Welcome to the new WineTech monthly where I give you key updates that matter to the industry and highlight upcoming events that I think will provide you with value. Let me know if this is valuable to you, how I can make it better, and do share any updates or events that I should feature in next month’s edition.
This month, we’re looking at AI-powered wine quality testing, autonomous crop protection, new approaches to vineyard disease detection and some interesting developments in agricultural biotechnology. There’s also fresh investment in robotics, with both governments and private companies looking to accelerate the adoption of technologies that could transform how food and wine are produced.
Industry updates
AI can now detect wine faults before they develop
Moët Hennessy, Analog Devices and the University of California, Davis have announced a collaboration using artificial intelligence and chemical sensing to identify potential wine quality problems before they become apparent.
The technology analyses volatile chemical signatures emitted by grapes, juice and wine, using machine learning to identify patterns associated with quality defects. Its first demonstrated application is the early detection of Fresh Mushroom Aroma (FMA), a fault that can affect wine quality.
The collaboration could eventually extend to vineyard disease detection, soil monitoring and identifying problems associated with climate change, including smoke taint. Rather than relying entirely on conventional laboratory testing or sensory analysis, winemakers could gain much earlier indications of potential problems during production.
UK government announces £40 million investment in robotics adoption
The UK government has announced £40 million in funding for a new network of Robotics Adoption Hubs, designed to help businesses adopt robotic and autonomous technologies.
Agriculture is one of the sectors expected to benefit, with the HARVEST hub in Lincoln focusing on robotics and automation across farming and food production.