Imagine a future where drones and artificial intelligence work together to protect your vineyards. That's what the AI4Leafhopper project is making a reality!
Manisha Sirsat, a researcher on the AI4Leafhopper team, has developed two artificial intelligence models that analyze the aerial images captured by our latest generation drone... and these models make it possible:
geolocation of each vine
to know if there are vine failures
quickly identify “sick” vines”
optimize the application of treatments
The result? Growers can have a detailed view of the health of their vineyards, detect problems early and make more informed decisions.
AI4Leafhopper is a project led by InPP and funded by the ICAERUS Horizon Europe program, which began in April 2024 and ended on April 30 with a final meeting involving the six European projects approved in the 1st edition of the ICAERUS program's PULL applications. The project team presented the AI-based models for detecting and monitoring the impact of the green leafhopper on vineyards.
The AI4Leafhopper project, InnovPlantProtect used a state-of-the-art drone to monitor the impact of the green leafhopper in the vineyards of our partners Reynolds Wine Growers and João Portugal Ramos. Although the results show that this advanced technology is more effective at detecting attacks at advanced stages, we are excited about the potential of this tool to provide valuable data for the management of this harmful insect.
We believe that with more research, we can refine our solution to detect early attacks and prevent significant damage to vineyards. Transforming the monitoring of this pest is where we want to go, always with the aim of protecting vineyards and guaranteeing the quality of production for winegrowers.
Over the next few days we'll be revealing everything that the AI4Leafhopper project is making a reality and how drones and artificial intelligence are working together to create a more sustainable future for viticulture. Stay tuned!
AI4Leafhopper, funded by the ICAERUS Horizon Europe program, which began in April 2024, is now in its final stages. The development phase of the project, which took place in the field, is now over and the final stage is to present the solutions developed by our team on Portuguese soil to the market.
InnovPlantProtect (InPP) announces that António Saraiva, a 62-year-old agronomist, is taking over today as executive director of the collaborative laboratory (CoLAB) based in Elvas, succeeding Pedro Fevereiro, who held the position for five years. António Saraiva takes office at a time of growth in the activities of the Elvas CoLAB and marks a new phase in the development and consolidation of the InPP.
António Saraiva has solid experience as a manager of well-known companies in the agricultural business in the private and public sectors, having been general manager of Syngenta in Portugal and Spain, he has taken on responsibilities for Iberia, with marked leadership in various areas such as sustainability, logistics, coordination of human resources, strategic planning and project development in various sectors. CoLAB's new CEO will lead a team of 44 employees and is focused on consolidating and developing InPP's leadership path in the national agricultural sector.
With national and international experience, António Saraiva, who has a degree in Agronomy from the Instituto Superior de Agronomia of the University of Lisbon, has worked at Syngenta Crop Protection in Portugal and Spain, holding the position of Sustainability Director for Africa, the Middle East and Turkey for three years. António was also responsible for chairing the National Plant Protection Industry Association - ANIPLA (now CropLife Portugal) for eight years, from 2001 to 2009. Between 2012 and 2018 he was chairman of the Board of Directors of Companhia das Lezírias. During this period he was also chairman of the board of the Vila Franca de Xira Lezíria Grande Beneficiaries Association.
Most recently, António Saraiva was Executive Director of Portugal Nuts - Association for the Promotion of Dried Fruit. “It is with an enormous sense of responsibility and great motivation that I enter this phase of this ambitious project. I've followed its evolution with great interest and I'm delighted to see the progress made with its implementation and with the work carried out by Pedro Fevereiro and the other CoLAB professionals,” says António Saraiva.
For Pedro Fevereiro, “this is an appropriate time to hand over the leadership of InPP to António. InPP is closing a strategic cycle of innovation, sustainability, successful partnerships, a focus on proximity to clients and partners and a strong internal organizational culture that remain the essence of CoLAB. I'm sure that António's experience as a successful leader and strong alignment with InPP's culture and values will drive a new cycle of growth for CoLAB. I will still be connected to InPP for some time, but I feel that this is the right time to start a new chapter in the organization and also in my life.”
During the month of December, Pedro Fevereiro and António Saraiva will carry out a joint transition phase, which is considered important and healthy for the organization.
António Saraiva is the new CEO of InnovPlantProtect
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