A new milestone for the LIFE ATENA project

The LIFE ATENA project, undertaken in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene vineyards in northern Italy, marks a significant step along the road to ever more sustainable viticulture.

At the final monitoring visit on Friday 11 April, the two tractors, prototypes for a new generation of sustainable agriculture, were demonstrated in action with the eVITIpulse Combi SIR defoliator and the eElite Xview DIR ProCut trimmer. LIFE ATENA Project Monitor Agnese Roccato and Project Officer Mario Lionetti were both in attendance. During the official presentation of the machinery, which emphasised the importance of this research for a planet-friendly future, praise was bestowed on the success of the international collaboration between the four companies involved.

The field trials involved tests of two tractor models fitted with the ERO implements: a full hybrid model and a full electric model. The hybrid model is capable of reducing CO₂ emissions by 30% in comparison to conventional machines, while the fully electric model completely eliminates direct CO₂ emissions, i.e. a 100% reduction.

Both prototypes were tested successfully in combination with five electrified implements – all five electrified variants developed for the project by ERO and the ERO group companies BINGER, FERRAND and DHUGUES. In addition to the ERO defoliator and trimmer presented at the April final monitoring visit, these included electrified versions of the BINGER pre-pruner VSL 07 P, the FERRAND cultivator and a DHUGUES crop protection sprayer.

Noise pollution was also monitored during the trials and a noticeable reduction in sound emissions was recorded, a positive for the drivers of the machines as well as the surrounding area.

In parallel with the tests in northern Italy, the team at ERO in Simmern were working tirelessly right up to the last minute, improving and testing the efficiency of the new ERO and BINGER implements to ensure the ambitious CO₂ reduction targets would be achieved.

The permanent oil circulation in the working hydraulics was successfully reduced from 20–38 l/min (depending on the implement) to 0 l/min, thus drastically reducing the risk of oil leakage.

The project culminated with a closing event on Thursday 3 July at CIRVE – the Interdepartmental Centre for Research in Viticulture and Oenology, located in Conegliano. This was not just an occasion to present the project results: for the engineers, businesses and researchers who attended, it was a key opportunity to see innovation in action, and learn about the tangible possibilities for efficient and increasingly sustainable mechanisation of agriculture.