Economics and barriers of precision viticulture technologies: A comprehensive systematic literature review

Abstract

Precision farming technologies are revolutionising the wine-growing sector thanks to their ability to manage crop variability, increase economic benefits, reduce the environmental impact, and improve grape yields and quality. Most earlier studies focused on the effects of precision technology adoption on plant health and canopy development—and therefore grape quality—neglecting the profitability impact. This study aims to fill this gap by presenting a systematic literature analysis discussing advancements in the economics of precision viticulture technologies. The results show how technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles, precision irrigation, and robotics can increase efficiency in resource management, helping to reduce costs and improve vineyard profitability. However, the findings also emphasise the need for tailored approaches to integrate these advances. Furthermore, the analysis highlights the main barriers related to the cost of adopting precision technologies and the skills required to read and interpret the data. The results of this study hold interest to academics, vine growers, and farmers, providing a basis for future research into the cost-effectiveness of adopting precision technologies.