Digitization in the Production and Marketing of Special Crops and Landscape Planning

Digital applications have become an important factor along the value chain of special crops. Intelligent technologies and automated processes, for instance, are already used throughout the entire cultivation process, for example for fertilization and crop protection, but also for processing, transport and marketing. Sustainable cultivation, processing and marketing strategies will increasingly rely on digital technologies. In view of these developments, we are working on (non-contact) sensor technology and easy-to-use forecast models to optimize the use of resources, and to identify stress and diseases at an early stage. Digital technologies are also part of process-related applications, for example when using drones to apply plant protection products, or to assess nutrient requirements of specific crops. By digitally simulating plant growth and modelling virtual vineyards, we aim to forecast the effects of climate change on plant architecture and stress events. In beverage production, modeling complex production steps help us analyze and optimize these processes. An optimized data collection process also enables us to streamline supply chains from producers to customers.