5G Technology Transforms Viticulture in Germany’s Moselle Region

5G Technology Transforms Viticulture in Germany’s Moselle Region

(IN BRIEF) The “Smart Vineyard” project in Germany’s Moselle Valley, supported by Deutsche Telekom’s 5G campus network, is modernizing traditional winemaking through automation and real-time data analysis. Using 5G-connected robots and AI, the project helps winemakers perform labor-intensive tasks such as soil cultivation and defoliation while optimizing resources like water and fertilizers. This initiative also aims to preserve the region’s 2,000-year-old winemaking tradition, address labor shortages, and adapt to climate change.

(PRESS RELEASE) BONN, 9-Sep-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — In an effort to modernize traditional winemaking practices, the “Smart Vineyard” project, supported by Deutsche Telekom, has introduced 5G technology to the vineyards of Germany’s historic Moselle Valley. Faced with a shortage of skilled labor and the risks associated with cultivating steep slopes, local winemakers are turning to cutting-edge solutions such as robotics and artificial intelligence to streamline operations. The 5G campus network, tailored specifically for this initiative, is providing real-time data evaluation and automated assistance to help preserve the 2,000-year-old winemaking tradition.

The project features a robot equipped with a 5G router that autonomously navigates the vineyards, performing essential tasks like soil cultivation and defoliation. Using advanced camera systems and sensors, the robot collects data on the health of the vines, pest infestations, and environmental conditions. This data helps winegrowers optimize the use of water, fertilizers, and crop protection products, reducing resource waste and enhancing sustainability.

In addition to aiding winemakers, the 5G network also supports research into the performance of wireless signals in complex agricultural landscapes, helping to improve connectivity for future applications.

Mathias Poeten, Head of Mobile Networks at Deutsche Telekom, highlighted the impact of the initiative: “5G is revolutionizing viticulture, and our innovative network solution is designed to move with the winegrowers to ensure seamless connectivity.”

By integrating digital tools with traditional practices, the “Smart Vineyard” project is helping the Moselle wine region maintain its quality and adapt to the challenges posed by climate change and labor shortages, ensuring the future of winemaking in the region.

The Smart Vineyard

The joint project “Smart Vineyard” focuses on the digitization of viticulture in the area of steep and steep slopes in the Cochem-Zell wine-growing region on the Moselle. It is coordinated by the University of Koblenz, other partners are the Service Center for Rural Areas (Mosel), Agricultural Machinery Technology Clemens Technologies, Vision and Robotics, AeroDCS, as well as the winegrowers Franzen in Bremm and Weis in Zell/Mosel. The project thus supports winegrowers in the Cochem-Zell region in adapting their vineyards to the challenges of climate change and the shortage of skilled workers, while thus maintaining the excellent quality of the wines. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport.

Media Contact:

Kathrin Langkamp
Telekom Blogger
media@telekom.de
+49 228 181 49494

SOURCE: Deutsche Telekom AG