Agriculture and high technology. Sensors and satellite images to help kiwi producers

In a global scenario marked by climate change and plant diseases, the Italian kiwi is called to face crucial challenges. To respond with innovation and vision, Quality Kiwi was born, a project promoted by Apofruit Italia , with the contribution of Ri.Nova, Crea and scientific and technological partners, which aims to digitize the production management of kiwifruit thanks to the development of a decision support system entirely dedicated to the crop: the DSS-Kiwi . "It is an advanced platform that integrates agro-meteorological data, field sensors, forecasting models and technical protocols in a single digital environment - explains Andrea Grassi, director of innovation and development of Apofruit -. Designed to meet the practical needs of farmers and producer organizations, the system will offer decision-making support for the management of irrigation, fertilization, plant protection and fruit quality, up to the traceability of the lot. Our goal is to transfer concrete tools to agricultural companies to address the main adversities that affect kiwi producers, from plant mortality to PSA, to climate challenges, as well as improving production quality and increasing environmental sustainability. With Quality Kiwi we want to make advanced technological solutions available, but at the same time simple to use and adaptable to real field conditions".

The project, which also involves the highly specialized technical office of Apofruit in Aprilia (LT), includes the installation of sensors for soil monitoring, the use of satellite images and support systems for irrigation and nutritional management, with the aim of optimizing resources and reducing environmental impact, a particularly important issue in a crop, that of kiwi, historically accused of being particularly water-hungry. In parallel, models will be developed for the control of the main adversities, with particular attention also to plant mortality, internationally known as KVDS (Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome). Thanks to the possibility of monitoring pre-harvest quality and efficiently planning harvesting, delivery and storage operations, the DSS-Kiwi will also become a strategic tool for the entire supply chain, contributing to the valorization of the product and the guarantee of traceability.

Quality Kiwi will not be limited to technical innovation: "The project also aims to measure and improve the environmental impact of production, through the integration of sustainability indicators and the analysis of eco-efficiency, in line with European standards - concludes Grassi -. In economic terms, the adoption of DSS-Kiwi will help companies regain competitiveness, increasing yield per hectare and efficiency in the use of production inputs. The final objective is twofold: more quality and less waste".

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