E. & J. GALLO WINERY IS WORKING WITH WATSON TO DEVELOP AN INTELLIGENT IRRIGATION SYSTEM THAT INCREASES THE QUALITY OF ITS GRAPES.

Overview: The problem

Having farmed in California for more than 80 years, E. & J. Gallo Winery knows that no resource is more important than water, which is why water management has been a top priority for the company for decades.

Enter Watson

E. & J. Gallo Winery and Watson are now using weather reports and remote sensor data to deliver precise amounts of water to each vine, optimizing growth. The secret is located above the clouds, in a satellite looking down on the vineyard.

This allows the exact needed amount of water – based on highly targeted irrigation requirements – to be dispensed to each grapevine. As the weather changes, the irrigation methods react to ensure vines only receive water when needed.

Powered by IBM Cloud

IBM Cloud is built to handle cognitive workloads, such as the immense amount of data from satellites and IoT sensors. It also uses The Weather Company data from 2.2 Billion locations, which is combined with E. & J. Gallo Winery’s other data sources to help perfect individualized irrigation plans.

A competitive advantage

Because of this tailored watering, E. & J. Gallo Winery reduced its water use by 25%, while also improving the quality of its wine.

Wineries, hospitals, businesses, educators and governments are now working with Watson. In 45 countries and 20 industries, Watson is helping people make sense of data so they can make better decisions while uncovering new ideas.