ArtVinium and Atfield Technologies Pioneer Sustainable Viticulture with Winessense Launch in Romania

Recent years have exposed the multifaceted challenges that the new climate reality brings to viticulture and grape growing, affecting the management and maintenance of vineyards. The increasing frequency of previously unusual climatic events is evident through prolonged periods of high temperatures, lack of spring precipitation or excessive rain during flowering, unpredictable late spring frosts, and periods of extreme summer drought. Simultaneously, legislative changes and new regulations regarding protective treatments, the shift towards organic agriculture, emphasize the need for innovative solutions beyond traditional vineyard maintenance knowledge.

In response to the dynamic challenges posed by the evolving climate change and the growing emphasis on sustainability in viticulture, ArtVinium, and Atfield Technologies announced the recent launch of Winessense in the Romanian market. This state-of-the-art solution is designed to revolutionize grapevine cultivation practices in the wine industry, with a strong focus on environmental protection, organic farming, and reduction of carbon footprint.

Winessense is a comprehensive solution that connects a network of in-canopy sensors, strategically placed throughout vineyard blocks, with an easy-to-use mobile application. The application sends notifications, collects information, and generates statistics on critical temperatures, humidity, and precipitation intervals. The benefits of using this system are manifold.  It helps producers understand the impact of weather conditions on their own plantation, and assess the impact on different grape varieties in various plots. This revolutionary technology enables producers, regardless of their previous experience, to identify plots that are under pressure from diseases and pests during specific periods or weather conditions, receive timely notifications before critical stages, signal the need for immediate treatments, establish crucial links between meteorological patterns and the performance of plots and grape varieties, All of this ultimately leads to annual statistics that are further correlated to generate future models for vineyard maintenance and management.

"Winessense is a technology that has delivered remarkable results in the vineyards where it has been implemented. Producers have achieved consistent and high-quality yields with a significant reduction in the costs of protective treatments. They have been able to grow grapes when all of their neighbors failed. All of this with fewer treatments carried out only in absolutely necessary periods, and the use of fewer substances impacting diseases that have been signaled duly and predictably. Winessense brings tangible benefits to optimizing grapevine plantation management practices." Vukašin Pejović, CEO Atfield Technologies

The Romanian wine market, with its extensive and still growing surface area, high local consumption, economic growth, and ecological awareness, provides an ideal framework for the introduction of Winessense. The collaboration between ArtVinium, a company with vast expertise in the wine industry and a significant presence throughout Romania, and Atfield Technologies, an innovator in grapevine-specific technologies with origins in Serbia and a global presence in seven countries and two continents, marks a strategic effort to drive innovation in viticulture.

"Our local team is enthusiastic about assisting wine producers and vine growers in transitioning to data-driven vineyard management practices. Winessense represents a crucial step toward sustainable viticulture, enabling informed decision-making and promoting environmental responsibility" Ioana Bidian, CEO at ArtVinium.

The launch of Winessense in Romania signifies a commitment to sustainable vine-growing practices, contributing to the overall prosperity of the wine industry. Stakeholders in the Romanian wine sector are encouraged to explore the benefits of this revolutionary technology and collaborate with the ArtVinium and Atfield Technologies teams to usher in a new era of environmentally responsible viticulture.

For additional information or inquiries, please contact:
ArtVinium
Ioana Bidian
ioana.bidian@artvinium.ro 

Atfield Technologies
Vukašin Pejović
vukasin@atfield.tech

source: press release