Western Cape wine industry urged to adopt irrigation automation
By Kris van der Bijl
WESTERN Cape wine producers are being encouraged to adopt irrigation automation and precision viticulture technologies to remain competitive in an increasingly data driven agricultural sector.
Speaking at the January 2026 Vinpro Nedbank Producer Day, precision viticulture expert Dr Luca Brillante said vineyard resilience depends on data, monitoring systems and smarter irrigation strategies that improve efficiency and decision making.
While the technology is available, adoption across the Western Cape wine industry remains uneven, largely due to financial pressure.
Economic strain slowing irrigation automation uptake
Charl van Reenen, Agronomy Manager at Netafim Southern & East Africa, says economic realities continue to affect technology adoption.
“The wine industry has been under massive pressure due to many economic factors for a very long time, and this does affect the adoption rate of new technologies.”
He stresses that producers are not resistant to change. Most wine grape farmers are open to new systems, provided the investment is financially viable under current operating conditions.
Tight margins, limited capital reserves and high upfront infrastructure costs make irrigation automation a difficult decision for farms already under sustained pressure.
Water use efficiency and yield management
Despite these constraints, progress has been made. Van Reenen believes Western Cape producers have made significant strides in improving water use efficiency in recent years.
Industry collaboration has focused on better irrigation scheduling and improved understanding of soil water movement, ensuring producers optimise existing systems before investing in advanced automation.
“The focus is not only on adopting new technologies, but also on building the knowledge required to manage both existing and new systems effectively,” he says.
He cautions against viewing automation purely as a water saving measure.
“It is important to remember that it is not only about water use efficiency, but also about optimal yield size and the precise management of yield quality.”
Precision irrigation allows growers to manage vine stress more accurately, directly influencing grape development and overall wine quality.
Cost and return on investment
For many producers, the first consideration is cost.
“The main challenge is often the high initial cost. However, this cost will be offset by the resulting long term savings in resources.”
Modular systems allow producers to scale automation according to operational needs rather than committing to full farm upgrades.
Return on investment remains central. Higher value vineyards justify more advanced systems, while lower margin operations must balance automation against expected returns.
“There is no need to over invest or over design systems for crops that cannot return your investment,” he says.
However, some level of irrigation automation is viable across vineyard sizes.
“Automation is scalable, and it unlocks precision, allowing you to get the most from the resources you do invest.”
The technology and expertise are increasingly in place. The question remains whether economic conditions will allow wider adoption across the Western Cape wine industry.
