Enhancing sustainability in viticulture through digital technologies: A case study from Smyrnakis winery

The integration of digital technologies in vineyard management offers substantial opportunities for enhancing sustainability, efficiency, and grape quality. This study presents the results of digitalization initiatives implemented at Smyrnakis Winery in Greece, utilizing precision irrigation, IoT-based environmental monitoring, smart insect traps (Attalos system), and AI-powered decision support systems (OptiSol.io). Results demonstrated a 37% reduction in irrigation water usage with simultaneous improvement in grape quality. The Attalos traps—eco-friendly smart traps—provided real-time monitoring of pest populations with automatic photo classification, allowing for timely alerts. In parallel, the OptiSol.io DSS integrated vineyard-specific climate forecasts with pest development models to generate highly targeted and localized spraying recommendations. These led to a 30% reduction in pesticide use and a 28% decrease in labor costs. As reported by McKinsey (2025), while 98% of European farmers have adopted at least one sustainable practice, only a minority—especially among small producers—invest in digital yield-enhancing solutions due to perceived cost and risk. This underscores the strategic importance of clear ROI demonstration and support programs to accelerate adoption. Beyond technological achievements, this study also analyzes strategic frameworks for overcoming barriers to adoption and emphasizes the continued importance of human expertise in decision-making.