Assessing the economic dimension of sustainability in viticulture: implementation of a Decision Support System, Vite.net

ASSESSING THE ECONOMIC DIMENSION OF SUSTAINABILITY IN VITICULTURE:IMPLEMENTATION OF A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM

Student: Davide CAVALLINI

Supervisor: Prof. Vittorio ROSSI

Co-advisor: Prof. Claudio SOREGAROLI

January, 25th 2017

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European Community Directive 128/2009

“Member States shall take all necessary measures to promote

low pesticide-input pest management […]

so that professional users of pesticides switch to practices and

products with the lowest risk to human health and the environment”

Article 14

2

EU Reg. 1305/2013 of «Support for Rural Development»3 CAP Reform 2014-2020

“to promote knowledge transfer and innovation in agriculture […]”;

“to promote innovative agricultural technologies and support sustainable forest management”;

Rewards for greener practices

Voluntary Measures

30% of the budget of Rural Development Program

Second Pillar of the CAP 2014-2020:4

GREEN DIRECT PAYMENTS

5 ?How do farmers

face diseaseson grapevine

6 Powdery Mildew

Downy Mildew

high humidity and moderate temperatures; it significantly reduce crop yields1;

warm and humid summers. can lead to 50% of production loss2;

FUNGICIDES1M Jermini, P Blaise, C Gessler - VITIS-Journal of Grapevine, 2015

2S Boso, HH Kassemeyer - VITIS-Journal of Grapevine, 2015

Today’s standard:Regional Bulletins

Mandatory indications;

NOT SPECIFIC for each farm;

NO information about FUNGICIDES DOSAGE;

LACK of PRECISE advices;

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http://agricoltura.regione.emilia-romagna.it/fitosanitario/doc/bollettini/2016/bollettino-regionale-n-19-del-21-luglio-2016/view

8 ?farmers

shouldi

n

interested

be

Why

DSS TECHNOLOGY

Decision Support System – Vite.net®

REAL TIME DATA

• temperature and humidity;

• rain detection;• phenological

phases;

MATHEMATICAL MODELS

• estimation of infection periods;

• areas susceptible;

ACTIVE FEEDBACKS

• illnesses;•active principles (PPP);

•Precise dosage;

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THE STUDY

5 YEARS SPAN (2012-2016)

23 DIFFERENT FARMS

6 REGIONS

156 PPP

REAL DSS REPORTS

Comparison with the regional bulletins (BOA)

Data analysis process11

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RESULTS

Quantity of PPP/ha distributed

- blue: DSS- orange: BOA

100% less product applied

207kg less per region

152kg less per farmToscana 2016: 96,4kg less per farm

Kg/ha of PPP

Region code #

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Analysis on TOTAL COST of PPP/ha (€/ha)

87% capital saving

816,90€/ha less

604€/ha less per farmToscana 2016 414,2 €/ha less per farm

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Analysis on number of passages

10 passages less for each region

1,5 passage less per farm

Av. Cost/passage: 708,20€;

Capital saving of 308€/farm;

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Phenological phases and cost/ha (€/ha)

4 phenological phases

No case reported were the DSS cost were higher than the BOA;N° of treatment is significantly reduced in the 4th phase

Important keystone: TFI

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Maximum dose allowed VS dose applied

The DSS allows to save, both economically and environmentally, through the reduction of the dose applied.

TFI: Treatment Frequency Index17DSS BOA Var. %

23,37 48,00 105% Puglia 201339,37 43,00 9% Puglia 201433,14 70,00 111% Emilia Romagna 201426,55 30,00 13% Friuli 201430,81 41,00 33% Piemonte 201449,91 68,00 36% Toscana 201422,95 22 -4% Veneto 201423,68 56,00 136% Emilia Romagna 201543,29 20,00 -54% Friuli 201527,84 68,00 144% Piemonte 16,65 38,00 128% Puglia 2015114,90 224,00 95% Toscana 201530,64 53,00 73% Emilia Romagna 201638,52 19,00 -51% Friuli 201627,08 45,00 66% Puglia 201690,96 264,00 190% Toscana 201663,66 87,00 37% Veneto 2016

Decisions based on:• Precision of data• Verified mathematical models• On time informationCost reductionTime savingImproved farmers security on yieldsImproved farmers satisfactionEnvironmental awarenessEnvironmental impact reduction

Benefits for farmers18

Vite.net® consents to keep protected the crop as if the advices from the bulletins were adopted;

Vite.net® is a realistic and viable technology helping farmers to be efficient, autonomous, and technically advanced;

Vite.net® helps farmers facing grapevine diseases and to considerably save capital and comply proficiently to the European Directive 128/2009.

Conclusion19/19