"Again this year, the contest "Innovation Challenge Enovitis" allowed to highlight how the wine-making sector is deeply involved in the implementation of innovative products and technologies, specifically addressed to social and environmental sustainability of primary production. The awarded equipment and products will not only be able to give an important contribution towards a reduction of environmental impact brought about by viticulture, but they will also offer advantages in terms of ergonomics, management and work safety ".
These are the words of Osvaldo Failla, Professor of General Arboriculture and Arboreal Cultivations at the Milan University and President of the Scientific Committee for Innovation Challenge Enovitis, composed of authoritative experts representing the viticulture world, the scientific community and some representative wineries that are members of UIV. His comment is about the 2017 edition of the Innovation Challenge Enovitis, an award established by Unione Italiana Vini to offer an official recognition to the innovations shown at Enovitis in Campo, the event that will take place on 22 and 23 June at the Villabella Vineyards in Cavaion Veronese.
A few days ago the winners for the 2017 edition of Enovitis in campo were announced: the prestigious “Technological Innovation Award”, - the special mention for the projects that are particularly noteworthy and considered as the outcome of a great scientific competence, combined with field experiences - was given to TONY 9800 SR, an isodiametric tractor with constant-variable transmission, made by the company Antonio Carraro SpA, and to ACT System, an air-conveyor system to be applied on sprayers, manufactured by Caffini SpA.
"We are honoured to have received this new award that rewards our "Tony concept ” in the “SR” Model: an isodiametric tractor, with articulated chassis and constant-variable transmission run by software, made by Antonio Carraro, equipped with pressurised cab, unique in the world, Rops and Fops homologated and Category 4 certified. - comments Liliana Carraro, External Relations Manager at Antonio Carraro. - We are sure that this innovation will bring significant benefits to precision agriculture, in terms of production quality, profitability, work simplification and operational comfort”.
"This recognition rewards us for the investments that Caffini has been dedicating to research, always aiming at improving the spreading quality of agrochemicals and at reducing the impact they may have on the territory.- underlines Gerardo Caffini, owner of Caffini. In the last edition we also received an award for our "Grass Killer", i.e. weeding using only water. This new award is a further boost to go on in the spirit of our business mission 'Technology & Ecology'."
Moreover, three companies won the “New Technology Enovitis in campo 2017”, an award dedicated to projects which imply such process and product innovations that, as a result, significant improvements in the wine-making process may be expected. On the podium, Edy Chipper by Caeb International, self-propelled picking-mulching chipper loader for pruning waste in row crops; Polyversum di Gowan Italia, pythium oligandrum-based organic anti-botrytis treatment; Tecnovict by Spezia Srl, leaf stripper Mod. 111 AA Wi-Fi, with self-diagnosis and remote control of operational parameters with Wi-Fi system.
With the Innovation Challenge, Unione Italiana Vini intends to give merit and visibility to the wine-making companies that use resources to contribute to the development of the sectors belonging to the vineyard-cellar production chain, by enhancing the commitment of the enterprises that manufacture technologies and services and by giving prominence to the projects of recognised innovative content. The prize-awarding ceremony will be held in the inaugural day of Enovitis in Campo, on 22 June at 10.00am, at the opening of the themed convention “Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie: qualitative evolution and market expectations”.
Info: www.enovitisincampo.it
WINNERS' PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS: "TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION AWARD"
ANTONIO CARRARO - TONY 9800 SR
Isodiametric tractor with constant-variable transmission
Isodiametric tractor with an ACTIO™ articulated chassis and reversible drive, fitted with a constant-variable, electronically controlled transmission, (4 speed ratios with 3 acceleration modes for each range and 3 for each range in the Automotive version) and pressurised cab, (ROPS and FOPS homologated and Category 4-certified Air cab), offering the operator the highest level of protection from toxic inhalations. Its short wheelbase and its very narrow turning radius make this model particularly agile whilst moving between row crops. The constant-variable transmission, run by software and combined with a configuration of articulated tractor with reversible-driving system (Rev-Guide System™), makes up a new model concept in its category. The ultra-compact, "hybrid" and hydrostatic-mechanical transmission is run by the operating system ITAC (Intelligent Tractor AC), which manages, monitors and enables to set vehicle and operational parameters, allowing to customize the operation modes according to the type of terrain, the working conditions, the equipment used and the operator's driving style.
CAFFINI - ACT System
Air-conveyor system to be applied to sprayers
With only one single tank/air-conveyor group and by replacing different types of conveyors, the operator may easily adjust the spreading according to the type of crops to be treated. From the tractor cab, it is possible to adjust: air-flow intensity, air-flow closure on both sides and air suction, in order to avoid an increased output on the open side. By replacing only the final part, it is possible to adjust the machine to different crop and farming formats. The "targeted-air jet" conveyors prove that spray drift is reduced by 60%, thus increasing respect for the environment and decreasing treatment costs.
WINNERS' PRODUCT DECRIPTIONS: "NEW TECHNOLOGY"
CAEB INTERNATIONAL – EDY CHIPPER
Self-propelled picking-mulching chipper loader for pruning waste in row crops, with dimensions that are compatible with almost all types of vine spacing – it works within a high-productivity site, made up of a picking-mulching chipper loader and of one of more trailers (or roll-off load boxes), located in strategic positions for the subsequent dispatch to the centres of energetic utilization of biomasses. It is characterised by 5 main functional elements: front pick-up system equipped with brush windrowers; floating pick-up with rotating teeth for collecting the pruning waste left in the windrow; feeder of chipper system composed of 4 rolls, contra-rotating in pairs; horizontal-axis drum chipper with 6 blades; pantograph collecting container of 3.89 m3 for unloading into trailers with sides up to 2.6 meter. Therefore, from a functional point of view, it offers the possibility to give the management of residual biomasses to specialised agro-mechanic enterprises; from an environmental and economic point of view, the high productivity and the high yearly utilization enable a concrete economic margin by the exploitation of the biomass recycling.
GOWAN ITALIA – POLYVERSUM
Polyversum is an organic agrochemical, anti-botrytis treatment, based on Pythium oligandrum. It contains durable oospores of Poligandrum (selected strain “M1”), a parasite micro-organism of over 20 types of pathogenic fungi of agrarian interest, among which Botrytis Cinerea. The scope of this new microbiological "active substance" is triple: direct micoparasitism (enzymatic decomposition of pathogens), resistance induction (activation of natural defences in a plant), stimulation of plant growth (production of stimulating phytohormones). With regard to vine, it gives an excellent effectiveness against botrytis and also adds an interesting activity on acid rot. Moreover, it can be used until the harvest day (pre-harvest interval: zero days). This formulated product can have a wide operation window in organic agriculture and can also be included (e.g. in the final phase) in the most modern strategies of integrated pest management with chemical fungicides, in line with a sustainable agriculture. Polyversum has been authorized since the 2017 campaign and it is distributed by Gowan Italia on an exclusive basis.
SPEZIA Srl - TECNOVICT – LEAF STRIPPER MOD. 111 AA WI-FI
Leaf stripper Mod. 111 AA Wi-Fi, with self-diagnosis and remote control of operational parameters with Wi-Fi system.
It is the first leaf stripper in the world that offers a computerised control of all operational parameters (automatic movement towards the canopy surface and stripping intensity adjustment). This year, the leaf stripper Mod. 111 AA has been integrated with a Wi-Fi system connected with the company's network or with a smartphone, from which it is possible to view both the self-diagnosis system and the machine work screen. The computerised control of operational parameters has already been available since 2014 (EIMA Award), but previously, it could be viewed only by the tractor operator. An upgrade of the existing machines is possible by adding an electronic module to the standard machine, which can connect the control console with the WI-FI wiring. In the module there is also a GPS receiver which ensures the traceability of the work performed. The fully electronic device can be inserted and removed from the standard machine in few seconds. It meets the requirements of “Agriculture 4.0” guidelines.
