TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AWARD

NET FARMING

VitiSafe365

VitiSafe365 is a system of protective nets for viticulture and fruit growing, powered by solar energy, automated and adaptive to weather conditions.

It is designed to support proactive crop protection against meteorological and climate hazards such as hail, heavy rain, heat, sunburn, excessive humidity and insects. The protective nets can be operated and moved into predefined positions based on operational needs, manual controls, remote control inputs or activations triggered by weather conditions and pre-set alarms. The heart of automation is the MotorBox, a field automation unit designed to raise and lower the protective nets by controlling stepper motors. The system combines robust vineyard mechanics, solar-powered autonomous operation, remote control software, local manual intervention and optional external optical/acoustic alert interfaces.

WM VITRAC G2

Vitrac is an ultra-compact tool carrier equipped with all-wheel drive and double articulation, providing high stability on extreme slopes and  it is particularly suited for 'heroic' viticulture.

The 80° steering angle and low centre of gravity also guarantee remarkable manoeuvrability, even in narrow rows and tight headlands. There is an active safety system with load sensors on the wheels, which automatically locks the central joint in case of loss of grip. The hydraulic system with a 46 l/min pump at 250 bar allows for the use of complex tools without performance drops, thereby optimising consumption. Thanks to the ability to perform multiple operations with a single platform—as Vitrac is compatible with sprayers, shredders, trimmers, etc.—the number of passes in the vineyard is reduced. The vehicle features a reversible driving system and a multifunction joystick, offering improved comfort and operational capacity compared to previous machinery built by WM Technics.

GREEN INNOVATION AWARD

Anagyrus vladimiri

Anagyrus vladimiri is a parasitic wasp capable of parasitising the vine mealybug (Planococcus ficus) and the Comstock mealybug (Pseudococcus comstocki). The wasp lays its eggs inside the bodies of juvenile forms and immature female mealybugs, causing their rapid death and using them as hosts for its own reproduction.

The innovation lies in the use of adult forms to launch inside the vineyard, which allow for prompt action, immediately detectable quality, less negative interference from ants and greater elasticity in intervention times. The use of adult forms in production required an additional operational phase to obtain adults from mummies, featuring harvesting and counting systems aimed at maximising the quality of the product sold, as well as a careful study of packaging and shipping methods to prevent stress during transport and delivery.

Newport Trio is a semi-mounted, articulated over-the-row multi-row sprayer which, thanks to an innovative kinematic mechanism, allows for the simultaneous treatment of 3 rows, even in hillside or foothill viticulture settings, in areas with difficult manoeuvring, or in the presence of obstacles.

The distribution heads are multiple and independent, while the ventilation system features a double outlet with front suction, an anti-backflow duct and a reduced rotation speed. Therefore, in addition to the electrostatic technology that characterises the manufacturer, greater compactness of the machine, greater manoeuvrability, ease of transport, optimisation of ventilation and greater operational versatility are achieved.

Autonomous Tracked Transporter 

The firstautonomous tracked transporter produced by Merlo, Cingo was designed primarily for self-driving operation thanks to the integration of precision sensors, an onboard electronic control unit and advanced safety systems. The vehicle allows you to manage different equipment that can be installed by means of a three-point attachment or a tool-holder platform. All functions can also be controlled by radio control.

Two operating systems can be selected. In autonomous mode, the machine recognises the equipment installed and performs the previously designated mission independently. It is still possible, however, to alternatively use manual driving to use the vehicle in areas not designated for autonomous driving.

YaraAmplix Actisil is a biostimulant product for foliar application that delivers silicon in a bioavailable form (orthosilicic acid) by activating two synergistic mechanisms: structural reinforcement of the berry (cuticle thickening, epidermal cell size, triterpenoid waxes) and elicitation of biochemical defences (phenols, anthocyanins, stilbenes, resistance priming). Since the plant absorbs silicon only in the formula of monomeric orthosilicic acid, a substance that spontaneously polymerises in non-absorbable colloidal silica in aqueous solution, the addition of choline maintains the silicon in monomeric form even in the presence of concentrations above the solubility limit, thus guaranteeing the availability of the element. This chemical peculiarity differentiates the formulation from other sources of agricultural silicon (potassium silicate, sodium silicate, non-stabilised silicic acid), which depend on a conversion in the application medium or in the plant tissue to be absorbed.