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Vine DSS-26
Grapevine downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) remains one of the most destructive plant diseases in European viticulture. Frequent outbreaks, intensified by climate change and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, threaten both vineyard productivity and economic stability.
To protect their crops, growers apply fungicides up to a dozen times per season, making viticulture one of the most chemically intensive agricultural systems in Europe. This dependency comes with steep environmental costs — contamination of soil and water, biodiversity loss, and rising greenhouse gas emissions from repeated tractor use. Over time, it also contributes to pathogen resistance, raising production costs and reducing the long-term effectiveness of chemical control.
A major barrier to change is the timing of intervention. Downy mildew becomes visible only after the pathogen is well established, leaving growers reactive rather than preventive. Visual inspection — the traditional method — is laborious and unreliable during latent infection stages. Growers need tools that can help them anticipate disease pressure and confirm infections early enough to act precisely and sustainably.
accuracy in field DNA detection of Plasmopara viticola
The VineDSS-26 project aims to redefine vineyard disease management through the integration of predictive AI modeling and molecular diagnostics. Led by databaum, the project combines two cutting-edge systems: a solar-powered network of environmental sensors that forecast disease risk and a portable on-site DNA assay — RaPiD (Rapid Plant Identification and Detection) — developed by GenoRobotics.
Together, these technologies form an intelligent, closed-loop decision-support system. Databaum’s AI models analyze real-time weather and microclimate data — temperature, humidity, rainfall, and leaf wetness — to forecast infection risk for Plasmopara viticola. When conditions indicate a probable outbreak, the RaPiD kit allows farmers to immediately test leaf samples directly in the field. Within just three hours, they receive molecular confirmation of infection, eliminating the uncertainty that often prevents growers from acting on predictive alerts.
The RaPiD system’s compact design enables non-specialists to conduct reliable tests with minimal training. It combines microneedle-based DNA extraction, isothermal amplification, and nanopore sequencing into a single, easy-to-use workflow — requiring little energy and no laboratory infrastructure. The entire sensing and testing network is powered by solar energy, with data transmitted via Helium LoRaWAN, an innovative, low-cost, blockchain-secured communication protocol that ensures continuous connectivity across remote vineyards.
This integrated approach enables smarter, data-driven interventions: fewer fungicide applications, lower operating costs, and a measurable reduction in the environmental footprint of viticulture. By uniting AI forecasting and real-time molecular diagnostics, VineDSS-26 empowers growers to make confident, evidence-based decisions — moving from reactive to truly preventive agriculture.
“Bridging the gap between disease prediction and confirmation using on-site DNA detection and renewable sensing infrastructure.”
The VineDSS-26 project embodies a new generation of climate-smart agriculture — one that combines biotechnology, renewable energy, and digital intelligence to promote sustainable production. By bridging predictive analytics with in-field molecular confirmation, it creates a transparent and adaptive decision framework for growers, reducing dependency on chemicals while safeguarding yield and quality.
Beyond viticulture, the system offers a modular platform adaptable to other crops and pathogens, paving the way for broader European deployment. It contributes directly to the objectives of the Swiss and EU Green Deal, fostering innovation in agricultural sustainability and climate resilience.
By supporting this initiative, Fondation Valery helps advance a practical and replicable model for regenerative viticulture — one that leverages technology to protect both the environment and the livelihoods of farmers who depend on it.
