In the vineyards, technology combines with knowledge

The body in the vineyards is subject to various constraints related to postures, repetitive gestures, and climatic hazards. For several years, “there has been awareness on the part of the minors who have taken up this issue…

The body in the vineyards is subject to various constraints related to postures, repetitive gestures, and climatic hazards. For several years now, “there has been an awareness on the part of the castles that they have taken up the issue of health at work” confirms Sophie Galland, member of the Association of Agricultural Workers in the Gironde.

In fact, many fields have implemented task diversification, in order to avoid frequent gestures, as well as overheating before starting work. This is the case in the cases of Château Léoville Las where Yannis and Stéphane Battarin have been working since 2014: “Physiotherapists showed us how to wake up our joints, especially our wrists, to reduce the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.”

New technologies such as exoskeletons are also being tested in the vineyards. These motorized devices can be attached to several ends of the body to increase their capacity. Sophie Galland stresses technical progress that “improves working conditions and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, especially of the joints and back”. Château Margaux and Ducru Beaucaillou are also testing these materials.

Preserved know-how

The introduction of this innovation tested at first “hesitating” recalls Sophie Galland before specifying that “a robot will not replace the ancestral knowledge of professionals”. Some gestures in viticulture, such as pruning vines, require great technical skills and qualifications, which can only be done by humans. “Also, everyone has a personal signature when pruning,” Stefan Patarin adds.

For the grape grower, the introduction of exoskeletons shows the ‘evolution’ of the profession and more broadly of viticulture. However, adjustments still need to be made: “Some are not always adapted to body types and not all farms have the funds to outfit their staff.”