About SOSVITI

Cultivating a sustainable future for vineyards through innovation and collaboration

At SOSVITI (Sustainable Soil Management Decision Support System in Viticulture), we are dedicated to transforming vineyard sustainability by tackling one of agriculture’s greatest challenges: soil degradation. Climate change and intensive agricultural practices threaten vineyard ecosystems, making soil erosion a pressing issue that affects both productivity and environmental resilience.

Our project brings together scientific research, stakeholder engagement, and cutting-edge technology to develop an innovative Decision Support System (DSS) tailored for viticulture. By integrating AI, big data analytics, and satellite monitoring with fieldwork and process-based models, we aim to provide vineyard managers with precise tools to mitigate soil erosion, enhance soil health, and promote sustainable farming practices.

Beyond technology, we recognize the importance of social and economic factors in sustainable viticulture. We actively engage with vineyard stakeholders, addressing barriers such as cost, knowledge gaps, and gender disparities in agriculture. Our multidisciplinary approach ensures that sustainability is not just an ideal but a practical, scalable solution for the future of European viticulture.

SOSVITI Project – 12 partners, one vision

Co-funded by the HORIZON-MSCA Staff Exchanges programme, SOSVITI brings together leading academic institutions and innovative private sector companies to tackle soil degradation in viticulture through advanced scientific research and technological innovation.

SOSVITI is an international collaboration of 9 partners from 4 European countries, including 5 academic institutions and 4 private sector companies, combining expertise in soil science, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, precision agriculture, and stakeholder engagement.

The partners includes:

  • University of Granada (Coordinator, Spain) – A leading institution in environmental and geosciences, specializing in soil erosion and geographic analysis.
  • Trier University (Germany) – Experts in physical geography, soil degradation modeling, and sustainable land management.
  • Sapienza University of Rome (Italy) – A key research hub in environmental sciences and agronomic studies.
  • University of Valencia (Spain) – Specialists in geospatial analysis and climate change impacts on agriculture.
  • Athena Research and Innovation Center (Greece) – Leaders in AI, big data, and digital solutions for sustainable agriculture.
  • Graniot Satellite Technologies (Spain) – A private company focusing on satellite data and precision agriculture applications.
  • 7HC Società a Responsabilità Limitata (Italy) – Experts in AI-driven decision-making tools for agriculture and environmental monitoring.
  • Gaia Robotics (Greece) – Developers of cutting-edge robotics and IoT solutions for vineyard management.
  • Orfanos Estate (Greece) – A vineyard and agricultural enterprise contributing practical field expertise and stakeholder engagement.

The partners included during the second year:

  • Institut fir Biologesch Landwirtschaft an Agrarökologie Luxemburg  (Luxembourg) – A competence centre for research and consulting in the field of organic agriculture, organic viticulture and agroecology in Luxembourg.
  • TERRAenVISION: An international foundation that promotes the exchange of scientific research, industry solutions, and policy insights for interdisciplinary collaboration and networking.
  • DNAPhone: is an Italian technology company that develops portable analytical instruments and digital solutions for real-time chemical and biological analysis. Their products combine optical sensors, spectroscopy, and software to support innovation in sectors such as agriculture, food quality, and environmental monitoring.

Together, these partners form a multidisciplinary and transnational alliance committed to delivering innovative solutions for sustainable vineyard management, bridging the gap between scientific research, technology, and real-world agricultural practices.

Our Mission & Values

At SOSVITI, our mission is to transform vineyard sustainability by developing innovative solutions to combat soil degradation, erosion, and the environmental challenges posed by climate change. Through a combination of scientific excellence, technological innovation, and stakeholder engagement, we aim to create a Decision Support System (DSS) that empowers vineyard managers with data-driven strategies for soil conservation and sustainable viticulture.

Sustainability

We are committed to preserving vineyard ecosystems by promoting practices that balance productivity with environmental responsibility.

Collaboration

By bringing together experts from diverse fields and countries, we foster an interdisciplinary approach that bridges research, technology, and practical applications.

Innovation

We harness cutting-edge AI, big data analytics, and remote sensing technologies to provide vineyard managers with precise and scalable solutions.

Stakeholder Inclusion

We value the knowledge and needs of those working directly in viticulture, ensuring that our tools are accessible, practical, and designed with real-world challenges in mind.

Climate Resilience

We focus on developing strategies that help vineyards adapt to changing climate conditions, securing long-term agricultural and economic stability.

Equity & Knowledge Transfer

We recognize the importance of inclusivity, addressing barriers such as gender disparities and access to information to ensure that sustainable practices are available to all.

Through our commitment to these values, SOSVITI aims to find the way for a resilient, sustainable, and technologically advanced viticulture sector in Europe and beyond.

Our objectives

The SOSVITI project aims to develop an advanced framework for sustainable soil management in viticulture by integrating scientific modeling, stakeholder engagement, decision-support tools, and knowledge transfer. Addressing soil degradation and erosion in vineyards requires a multidisciplinary approach, combining environmental science, artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and social analysis.

Objective 1. Soil Erosion Models from accurate field-obtained data.

Develop comprehensive soil erosion models obtained from accurate data from numerous field campaigns specifically designed for European vineyards to assess and mitigate the impact of soil degradation processes, particularly erosion caused by runoff water. These models will:

  • Incorporate artificial intelligence and big data analytics to ensure continuous adaptation to changing environmental conditions and climate variability.
  • Integrate georeferenced environmental data, including topography, soil type, land use, and precipitation patterns, to enhance predictive accuracy.
  • Utilize field observations, experimental plots, and remote sensing technologies to quantify erosion rates and identify high-risk areas.
  • Simulate various land management scenarios to support decision-making for vineyard owners and policymakers.

Objective 2 – Understanding the Perception of Key Social Actors

Investigate the perspectives and decision-making processes of key vineyard stakeholders, including policymakers, farmers, and agricultural experts, regarding sustainable soil management. This objective will:

  • Use qualitative research methods (interviews, focus groups, and workshops) to identify barriers and drivers influencing the adoption of sustainable practices.
  • Examine factors such as economic constraints, cultural perceptions, and knowledge gaps that affect vineyard management decisions.
  • Foster collaborative knowledge exchange by engaging stakeholders throughout the research process, ensuring that findings are practical and applicable.
  • Contribute to the development of inclusive governance mechanisms for soil conservation in viticulture.

Objective 3 – Development of a Decision Support System (DSS) for Vineyard Management

Create a Decision Support System (DSS) that integrates remote sensing, GIS, and precision agriculture technologies to enhance soil health monitoring, environmental sustainability, and food quality assurance. This system will:

  • Combine data from satellite imagery, UAVs, soil sensors, and weather stations to generate real-time insights on vineyard conditions.
  • Use machine learning algorithms and big data analytics to identify erosion risks, nutrient imbalances, water stress, and pest outbreaks.
  • Provide a user-friendly, customizable interface tailored to vineyard owners, agronomists, and policymakers, ensuring accessibility and usability.
  • Offer training and technical support to promote widespread adoption and maximize the impact of data-driven decision-making in viticulture from scientists to farmers.

Objective 4 – Transfer of Knowledge and Multidisciplinary Integration of Competences

Facilitate the Transfer of Knowledge (ToK) across disciplines to enhance the integration of technological and social research in soil management. This objective will:

  • Focus on five key research areas: agrofood sensors, edge/fog/mist computing, artificial intelligence, data management, and social analysis.
  • Ensure the integration of modeling approaches within the computational platform to improve the monitoring of complex agricultural parameters.
  • Develop and test a web-based interface with continuous user feedback, ensuring that the platform meets the practical needs of end-users.
  • Foster multidisciplinary collaboration between scientists, technology developers, and agricultural stakeholders, strengthening knowledge exchange mechanisms to accelerate innovation.
  • Promote training, capacity building, and skill development to ensure that the knowledge generated through SOSVITI is accessible, transferable, and applicable to vineyard managers, policymakers, and the broader research community.