Led by Prof. Dr. Dimitrios S. Paraforos, the Digital Agriculture Group is one of the departments of Geisenheim University. Initially founded in 1951, the department is bringing together research and development in innovative technology solutions for sustainable viticulture and horticulture cultivation (multicopters, precision farming technologies, and machine learning). Our team mainly focuses on the applicability, handling and development of future technical operating equipment. Among the last research activities of the Digital Agriculture Group are: 1) The project DIWAKOPTER which is aimed to digitalise viticulture and arable farming with the use of multicopters. It is intended to enable all interested, national and international suppliers of the latest agricultural technology to test their processes in practice with open results under scientific support with the necessary infrastructure and to prove their functionality. More info: https://www.diwakopter.de/ 2) In the field of crop protection application technology, in addition to standard technologies, the department carries out scientific assessments of modern spraying recycling technology and multicopters for the application of products. The team examines technical procedures for the cultivation of steep-slope vineyards, which enables to draw of conclusions about sustainable management practices in the areas of occupational safety, working hours and full costs. We are also concentrating on using renewable energies in wine-, vegetable- and fruit-producing operations. 3) Regarding electronics and robotics we develop and build prototypes for managing areas cultivated with specialty crops.
