In response to the growing challenges of modern viticulture, Vitivisio has made supporting vineyard professionals through artificial intelligence its core mission. We spoke with Laurent Godeau, one of its founders.
Can you introduce us to Vitivisio?
Vitivisio started as a conversation between my associate, Arnaud Susset, and me about agroecological transition and the impact of embedded imaging on viticultural practices. Arnaud, an engineer with a PhD in physics, had already worked on research and development (R&D) projects with key players in the wine industry. As for me, I was a winemaker for 12 years in the Entre-Deux-Mers region and had recently earned an MBA. I had trained in artificial intelligence (AI) and studied existing precision viticulture systems.
At the beginning of 2022, available imaging solutions did not fully address the challenges winemakers were facing: unprecedented pressure on yields due to climate change, increasingly strict regulations on input usage, and a shortage of time and labor. Vitivisio accelerates the transition to more efficient and sustainable precision viticulture by combining Proxi-Detection and AI. Our embedded sensors are already deployed across more than ten appellations. These sensors automatically collect vineyard plot data and provide analyses to monitor vine health at the individual plant level (RTK localization of dead vines, missing plants, replants, and vine decline diseases), count grape clusters, and measure leaf surface area and vigor within plots. This data helps winemakers sustain each vineyard plot.
Today, Vitivisio operates in the Loire, Cognac, Bordeaux, and Champagne regions and has analyzed over 20 million data points across more than 14 grape varieties in various configurations (sensors mounted on quads, tractors, and straddle tractors) and planting densities.
Vitivisio enables vineyard monitoring through AI and Proxi-Detection sensors. Can you explain the concept?
Our solution combines an embedded sensor we developed that adapts to any type of viticultural machinery. This sensor collects a set of precisely geolocated data using an RTK GPS (with centimeter accuracy). The data is then analyzed by our algorithms to detect vine plants, grape clusters, and leaves, assigning them precise characteristics such as position, surface area, size, texture, and more.
The Vitivisio sensor acts like the winemaker’s eye, crouched in the vineyard. Beyond seeing, it records and geolocates information. AI is used both to process images through Deep Learning and to filter and evaluate information, enabling vineyard health diagnostics. Our system allows for real-time vineyard monitoring while also storing data for easy analysis and informed decision-making.
How many years of research were required to optimize the process?
This year, we are equipping our clients with a sensor that collects data from both sides, covering two rows simultaneously—perfectly suited for data collection alongside mechanical operations. Developing this sensor took two years of R&D, not to mention Arnaud’s 20+ years of expertise in embedded systems and AI, which was invaluable!
What makes our data acquisition system unique is its ability to “see” the vineyard in all configurations (varied planting densities and trellising systems) thanks to our viewing angles, as well as at any time of day due to our integrated lighting. On the computer vision side, beyond R&D efforts, the performance of our analyses depends not only on quality but also on the quantity and homogeneity of the images we collect.
Do you sense any reluctance from winemakers regarding new technologies?
Not at all—quite the opposite. Innovation is in winemakers' DNA. In the past, viticulture innovated in chemistry and mechanization. The next revolution is data, and there is a strong awareness among all industry stakeholders. AI is among these technologies.
At Vitivisio, we develop applications tailored to winemakers’ needs to support their decision-making. So, there is no fear, but of course, there are adoption barriers, often in the form of resistance to change, which is not unique to viticulture. That’s why we place great importance on supporting our clients and adapting Vitivisio to their technical workflows rather than the other way around.
In your opinion, what role will technology play in the evolution of viticultural practices?
Technology will undoubtedly play a central role in disease detection, reducing inputs, and adapting to climate change. It will also be a powerful tool for knowledge transmission and record-keeping.
Will wines be better thanks to technology? I don’t know. But the goal is to preserve our vineyards and expertise. Wine has been produced for 8,000 years—the challenge is to ensure it continues for another millennium. Winemakers will always use the tools and technologies of their time, just as they always have.
Interview by Sandy Bénard-Ravoisier
After unveiling its new identity through its flagship cuvée, Brut Léonie Iconic...
