Improving Water Use Efficiency of Vineyards in South Africa

The objective of this project was to assist grape farmers and governmental authorities with the management of scarce irrigation water resources and on-farm nitrogen applications in order to promote sustainable optimal resource utilisation, reduce input costs, protect the environment, and ultimately increase water use efficiency by means of operational satellite technologies. In other words: the development, integration and validation of sustainable end-to-end services for optimal utilisation of water and fertilisers in vineyards in Western Cape, South Africa. The services are based on the integration of established techniques and methods relying on space (satellite Earth observation, satellite communication and satellite navigation) as well as terrestrial technologies. These services provide governmental authorities such as the Ministry of Agriculture, related Water Users Associations (WUAs), and individual farmers, with information on the overall consumption and optimal utilisation of water and fertilizers. Consequential they are empowered to achieve optimal resource utilisation, reduce input costs, reduce the environmental impacts, and increase the yield and quality of grapes and wine.