Wineries Cases — Real Results from Smart Drone Farming
GrowAirforce is more than just spraying drones. It’s an intelligent transformation of agriculture: precision tools, cost reduction, and sustainability. This section showcases real stories, real farmers, and concrete results from drone vineyard solutions and other smart farming applications.
Who Chooses GrowAirforce?
- Large farms and agri-holdings100 to 10,000+ hectares. Where scale, automation, and digital traceability matter.
- Small farms & cooperativesDrone spraying on demand — no need to buy equipment or hire operators.
- Agro-service providers (white-label)Local contractors expanding their service portfolio with drone-based treatments.
- BIO-certified and export-oriented farmsMinimizing chemical residue and ensuring certified traceability.
- Demonstration plots and research centersAccelerators, agri universities, startups, and pilot projects for new technologies.
Projects from the Field
Winery in Kakheti (Georgia)
Problem:
The vineyards are located on hilly slopes with limited access for ground machinery. Tractors cannot operate without risking vine damage and soil erosion. Manual spraying is labor-intensive and inconsistent.
Solution:
Drones precisely spray liquid fertilizers and biopreparations in calibrated doses. Flight paths are optimized based on terrain and microclimate. Spraying is conducted during morning and evening hours to avoid evaporation.
Results:
“Our vineyard requires delicate handling. With drones, we’ve fertilized without a single tire mark or yield loss. This is a true revolution for terroirs like ours.”
The vineyards are located on hilly slopes with limited access for ground machinery. Tractors cannot operate without risking vine damage and soil erosion. Manual spraying is labor-intensive and inconsistent.
Solution:
Drones precisely spray liquid fertilizers and biopreparations in calibrated doses. Flight paths are optimized based on terrain and microclimate. Spraying is conducted during morning and evening hours to avoid evaporation.
Results:
- Reduced fertilizer usage by 35%
- Improved uniform ripening of grape clusters
- Cut processing time from 4 days to 6 hours
- Eliminated use of heavy machinery in sensitive zones
“Our vineyard requires delicate handling. With drones, we’ve fertilized without a single tire mark or yield loss. This is a true revolution for terroirs like ours.”
Family-Owned Winery in Moldova (Exporting to the EU)
Context:
A small family-run winery in southern Moldova managing 18 hectares of vineyards. Its primary market is the European Union, which enforces strict standards for quality and sustainable farming.
Problem:
Prior to drone adoption, fertilization was done via tractors and manual spraying. This caused:
Switching to drone-based spraying allowed the winery to:
“We’ve become less dependent on weather windows and seasonal labor. Drones helped us preserve the delicate vine structure and meet the standards of demanding European buyers.”
A small family-run winery in southern Moldova managing 18 hectares of vineyards. Its primary market is the European Union, which enforces strict standards for quality and sustainable farming.
Problem:
Prior to drone adoption, fertilization was done via tractors and manual spraying. This caused:
- Uneven nutrient distribution
- Mechanical damage to vines
- Soil compaction
- Excessive input usage
Switching to drone-based spraying allowed the winery to:
- Achieve precise and uniform application
- Save up to 40% on fertilizers
- Cut labor costs by 60%
- Operate even after rainfall, when machines can’t access the fields
- Increased share of optimally ripened grape clusters by 22%
- Met EU sustainability and production standards
- Expanded supply contracts to Germany and Czech Republic
“We’ve become less dependent on weather windows and seasonal labor. Drones helped us preserve the delicate vine structure and meet the standards of demanding European buyers.”
Terraced Vineyards in Cappadocia (Turkey)
Grape Growers Association in Tunisia
Context:
The association unites over 20 vineyards in northern Tunisia (Bizerte and Nabeul regions), focusing on table grapes for export to the Gulf countries and North Africa. The Mediterranean climate features long dry seasons and frequent winds.
Challenges:
“Now even the most remote vineyards receive the same precise and gentle treatment as large-scale producers. It levels the playing field and raises our collective quality.”
The association unites over 20 vineyards in northern Tunisia (Bizerte and Nabeul regions), focusing on table grapes for export to the Gulf countries and North Africa. The Mediterranean climate features long dry seasons and frequent winds.
Challenges:
- Significant fertilizer loss due to evaporation and wind drift during conventional spraying
- Uneven distribution of treatments, with some areas receiving too much or too little
- Limited access to modern agri-tech in remote villages
- Need to meet export requirements for nitrate levels and GlobalG.A.P. certification
- Partnered with a local drone operator to centralize spraying across the association
- Fixed dosage protocols adapted to local microclimates
- Spraying scheduled at night or early morning to minimize wind interference
- Satellite-based pre-mapping of fields introduced
- Average reduction in fertilizer usage by 32%
- Uniform treatment quality across all vineyard plots
- Increased export volumes to UAE and Saudi Arabia
- Higher buyer trust due to compliance with agroecological standards
“Now even the most remote vineyards receive the same precise and gentle treatment as large-scale producers. It levels the playing field and raises our collective quality.”
Agro Contractor in Israel Serving 100+ Vineyards
Context:
An agri-service company in Northern Galilee, Israel, provides treatment for more than 30 clients, ranging from small growers to major wine producers. Coverage includes vineyards in Upper Galilee, the Judean Hills, and near the Lebanese border, working with Cabernet, Shiraz, and Petit Verdot.
Challenges:
“Drones aren’t just a novelty. They’re our answer to overload, labor shortages, and rising client expectations for transparency and sustainability. We no longer fear the heat of July — drones fly at night without fatigue.”
An agri-service company in Northern Galilee, Israel, provides treatment for more than 30 clients, ranging from small growers to major wine producers. Coverage includes vineyards in Upper Galilee, the Judean Hills, and near the Lebanese border, working with Cabernet, Shiraz, and Petit Verdot.
Challenges:
- Seasonal spikes in demand made full coverage with machinery impossible
- Sharp terrain changes, hot climate, and fragile vines
- International partners demanding low-impact ("green footprint") practices
- Desire to offer next-gen drone services alongside traditional sprayers
- Deployed a fleet of 4 multispectral drones and 2 spraying drones
- Routes planned using satellite imagery and NDVI analysis
- Created a customer portal with booking and reporting features
- Launched a hybrid model: drones handle inaccessible or urgent zones
- Over 100 fields treated per season without hiring extra staff
- Average fertilizer savings per client: 28%
- Improved treatment accuracy and service transparency
- 45% growth in client base within a year
- Expansion into neighboring countries (via partners in Jordan)
“Drones aren’t just a novelty. They’re our answer to overload, labor shortages, and rising client expectations for transparency and sustainability. We no longer fear the heat of July — drones fly at night without fatigue.”
Agroholding in Chile, Maule Region
Context:
One of the largest agricultural producers in central Chile, specializing in grapes for export to the USA, Canada, and Asia. The holding manages over 800 hectares of vineyards spread across the Maule, O’Higgins, and Biobío regions. Some plots are located on Andean slopes and in areas with variable microclimates.
Challenges:
“Drone-powered treatments allowed us to optimize everything — from logistics to agronomy. It used to be organized chaos, now it's a high-efficiency system with real environmental value.”
One of the largest agricultural producers in central Chile, specializing in grapes for export to the USA, Canada, and Asia. The holding manages over 800 hectares of vineyards spread across the Maule, O’Higgins, and Biobío regions. Some plots are located on Andean slopes and in areas with variable microclimates.
Challenges:
- Difficulties coordinating treatments across dispersed plots
- Dependence on seasonal labor, especially in remote valleys
- Losses from ground-based machinery: soil compaction, inaccessibility after rains
- Commitment to sustainable farming standards (GLOBALG.A.P., Rainforest Alliance)
- Deployment of a drone fleet of 8 UAVs: multispectral, spraying, and mapping drones
- Integration with an agri-platform for real-time vine monitoring
- Automated route generation and treatment scheduling based on weather and plant status
- Application of biofertilizers and precision micro-nutrition via drones
- 36% reduction in treatment costs
- Even fertilizer application on sloped terrains
- Increased yield prediction accuracy through satellite-drone analytics
- Environmental certification obtained for 3 plots
- 18% growth in export volumes due to quality stabilization
“Drone-powered treatments allowed us to optimize everything — from logistics to agronomy. It used to be organized chaos, now it's a high-efficiency system with real environmental value.”
AgTech Center in Andalusia, Spain
Location:
Jaén and Córdoba regions, southern Spain — wine and olive zones with dry hot climates, hilly terrain, and high sustainability demands.
Context:
The Andalusia AgTech Center (funded by the regional government in partnership with the universities of Seville and Córdoba) is running a digital agriculture program — including viticulture, olive groves, and citrus plantations.
Challenges:
“We’ve created a living lab of the future. Agronomists, farmers, and researchers here test what will become standard in 5 years. And drones are a key driver of this transformation.”
Jaén and Córdoba regions, southern Spain — wine and olive zones with dry hot climates, hilly terrain, and high sustainability demands.
Context:
The Andalusia AgTech Center (funded by the regional government in partnership with the universities of Seville and Córdoba) is running a digital agriculture program — including viticulture, olive groves, and citrus plantations.
Challenges:
- Acute labor shortage in the agri-sector (post-COVID)
- Increasing droughts and soil overheating
- Outdated fertilization and diagnostic methods
- EU market pressure for ecological reporting (Sustainability KPIs)
- Drone-powered spraying with multispectral vine scanning
- Use of DJI Agras drones and local AgriSat platforms for flight planning
- Automatic fertilizer dosing by microzones
- Training programs for agronomists and farm owners (seminars + practice)
- 33% reduction in fertilizer consumption
- Up to 22% yield increase at pilot sites
- Agronomic decision-making speed increased (NDVI analysis within 24h)
- Over 40 farmers and 4 cooperatives involved
- Project approved under Horizon Europe (2024–2027)
“We’ve created a living lab of the future. Agronomists, farmers, and researchers here test what will become standard in 5 years. And drones are a key driver of this transformation.”
Organic Wine Exporter in Mendoza, Argentina
Context:
A family-run winery in Mendoza, in the foothills of the Andes, focused on organic viticulture and wine exports to Europe and Canada. The estate covers about 40 hectares, all certified under EU Organic standards and enrolled in the Sustainable Winegrowing Argentina (SWA) program.
Challenges:
A family-run winery in Mendoza, in the foothills of the Andes, focused on organic viticulture and wine exports to Europe and Canada. The estate covers about 40 hectares, all certified under EU Organic standards and enrolled in the Sustainable Winegrowing Argentina (SWA) program.
Challenges:
- Mandatory elimination of heavy machinery in sensitive zones
- Need for precision in applying biological fertilizers and micronutrients
- High transparency requirements from export partners (full traceability)
- Scarcity of qualified seasonal labor in remote areas
- Use of drones for targeted application of biostimulants, seaweed extracts, and microfertilizers
- Multispectral diagnostics for pre-treatment plant analysis
- Flight task automation with GPS logging compliant with organic certification
- SWA platform integration for sustainability audit inclusion
- 27% reduction in organic fertilizer costs
- 100% compliance with organic protocols and export audit
- +1.5 °Brix sugar increase in grape clusters vs. previous season
- Reduction of treatment time from 3 days to 6 hours
- Expansion of export contracts with Denmark and Germany
AgriTech Fund in Saudi Arabia – “Smart Vineyards” Pilot
Context:
As part of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's government is driving sustainable agriculture and local food systems. A dedicated AgriTech fund under SALIC initiated a pilot for “smart vineyards” in Asir and Tabuk provinces, testing viticulture in desert climates.
Challenges:
As part of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's government is driving sustainable agriculture and local food systems. A dedicated AgriTech fund under SALIC initiated a pilot for “smart vineyards” in Asir and Tabuk provinces, testing viticulture in desert climates.
Challenges:
- Extreme climate (heat, water scarcity, sandstorms)
- No history of large-scale viticulture
- Full automation required: monitoring, fertilization, data collection
- Compliance with Codex, ISO, and sustainability standards
- Pilot vineyards with vertical planting and drip irrigation
- Deployment of DJI Agras and XAG drones for spraying and monitoring
- AI platform integration with satellite and multispectral data
- Digital field twins for input optimization and yield planning
- Training for local agroengineers with KAUST University partnership
- 87% vine survival rate without heavy machinery
- Up to 41% water savings
- 38% boost in fertilizer efficiency
- Scalability proven for NEOM agricultural zones
- Launch of a non-alcoholic grape product line for export
Investment Project in Uzbekistan – Drone Agroservices
Location: Samarkand and Tashkent regions, Uzbekistan
Format: Public-private partnership (PPP) with local authorities and foreign investors
Context:
As part of Uzbekistan's agricultural digitalization strategy, a pilot was launched to create intelligent drone-based agroservices for farmers.
Challenges:
Format: Public-private partnership (PPP) with local authorities and foreign investors
Context:
As part of Uzbekistan's agricultural digitalization strategy, a pilot was launched to create intelligent drone-based agroservices for farmers.
Challenges:
- High machinery costs for small and medium farms
- Lack of trained drone operators and infrastructure
- Crop losses due to delayed treatments
- Reliance on outdated manual spraying methods
- Establishment of agroservice stations with DJI Agras and XAG drones
- Mobile platform for service orders, scheduling, and reporting
- Operator training via agricultural colleges
- Integration with national field registration system
- Support from Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Agriculture Ministry
- 190+ farms served in the first season
- 30–35% reduction in fertilizer costs
- Up to 20% yield increase in grapes, cotton, tomatoes
- 54 licensed drone operators trained
Developer in Colombia – ESG Winery from Scratch
Location: Boyacá Department, Colombia
Context:
A Colombian developer launched the country’s first winery fully aligned with ESG standards, backed by the Colombian Sustainable Agriculture Fund.
Challenges:
Context:
A Colombian developer launched the country’s first winery fully aligned with ESG standards, backed by the Colombian Sustainable Agriculture Fund.
Challenges:
- No existing winemaking infrastructure
- High expectations for sustainability certifications (LEED, ISO 14001)
- Full value chain creation from terroir to processing
- Lack of precision agriculture expertise
- Drone integration for agro-monitoring and fertilization
- Solar panels and rainwater harvesting installation
- Climate-resilient grape varieties
- Local farmer training and cooperative creation
- Digital twin vineyard and ESG monitoring
- 15 hectares of vineyard terraces planted
- Drone systems integrated with weather stations
- 42% reduction in water use via precision irrigation
- Passed ESG Colombia+ audit; preparing for B Corp certification
- Export agreement signed with a Swiss buyer
Geography & Use Cases: Drones in Viticulture
Why Vineyards Need Drones
Precision to the Vine
Drones with multispectral cameras and AI analytics can target stressed zones, adjust dosage per microzone, and avoid soil damage — essential for premium varieties.
Reduced Costs & Losses
Up to 50% savings on inputs, fewer re-sprays, better resilience to drought and disease.
Higher Quality & Market Value
More even ripening, +10–25% sugar content, less rot.
Eco-Friendly & Organic-Ready
No soil compaction, minimal emissions, supports EU Organic and ESG certification.
Smart Vineyard Control
NDVI + RGB imaging enables early disease detection, vine count, growth tracking, yield prediction.
Fits Any Scale
From small estates to co-ops and agriholdings, drones adapt to every business model.