Baza danych projektów PROW
Automated Control of Grape Quality in a Wine Co-operative
Summary
Use of EAFRD support for co-operation in the development of new products, processes and technologies to introduce the use of artificial vision technology in an automated process for controlling the quality of harvested grapes in a Spanish winery.
Background
The project is being run by the Vitivinícola do Ribeiro wine co-operative in partnership with the Laboratorio Oficial de Metroloxía de Galicia and the Centro Tecnolóxico de la Carne. It was developed in response to the problems experienced with the existing processes used for the control of grape quality which are i) based upon a subjective visual evaluation carried out by a human operator and ii) prone to various errors depending on the technique used, environmental conditions, lighting etc.
Objective
This project aims to automate the process of assessing the quality of harvested grapes received by the Vitivinícola do Ribeiro winery by incorporating machine vision technology into the existing quality control process. This will automate a complex process and reduce subjectivity and human error, whilst in the longer term contribute towards developing a classification system that enables different grape qualities to be processed separately
Main activities
Main activities for development of the new technology include i) implementing a semi-automatic photo-recording system at the co-operative collection centres; ii) generating databases of grape photographs using the products delivered during the 2008 / 2009 grape harvests; iii) generating a database of evaluations made by co-operative inspectors; iv) generating a database of rapid metabolite analysis of the fungicidal action, and; v) obtaining samples of grape must from the products photographed.
Results & Benefits
The system developed by this project will provide numerous improvements to the existing grape classification process at the collection centres of Vitivinícola do Ribeiro, including a more reliable system for classifying different categories of grapes collected; an objective and fair tool for determining the price set for grape lots; a machine vision system and related algorithms for evaluating grapes. Overall, wine quality will be improved and the grapegrowers will be rewarded more fairly.
Lessons learnt
The application of advances in science and technology when applied to the modernisation of farm production can greatly increase the added value of end products. In the long-term it is hoped that this technology will provide a reliable and objective tool for the community of wine growers associated with the co-operative.
Project location and other information
Rivadavia, Ourense
Region
Galicia
RDP Territory
Galicia
Total project cost (€)
189 252
Contact name
Manuel Castro González
Telephone
+34 902 636 466
Languages for contact
Spanish
At a glance
Country
Spain
Final beneficiary type
Individual farmers, Producer groups
Budget range
€100 000 - €500 000
Start date:
30/05/2008
End Date:
30/11/2010
Theme / Measure:
Competitiveness of Agriculture & Forestry
Restructuring, developing physical potential, and promoting innovation
124: Cooperation for development of new products, processes and technologies
Keywords:
Added-value, Agri-food industry, Cooperation, Wine
Last update
12/04/2011