Viti-Tunnel offers a retractable canopy system designed to protect vineyards from weather-related damage, including frost, hail, and excessive rainfall, while also preventing the spread of vine diseases such as downy mildew and black rot. This solution significantly reduces the need for pesticide applications by over 90%, promoting a more sustainable approach to viticulture.
Funding
$2.3M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Vineyards face significant crop losses due to weather-related events such as frost, hail, excessive rainfall, and heat stress. These conditions also promote the proliferation of vine diseases like downy mildew, black rot, and excoriose, increasing the need for chemical treatments.
Solution
Viti-Tunnel offers a retractable canopy system designed to shield vineyards from adverse weather conditions and vine diseases. The system deploys a physical barrier above the vine rows during rainfall, frost, hail, or intense heat, mitigating the development of moisture-dependent diseases and preventing weather-related damage. This approach significantly reduces the reliance on pesticides, decreasing their application by over 80% and promoting a more sustainable viticulture. The system is available in automatic and manual deployment models, and can also be used to protect small areas from pesticide drift to serve as a control in test plots.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes winegrowers seeking to minimize crop loss from unpredictable weather patterns and reduce their environmental impact by decreasing pesticide use, as well as vineyards located near residential areas.
Features
- Retractable, impermeable covers that automatically or manually deploy over vine rows
- Protection against frost down to -3°C and hail up to ping-pong ball size
- Significant reduction in pesticide use, particularly against downy mildew, black rot, and excoriose
- Automated deployment triggered by integrated weather sensors
- Remote monitoring and control via a web interface
- Compatibility with mechanical vineyard operations, including harvesting
- Option for solar-powered operation, ensuring energy autonomy