In 2024, the French Vine and Wine Institute (IFV, Alsace) launched the implementation of the STELLA pilot in Alsace (UCP1). The objective is to evaluate digital technologies for monitoring grapevine diseases, particularly Bois noir and Grapevine leafroll virus, two regulated non-quarantine pests responsible for significant vine decline. These tools are being tested with a view to their future integration into the STELLA PSS epidemiological surveillance platform.
This pilot is part of STELLA’s broader strategy, which aims to demonstrate, across various European regions and crops, the potential of connected tools and artificial intelligence for a more sustainable management of plant health.
Credits: French Wine and Vine Institute (IFV)
Implementation of the experimental setup
Eight vineyard plots, representing 3.6 hectares, were selected in Alsace to reflect the diversity of local production contexts. Since 2024, several innovative technologies have been deployed:
- Connected PESSL weather stations, linking climatic conditions to the population dynamics of the Bois noir vector (Hyalesthes obsoletus).
- Connected PESSL insect traps, to enable automated and continuous monitoring of these vectors.
- An Eden Viewer on-board camera, used to collect georeferenced RGB images of foliar symptoms of leafroll and Bois noir, to train image recognition algorithms developed by STELLA partners.
- Drone flights were conducted to collect georeferenced hyperspectral images, aiming to test new algorithms capable of automatically detecting symptoms using remote sensing data.
- Finally, traditional visual assessments were maintained to compare the performance of digital tools with field observations.
Credits: French Wine and Vine Institute (IFV)
Challenges encountered
As with any field project, several challenges marked this first phase of work:
- Variable weather conditions sometimes limited image collection during the optimal period of symptom expression.
- The training of AI models required high precision and consistency in image qualification and annotation.
Next steps for 2026
The upcoming year will focus on:
- A comprehensive analysis of data from previous years (vectors, images, weather).
- The refinement of AI models through the integration of new image datasets.
- And ultimately, the connection of tools to the prototype of the STELLA PSS platform, to centralize data and facilitate sharing among stakeholders.
The STELLA Alsace pilot demonstrates how the combination of viticultural expertise and digital technologies can pave the way for more precise, responsive, and sustainable monitoring of grapevine diseases. The first results highlight a strong collaborative dynamic, essential to the success of this ambitious European project.
Don’t miss our upcoming STELLA workshop, where we will present first results and outlooks for 2026!
Register to the workshop: https://tinyurl.com/c73dv5sy
