Maximizing Vineyard Efficiency and Yield: Harnessing the Power of Stark Flight Agriculture Drones
The art and science of viticulture—the cultivation of grapevines—is deeply embedded in the rich agricultural traditions of Switzerland. However, like any agricultural venture, vineyards face their fair share of challenges. From combating pests and diseases to contending with steep terrains, vineyard owners are constantly looking for innovative solutions to protect their crops and improve yields.
Enter Stark Flight Agriculture drones, the game-changing technology that’s transforming vineyard management and setting new standards in precision agriculture. This article will explore how DigitalRoots, Stark Flight Agriculture’s partner in Switzerland is deploying drones in in Swiss vineyards, with a focus on two real-world case studies that highlight their effectiveness in controlling pests and spraying operations on challenging Swiss terrains.
The Challenge of Caring for Swiss Vineyards
Crops Under Threat
Swiss vineyards, particularly in the Sion region, are famous for their high-quality grapes. However, these vineyards are under constant attack by diseases like downy mildew and powdery mildew.
Downy mildew and powdery mildew are two fungal diseases with devastating consequences for grapevine cultivation. Attacking leaves, shoots, petioles, and rachises, these pathogens jeopardize the health of the vines and lead to crippling economic losses. Left unchecked, these diseases can significantly reduce both the quality and the yield of the harvest.
Another mounting issue is the invasion of pests like Scaphoideus titanus, the leafhopper species responsible for spreading flavescence dorée (FD), a lethal grapevine disease. This pest particularly thrives in hard-to-reach vineyard plots, leaving traditional control methods at a disadvantage.
The Goals
For vineyard owners and researchers alike, the goals are clear:
- Control diseases effectively through precise, timely spraying of fungicides and fertilizers.
- Combat pest infestations while ensuring environmental safety.
- Increase productivity across steep terrains while protecting the health of farmers and workers.
- Reduce operational emissions and chemical usage, aligning with sustainable agricultural practices.
Why Traditional Techniques Fall Short
Historically, Swiss vineyard owners relied on manual spraying, tractor-mounted rigs (turbo sprayers), or even helicopters to combat pests and diseases. While these methods worked to an extent, they came with significant challenges:
- Manual Spraying
- Low efficiency (only 1 hectare/day sprayed manually).
- Health risks as workers are in direct contact with chemicals.
- Steep terrains (sometimes up to 50° slopes) make it impractical and exhausting.
- High costs of approximately CHF 8,800/ha per growing season for bio-chemical applications.
- Low efficiency (only 1 hectare/day sprayed manually).
- Turbo Sprayers
- Limited accessibility on sloped vineyards.
- Resource-intensive, consuming 300–400 L/ha of water (compared to the drones’ 100–120L/ha).
- Higher chemical consumption (10–20% more than drones).
- Limited accessibility on sloped vineyards.
- Helicopters
- High operational costs due to fuel consumption (CHF 19.50/ha vs. CHF 3.60/ha with drones).
- Risk of droplet drift and environmental contamination.
- Overwhelming logistical demands, requiring as many as 10 workers for a single operation.
- High operational costs due to fuel consumption (CHF 19.50/ha vs. CHF 3.60/ha with drones).
Traditional methods, while effective in moderate terrains and conditions, cannot outperform the precision, safety, and versatility brought by modern drone technology.
Case Study 1: Combatting Downy and Powdery Mildew
Downy and powdery mildew are fungal diseases that pose significant threats to grapevines, affecting yield, quality, and vine health. In Switzerland, these diseases are a persistent challenge for vineyards, requiring effective and precise management strategies. To rise to these challenges, vineyards are turning to drone technology.
The End-User
This collaboration brought together Digitalroots, Stark Flight Agriculture’s Swiss partner, and Agroscope, Switzerland’s federal agricultural research institute. Digitalroots They began working with agriculture drones in 2016, and have treated 1,300 hectares of vineyards so far. Agroscope plays a key role in advancing sustainable farming practices and exploring innovative technologies like drones to combat grapevine diseases.
As the Swiss Confederation’s agricultural research institute under the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG), Agroscope focuses on enhancing sustainable food production, food security, and environmental protection. Their research spans crop management, plant protection, animal production, and food quality, aiming to improve efficiency while conserving resources. By adopting technologies like drone spraying, Agroscope helps make farming more effective and environmentally friendly.
Workflow & Solution
The trials were conducted in a vineyard in Sion, Switzerland, using Stark Flight Agras T30 drones. Over multiple sessions starting April 2022, the drones performed precise spraying schedules to protect the grapevines from powdery and downy mildew.
Key workflow steps included:
- Flight Planning using RTK technology for centimeter-level accuracy.
- Spraying Operations covering 4–6 hectares/day, nearly quadrupling the manual spraying rate.
- Chemical Application with Helios 500 SC, a fungicidal suspension concentrate.
In field trials, the commercial product utilized was Helios 500 SC, a suspension concentrate formulated with a nominal concentration of 500 g/L. The active ingredient is a fluorescent tracer, identified as benzoxazole, 2,2′-(2,5-thiophenediyl)bis[5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-].
For the application, a 0.3% v/v solution of Helios 500 SC was mixed into the spray, resulting in a nominal tracer concentration of 0.15% w/v. The drone was operated at an application rate of 140 L/ha, ensuring precise delivery of the spray mixture.
| Commercial Name | Active Ingredient | Formulation | Chemical Amount Used per Hectare |
| Helios 500 SC | Benzoxazole, 2,2′-(2,5-thiophenediyl)bis[5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-] | Suspension concentrate (SC) | 0.3% v/v Helios 500 SC (corresponding to 140 L/ha of spraying liquid) |
| Drone Model T30 | |
| Operation Mode (Automatic or Manual) | Automatic |
| Application Rate (L/ha) | 100-120 L/ha |
| Droplet Size (µm) | 250-300 µm |
| Flight Speed (km/h) | 11-18 km/h |
| Route Spacing (m) | 3.5-4 m |
| Height Above the Crop (m) | 3.5-4.5 m |
Results of Drone Technology
- Efficiency Gains
- Reduced water usage to 100–120 L/ha compared to 300–400L/ha for turbo sprayers.
- Achieved cost savings of 15% for traditional chemicals and 9% for bio-chemical applications.
- Reduced water usage to 100–120 L/ha compared to 300–400L/ha for turbo sprayers.
- Improved Safety
- Eliminated direct worker exposure to harsh chemicals.
- Terrain Following made steep slopes manageable.
- Eliminated direct worker exposure to harsh chemicals.
- Precision Application
- Advanced terrain following and droplet size adjustment ensured optimal spray coverage on upper and lower leaf surfaces.
Good droplet coverage on the upper and lower side of the leaves
| Category | Manual | Turbo | Helicopter | Drone |
| Area Covered | 1 hectare/day | 2.5 hectares/day | Lower than drone due to terrain and obstacles | 4-6 hectares/day |
| Labor Required | High labor input | High labor input | Requires pilot and support crew, up to 10 people | Only 2 people needed |
| Time Required | Slow | Moderate | Longer setup time due to obstacles and safety | Quick operation with advanced planning |
| Efficiency | Low | Moderate | Lower than drones | High |
| Precision | Random spraying due to inconsistent labor | Hard to ensure consistency | High droplet drift | High precision with automatic route planning |
| Cost (Traditional Chemicals) | 8000 CHF/ha (7-8 sprays, including service and chemical costs) | Not specified | Higher fuel costs: 19.5 CHF/ha (15 L/ha of kerosene at 1.3 CHF/L) | 6800 CHF/ha (7-8 sprays, including service and chemicals) |
| Cost (Bio-Chemicals) | 8800 CHF/ha (11 sprays, including service and chemical costs) | Not specified | Not specified | 8000 CHF/ha (11 sprays, including service and bio-chemicals) |
| Environmental Impact | Not specified | Significant water usage | High noise pollution; high kerosene use | Low fuel usage and significant water savings, eco-friendly |
| Flexibility | Low | Cannot spray on slopes above 50 degrees | Limited by obstacles (houses, rivers, forests) | High flexibility; works on slopes up to 50 degrees and around obstacles |
| Spraying Consistency | Inconsistent due to manual labor | Labor-intensive; difficult consistency | High droplet drift; must maintain 30m distance | Consistent spraying with automated systems |
| Terrain Adaptability | Difficult on slopes up to 50 degrees | Cannot spray on slopes above 50 degrees | Weak; cannot spray around obstacles | Strong; can handle slopes up to 50 degrees and obstacles |
| Chemical Contact | Direct contact; PPE required | Direct contact; PPE required | Unsafe for airborne pilot; requires significant precautions | No direct contact; remotely controlled |
| Water Usage | Not specified | 300-400 L/ha | 130-200 L/ha | 100-120 L/ha |
| Chemical Usage | Not specified | 10-20% more chemicals compared to drones | Not specified | 10-20% less chemicals compared to Turbo |
| Fuel Costs | Not applicable | Not applicable | 19.5 CHF/ha (15 L/ha of kerosene at 1.3 CHF/L) | 3.6 CHF/ha (2 L/ha at 1.8 CHF/L) |
Case Study 2: Fighting Scaphoideus Titanus Pest
Flavescence dorée (FD) is a bacterial disease that significantly impacts grapevines, causing economic and agricultural distress in wine-producing regions. In Switzerland, controlling the leafhopper vector responsible for spreading FD has traditionally relied on a single active ingredient—pyrethrin mixed with sesame oil. Mandatory control areas currently require one to two treatments per year. However, with recent FD outbreaks in the Valais region, additional control areas have been designated, including plots that are difficult to access.
To tackle these challenges, fungicide applications in hard-to-reach areas are increasingly being carried out using drone technology.
This trial, specifically conducted in 2023 in Charrat, in collaboration with the canton of Valais and the agricultural drone firm Digitalroots, was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of applying pyrethrin treatments via drones. The trial was repeated in 2024 across two treatments to confirm findings and refine the methodology.
The End-User
The second trial, conducted in partnership with the Agricultural Services of Valais and agronomy expert Stefano Bilotta, focused on evaluating drone-based solutions for pest control. Specifically, the trial aimed to address the challenge of controlling the leafhopper vector of flavescence dorée (FD), Scaphoideus titanus, which poses a serious threat to vineyards in Switzerland.
Workflow & Solution
For this study, Stark Flight employed its new-generation T50 drones, delivering two treatments in June and July 2024. The chemical intervention relied on Pyrethrum FS, combining pyrethrin and sesame oil for eco-friendly pest control.
| Commercial Name | Active Ingredient | Formulation | Chemical Amount (ml) Used per Hectare |
| Pyrethrum FS | Pyréthrine + huile de sésame | 8% + 36% (EC) | 800 ml / ha |
| Drone Model T30 | |
| Operation Mode (Automatic or Manual) | Automatic |
| Application Rate (gal/acre) or (L/ha) | 100-120 L/ha |
| Droplet Size (µm) | 250-300 µm |
| Flight Speed (km/h) | 11-18 km/h |
| Route Spacing (m) | 3.5-4 m |
| Height Above the Crop (m) | 3.5-4.5 m |
| Drone Model T50 | |
| Operation Mode (Automatic or Manual) | Automatic |
| Application Rate (L/ha) | 100-120 L/ha |
| Droplet Size (µm) | XR11002VS |
| Flight Speed (km/h) | 11-18 km/h |
| Route Spacing (m) | 3.5-4 m |
| Height Above the Crop (m) | 3.5-4.5 m |
Results
- Effectiveness
- The drones matched or exceeded ground-level sprayer efficiency, with 77.8% pest control effectiveness after the first treatment and 75.9% after the second.
- High treatment precision on steep, challenging terrains.
- The drones matched or exceeded ground-level sprayer efficiency, with 77.8% pest control effectiveness after the first treatment and 75.9% after the second.
- Reduced Resource Usage
- 30% less water usage compared to helicopter treatments.
- Lower operational emissions (CHF 3.60/ha in fuel costs versus CHF 19.50/ha for helicopters).
- 30% less water usage compared to helicopter treatments.
Prior to treatment, assessments confirmed homogeneous populations across all three variants. Unlike the 2023 trial, effectiveness was measured using Abbott’s formula. Ground-based treatment with a sprayer delivered outstanding results, achieving an impressive effectiveness of 98.3%, significantly higher than the 86.4% recorded at T2+7 in 2023. Drone-based treatment, while slightly less effective, still demonstrated strong performance with 77.8% effectiveness after the first treatment and 75.9% after the second—both improvements over the 2023 results.
Notably, this year’s treatment utilized the advanced Stark Flight Agras T50, a newly approved, higher-end model, replacing the Stark Flight Agras T30 used in 2023. As in the previous year, adult captures were inconclusive, likely due to migration from neighboring vineyards.
Overall, these findings reinforce the potential of drone applications, particularly in areas that are difficult to access. Observations in 2024 further highlight the importance of proper leaf thinning and shoot removal prior to treatment. These preparatory steps are crucial to maximizing the effectiveness of natural pyrethrin applications, whether conducted via ground-based sprayers or drones.
Testimonial
“This is the future of crops treatments. The spreading quality is improving with every new model of drones. The workers’ health is protected since they are far from the spray, and the drift is massively reduced for the nearby population and vegetation. We can take care of crops that would be complicated to access manually or mechanically.” – Stefano Bilotta
Taking Swiss Vineyard Care to New Heights
From pest control to disease prevention, advanced Stark Flight drones like the Agras T30 and T50 are rewriting the rules of vineyard management. By enhancing efficiency, improving safety, and reducing environmental impact, drones are empowering vineyard owners to achieve higher yields and higher-quality crops with fewer resources.