Vergelegen wine estate in Somerset West is testing the use of drone-delivered beneficial insects to control pests in its vineyards. The goal is to achieve fewer vine disease and higher quality grapes.
High tech is being combined with ancient natural remedies at one of South Africa ’s best-known wine farm s, where buzzing benefactors are helping to keep the vineyards pest-free. Vergelegen wine estate in Somerset West is testing the use of drone-delivered beneficial insects to control pests in its vineyards.
The goal is to achieve fewer vine disease and higher quality grapes, ensuring that in decades to come, Vergelegen’s winemakers can produce excellent wine from healthy vineyards that are currently 20-25 years old – a great asset as the fruit gets better over time. The 324-year-old estate is working with South African venture, SkyBugs, a partnership between FieldBUGS, which supplies the predatory bugs, and agritech company Aerobotics, which collaborates with a network of drone pilots to disperse the insects accurately. The first SkyBugs drone dispersal took place at Vergelegen in October last year and a total of five dispersals, depending on test results, should be concluded in the first quarter of 2024. Some 130 hectares of vineyards will receive beneficial insects via drones
South Africa Wine Farm Drones Beneficial Insects Vineyards Pests Vine Disease Grapes
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