SBIR Phase II: Budbreak Delay Gel Technology for Frost Management and Mechanization of Vineyards

SBIR二期项目的更广泛影响是使美国葡萄产业减少因春霜造成的作物损失，估计每年损失超过10亿美元，以及相关的失业-仅在华盛顿州就有超过11,000人失业。封装发芽延迟技术和预测分析为农民在发芽季节即将到来的霜冻事件之前提供决策工具。这些工具可以使农村社区通过减少产量损失和降低生产成本来实现经济稳定。该技术填补了对单个农场做出明智决策所需的知识空白，从而在面临日益复杂的春季冰冻威胁时做出更好的管理决策。此外，使用封装技术可以减少目前使用化石燃料密集型的传统减霜措施（如燃烧器、风力机和洒水器）的碳排放和用水量。所提出的封装芽断延迟技术主要有两个方面的进展。首先，凝胶胶囊喷雾剂可以生物地将芽的破裂过程持续延缓14天，并将耐寒性提高到6摄氏度。其次，为了指导种植者提供这种产品，决策支持系统（DSS）帮助葡萄种植者决定何时有必要减轻即将到来的霜冻条件。第二阶段项目的重点是提高DSS的预测准确性和扩展系统。具体而言，该团队将专注于：a)优化实验室配方和测试，b)在五个站点进行现场测试和数据收集，c)通过额外的数据和分析增强DSS能力，d)扩大规模以进行大规模生产和应用，e)收集数据以获得监管部门的批准。这种用于葡萄园霜冻保护的凝胶封装解决方案未来可能会应用于其他水果作物，如苹果和核果，这些水果比葡萄更容易受到春季霜冻的损害。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact of this SBIR Phase II project is to allow America’s grape industry to reduce crop losses due to spring frost, estimated at over $1 billion per year, as well as related job losses – more than 11,000 individuals in the State of Washington alone. The encapsulating bud break delay technology and predictive analytics support farmers with decision making tools ahead of impending frost events during bud break season. Such tools may enable rural communities to achieve economic stability by decreasing yield losses and lowering production costs. The technology fills gaps in knowledge needed to make informed decisions on individual farms, resulting in better management decisions in the face of increasing complexities of spring freeze threats. Additionally, use of the encapsulation technology may reduce carbon emissions and water usage from current fossil fuel-intensive conventional frost mitigation measures such as burners, wind machines and sprinklers.The proposed encapsulating bud break delay technology involves two main advances. First, a gel encapsulation spray biologically delays the process of bud break consistently up to 14 days and increases cold resistance up to 6 degrees Celsius. Second, to guide growers in delivering this product, a Decision Support System (DSS) aids grape growers in deciding when it is necessary to mitigate pending frost conditions. The Phase II project focuses on increasing the predictive accuracy of the DSS and scaling the system. Specifically, the team will focus on: a) optimizing the formulation and testing in the lab, b) field-testing and data collection at five sites, c) enhancing DSS capabilities with additional data and analysis, d) scaling up for large-scale manufacture and application, and e) gathering data for regulatory approvals. This gel encapsulation solution for frost protection of vineyards may find future applications in other fruits crops such as apples and stones fruits that are even more susceptible to spring frost damage than grapes.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.