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.
O InnovPlantProtect (InPP) and D. Sancho II Secondary School, from Agrupamento de Escolas n.º 3 de Elvas, are going to organize a pedipaper at the Elvas Municipal Garden for 10th graders to explore, identify and marvel at the different trees in the garden and their differentiating characteristics. The initiative is part of and will take place on Fascination of Plants Day.
The event, to which Elvas City Council (CME) joins, will be held on the morning of May 18, 2021, Fascination of Plants Day. The Municipal Garden of Elvas is the largest green space in this Alentejo city, where the InPP is based. There you'll find specimens of olaias, linden trees, olive trees, cedars, orange trees, horse chestnut trees, mulberry trees, casuarinas, ash trees and carob trees, among many others.
Among olaias, linden and olive trees, you can find orange trees, horse chestnuts and casuarinas, among many other trees, in the Elvas Municipal Garden.
The activity starts at 8:30 a.m. and will be divided into three sessions of 90 minutes each, for three 10th grade classes at Escola Secundária D. Sancho II: from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.. InPP researchers and teachers from the school will be on site to assist the participants. Another class, from the multimedia technical course, is due to take part, reporting on the event. At a later date, a similar activity will be offered to the class from the technical-vocational agricultural course.
The topic of Biodiversity is covered by the 10th grade. As a result of this activity, InPP, Escola Secundária D. Sancho II and CME will continue to collaborate on the development of a physical identification system for the Garden's trees, based on a QR (Quick Response) code.
This QR code, once scanned by a visitor's smartphone, will give access to a database on the trees in the Elvas Municipal Garden, including their identification, description, curiosities, history and mythology. This database/digital brochure will be created by InPP researchers and the school's students and teachers, and made available to the CME and all the secondary schools in the municipality of Elvas, in a project that should run until 2022.
The Municipal Garden is located on Avenida António Sardinha in Elvas.
Fascination of Plants Day is an initiative of the European Plant Science Organization (EPSO) and seeks to arouse enthusiasm and draw attention to the importance of plant science in various areas, from agriculture and sustainable food production, to forestry and the production of non-food goods, as well as culture and leisure.
In Portugal, the initiative is coordinated by ITQB NOVA and Portuguese Society of Plant Biology, The aim is for Portuguese institutions and companies to join hundreds of organizations from more than 40 countries in celebrating the wonderful world of plants. Portugal is considered a success story and is traditionally one of the countries that brings the most institutions together to celebrate this day.
InnovPlantProtect (InPP) is organizing a paper chase game (peddy-paper, in Portuguese) with D. Sancho II Secondary School for 10th graders to explore, identify and marvel at Elvas Municipal Garden’s diverse trees and their differentiating characteristics, as a celebration of Fascination of Plants Day.
This event, with which the Municipality of Elvas associates itself, will take place in the morning of May 18, 2021 - Fascination of Plants Day. The Municipal Garden is the biggest green space in this small city of the Alentejo region where InPP is based. It holds specimens of Judas trees, lime trees, olive trees, cedars, orange trees, horse chestnut trees, mulberry trees, Casuarina, ash trees and carob trees, among many others, which are yet to be catalogued and mapped.
In Elvas Municipal Garden there are Judas trees, lime trees, olive trees, cedars, orange trees, horse chestnut trees... among many, many others.
The activity will start at 8:30 AM and will be divided into 3 (three) 90-minutes time slots, for three different 10th grade classes from D. Sancho II School: 8:30 - 10 AM / 10 - 11:30 AM / 11:30 AM - 1 PM. InPP researchers and teachers from the school will be on site to assist the participants. A different class, from the multimedia technical course, shall also participate, reporting on the event. At a later date, a similar activity shall be proposed to the class from the professional technical course in mixed farming.
The theme of Biodiversity is taught in the 10th grade in Portugal. As a result of this activity, InPP and D. Sancho II Secondary School will continue collaborating to develop a physical signing system for the trees, based on a QR code. The code, once read by a visitor's smartphone, will give access to a complete data base about the trees of the Municipal Garden, including their identification, description, curiosities, history and local mythology. This data base/ digital brochure is to be built by InPP researchers and the school's students and teachers, and made available to the Municipality and all its secondary schools, in a project that should last until 2022.
The Municipal Garden is located in Avenida António Sardinha, in Elvas.
Fascination of Plants Day is promoted internationally by the European Plant Science Organization (EPSO) with the aim of awakening enthusiasm and calling attention to the importance of plant science in different areas, from agriculture and sustainable food production, to forestry and the production of other kinds of goods, as well as culture and leisure.
In Portugal, the initiative is coordinated by ITQB NOVA and Portuguese Society of Plant BiologyThe goal is that national institutions and companies join hundreds of organizations worldwide, from more than 40 countries, to celebrate the wonderful world of plants. Portugal is considered a success story and is traditionally one of the countires with more organizations joining the celebrations.
Artificial intelligence at the service of prediction and early detection of Phytophthora cinnamomi in assembled received funding from the Promove 2020 program.
We are delighted to share that our project “AI applied to a system for the prediction and early detection of Phytophthora cinnamomi in mounted/ dehesa” is one of the winners of the Promove 2020 Program, launched by the “la Caixa” Foundation, in partnership with the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
The results of the competition were announced today. “We are sure that the conditions are in place for this to be a successful partnership,” says the message we received. Congratulations to the Pest and Disease Monitoring and Diagnosis department, and to the entire InPP. Now, let the work continue!