Taking place at Pernod Ricard Winemakers in Blenheim on the 9th November, the BA Technology Day is a spotlight on the transformative impact innovative precision technology is having on transforming the New Zealand viticulture industry.
The key emphasis of the event will be on the groundbreaking BA Smart Sprayer, featuring the Smart Apply innovative vine density spraying technology. This pioneering sprayer is the first of its kind in New Zealand and has been operational at Pernod Ricard Winemakers since 2020, making a significant impact on their operations.
The BA Smart Sprayer applies the easy-to-use Smart Apply USDA-based LiDAR sensor technology to sense and detect the canopy and assess foliage density, before adjusting each spray nozzle to ensure it only sprays where required. The result is reduced drift, reduced chemical use, and less waste than conventional sprayers.
With over 2,000 hectares of vineyard in New Zealand, Pernod Ricard Winemakers operates three sprayers with the Smart Apply system to help manage the risk of disease. Transformation Manager for Viticulture, David Allen, has been leading the project at Pernod Ricard Winemakers closely with BA Pumps and Sprayers. David said: “We were excited for the sprayer to arrive on site and see what it could do compared to the other sprayers we had. We ran comprehensive comparison trials over the past two growing seasons to understand how the Smart Apply system compares to our existing sprayers.
“Over the Vintage 2023 season, in the field tests using the three-row sprayer showed an impressive +30% reduction in chemical usage compared to conventional sprayers. Other impressive benefits included a reduction in spray drift,” added David.
Attendees to the day will not only get to witness the BA Smart Sprayer live in the vine but also gain valuable insights from the Pernod Ricard Winemakers team about the remarkable benefits it has brought to their vineyard management. In addition to this, Gary Vandenbark, Chief Engineer of Smart Apply in the United States, will be on hand to answer questions and provide in-depth insights into this cutting-edge system.
Another highlight of the event will be the demonstration of OXIN, hailed as the world’s first autonomous, multi-functional vineyard tractor, courtesy of Smart Machine. This impressive innovation is set to redefine vineyard operations with its multifaceted capabilities.
Furthermore, attendees will have the opportunity to explore and learn about BAs under vine herbicide sprayers and COLLARD’s world-leading range of vine trimmers and defoliators, setting new standards in vineyard maintenance and care.
This event presents a rare opportunity to witness precision viticulture products in action while having the chance to hear directly from technology experts paired with the practical experiences of the team at Pernod Ricard Winemakers.
Don’t miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to witness the future of viticulture technology in action at the BA Technology Day.
