Assessment of the wind influence on spray application using an artificial vineyard

Influence of grape transport and destemming systems on the quality of Chardonnay wines

The winemaking technology plays a very important role in enology as it directly influences the characteristics of wine. In particular, grape transport and destemming are critical steps in winemaking for the wine quality. The aim of this study was to compare two different processing lines of Chardonnay grapes to evaluate their effects on the quality of the final product. In particular, grapes receiving, transporting and destemming were performed using different machines in order to evaluate their influence on the quality of Chardonnay wines. The use of a receiving hopper equipped with a belt conveyor, followed by a destemmer equipped with partially coated rubber beaters, allowed to obtain Ch…

Olive oil mill toward industry 4.0

In recent years many studies have been conducted on olive oil mill and processes for improving extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) quality. The malaxer is the most studied machine among all, it is responsible for malaxation, which represents a very important and critical step in the EVOO extraction process. The processing conditions allowing a selective control of the enzymes represent a crucial point of the oil mechanical extraction process, strictly related to the sensory and healthy quality of EVOO. The authors designed a malaxer prototype provided with a supervisor control acquisition data (SCADA) system for the smart management of the malaxation process to obtain high quality EVOO. The syste…

Influence of O2 on extra virgin olive oil fatty acids composition during malaxation

Many variables are related to extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) quality and, therefore, to its polyphenols content and fatty acids composition including the steps that lead to EVOO extraction, considering that it is mainly contained in the vacuoles of the fruit mesocarp. The main steps of EVOO production are: harvest, crushing, malaxation, centrifugation, storage and filtration. Considering the olive oil extraction procedures, many studies have been conducted in recent years on oil mill plant and processes for improving EVOO quality. Malaxer is the most studied machine among all; it is responsible for malaxation, which represents a very important and critical step in the EVOO extraction process…

Vineyard design supported by GPS application

The innovative technologies of precision agriculture offer nowadays new applications in line with the needs of the wine sector. In hillside viticulture, within the same plot there are areas with different physical and chemical characteristics (lying, pH, active limestone, nutrients, etc.). This variability consequently influences the vigor of the vine which translates into a different production per single plant in terms of both yield and quality of the grapes. The aim of this study was to realize geo-referenced thematic maps by GPS application on a hilly plot covering about 6 hectares to be planted in a hedgerow trained vineyard for the production of quality grapes. The experimental tests …

A Novel System for Measuring Damaging Impacts on Table Olives

The consumer today demands high quality products; fruit with defects or in poor condition generate dissatisfaction and a consequent reduction in consumption. In recent years, interesting systems have been used (i. e. "artificial fruit") in order to identify the cause of damage during mechanical harvesting and/or post-harvest operations. In this paper, the authors present a new system designed to measure the impacts received by table olives in the processing stages from harvesting to packaging. The device is an instrumented sphere designed and implemented by the Agricultural Mechanics Section of the Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy. It contains a t…

Noise risk assessment in a modern olive oil mill

High levels of noise usually occur in olive oil mills because of the machines used to extract olive oil with a continuous plant. In Italy Law Decree 81/2008 defined the requirements for assessing and managing noise risk, identifying a number of procedures to be adopted at different noise levels to limit workers exposure. This study aims at evaluating the equivalent and peak noise levels inside a modern oil mill plant area in Sicily, south Italy. Twenty measurement points were identified inside the oil mill plant area where the machines for olive oil extraction were located (about 200 m2). The instrument used for the measurements was a precision integrating portable sound level meter, class …

A multi objective approach to short food supply chain management

Conventional supply chains, involving several stages and various intermediaries, are affected by some well- known forms of inefficiencies and drawbacks. Besides the increase of market price consequent to multiple marginalization, such supply chains generally suffer of significant post-harvest losses and product waste. In this context, short food supply chains have been recently proposed as different systems capable of delivering higher quality products while promoting sustainability and efficiency. Across the EU, a growing number of consumers choose to buy food products on local farmers' markets, associating local products with higher quality standards (freshness, nutritional value), health…