Improving Sustainable Viticulture in Developing Countries: A Case Study

Zandra Betzabe Rivera Chavez, Alessia Porcaro, Marco Claudio De Simone () and Domenico Guida
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Zandra Betzabe Rivera Chavez: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
Alessia Porcaro: MEID4 Academic Spin-Off, University of Salerno, Via Rosa Jemma 2, 84091 Battipaglia, SA, Italy
Marco Claudio De Simone: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
Domenico Guida: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-31

Abstract: This paper presents the identification of the functional requirements and development of a preliminary concept of the AgriRover, a low-cost, modular autonomous vehicle intended to support sustainable practices in traditional vineyards in developing countries, focusing on the Ica region of Peru. Viticulture in this region faces acute challenges such as soil salinity, climate variability, labour shortages, and low technological readiness. Rather than offering a ready-made technological integration, this study adopts a step-by-step design approach grounded in the realities of smallholder farmers. The authors mapped the phenological stages of grapevines using the BBCH scale and systematically reviewed available sensing and monitoring technologies to determine the most context-appropriate solutions. Virtual modelling and preliminary analysis validate AgriRover’s geometric configuration and path-following capabilities within narrow vineyard rows. The proposed platform is meant to be adaptable, scalable, and maintainable using locally available material and human resources. AgriRover offers a practical and affordable foundation for precision agriculture in resource-constrained settings by aligning viticultural challenges with sensor deployment strategies and sustainability criteria. The sustainability analysis of the initial AgriRover concept was evaluated using the CML methodology, accounting for local waste processing rates and energy mixes to reflect environmental realities in Peru.

Keywords: sustainable agriculture; autonomous vineyard rover; precision viticulture; BBCH scale; sensor-based monitoring; smallholder farming; Ica; Peru (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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