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The Stift Klosterneuburg winery has introduced the first vineyard robot in Austria. The model "Bakus" from the French company Vitibot works the soil, the aisles between the vine rows, and the foliage wall. "Bakus" operates electrically – and thus emission-free – with a battery life of about ten hours. It functions autonomously and can be controlled via a smartphone app. According to the manufacturer, it can handle slopes of up to 45 percent or 20 percent on the side. By 2026, it is also expected to take over plant protection.
Worldwide, 250 vineyard robots of the type "Bakus" are already in operation. Peter Frei, the winery manager at Stift Klosterneuburg, sees the use as "an important step in times of climate change and skilled labor shortages." At the same time as the technological innovation, the winery is transitioning to organic farming. Certification is expected to take place in 2028. The estate has long been focused on sustainability and has been certified climate-neutral since 2009.
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(cs / Press release)