economic impact on the wine industry. Pesticides are costly and, if not used properly, can sometimes cause additional damage or be ineffective. IoT is becoming increasingly valuable in monitoring and forecasting the risk of grape crop diseases to avoid catastrophic losses, allowing for precise, just-in-time treatment. By equipping the vineyard with sensors that monitor critical parameters such as ambient temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, leaf wetness, soil moisture, and rainfall on an hourly basis, early warning systems can detect and communicate disease risk.