GOPHYTOVID: Optimisation of the use of plant health products based on plant vigour maps

The aim of the project was to minimise the use of chemical-based plant health products in viticulture and assess the practical application of alternative bioprotectors in vineyards. In this way, the project contributes to improving the management of diseases and pests and thus reduces the costs of treatment due to the use of plant health products. When only the strictly necessary dose is applied at the right time, the food safety of the final product increases, with the resulting economic and environmental benefit.

As part of the project, a tool has been developed and applied that is efficient, easy to use and simple to treat fungal diseases and pests in the vineyard. The tool supports winegrowers in decision-making according to their production strategy. The system is based on plant vigour maps (maps that assess the development of the crop) and the use of Dosaviña (a mobile application for winegrowers that calculates the optimum amount of the plant health product and the right volume to distribute).

The results obtained have achieved a 40% reduction in the use of plant health products in conventional and organic crops. In addition, successful application of viticulture precision techniques has been achieved, and the use of highly efficient treatment equipment. Furthermore, the cost and operating time for this activity have been cut.

The consortium, led by Miguel Torres S.A., has the participation of 16 partners, including universities and wineries in Catalonia and in the rest of Spain. Gophytovid took two years (August 2018 – June 2020), and had a budget of €616,806, through the grant programme for the execution of innovation projects by Operational Groups, co-funded by the European Union and the Spanish National Rural Development Programme (PNDR).