The Smart Farm w/ Kia Behnia, Neotempo Wines

Coming from a long career in technology, Kia Behnia, Founder of Neotempo Wines, was galvanized by the 2017 Napa fires to create a more sustainable path.  This started in the vineyard, where he’s utilizing technology and leveraging real-time data to improve quality and decrease cost.  Kia maps opportunities he sees in weeding, irrigation, mildew prevention, & automated crop evaluation as part of the foundation of a new “Smart Farm.”  Beyond the vineyard, Kia has redesigned what sustainable packaging means for wine for Neotempo to address the most significant shortfalls of the industry today.  Detailed Show Notes: Neotempo overviewReplanted vineyard (Kiatra), sold fruit, and now starting a winery2017 Napa fires - nearly lost property, vineyards acted as a fire break, became the catalyst to focus on sustainability leveraging tech and innovationCreating a brand for modern times, responsible and sustainableLaunching Fall 2023 w/ Kiatra Cab Sauv, ~$250/btlWe will roll out less expensive wines in the futureTech in the vineyardCan help solve the labor shortage (cost of labor in Napa up 38% in last two years)Large opportunities - weeding, irrigation, mildew prevention, automated crop evaluationThe use of data in the vineyard is low; data is available but not integratedVineyard Tech examples: 1) VineView - scans the vineyard to monitor vigor2) Phytech - monitors soil temps for irrigation; installed 30 sensors across 4 acres / 4,000 vines; measure the stress level of vines to inform watering vs. scheduled wateringUsed 25% less waterAble to do pre-watering for upcoming heat stress events (in a morning of high heat, 3-hour events) -> only lost 5% of the crop in 2022 vs. much more at other vineyardsGets real-time data at 3ft and 1ft under the soil and at canopy levelExtending to misters in 2023 to control temp and hydration more3) Crop Evaluations - establish the health of the vineyard at individual vine levelMapped and graded each vine 0-6 (0=blank, 1=rootstock only, 2=dead vine…6=healthy vine)Graded during the 7 stages of the growing cycle, including 1 week before harvest -> helps determine the replanting scheduleIt also uses grape samples and lab analysis (phenolics) as inputsExported all data into the analytics platform to do more reporting and analysisNo vineyard farming platform yet, mainly just products and featuresROI of vineyard tech - only invests in positive NPV projectsThe cost of farming went slightly upBelieves innovation will reduce labor requirementsWill create new capabilities - e.g., disease preventionChallenges to moving forwardLack of entrepreneurship culture in farmingLack of fundingLack of openness of farmers to adopt new technologiesNeotempo packaging - building architecture for sustainable 750ml wine bottleDesigned own lightweight, high-end bottle (550g, 40% lighter than alternatives, 100% recycled glass)Temp-controlled styrofoam alternative, no plastic - every component recyclable or compostable Get access to library episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.