In Grasse, satellites to help the olive growing sector

They use satellites to take care of olive trees. For several years, the company ACRI-ST, based in Grasse, on the Roquevignon plateau, has given itself a mission: to identify olive trees and, based on environmental data collected using the Copernicus satellite, to anticipate the factors that could harm them. and thus increase their profitability. “We were interested in this tree because we realized that several of us had them, harvested the olives and brought them to the mill”explains Antoine Troullier, test and validation engineer at ACRI-ST.

“There is enormous potential”

“We thus realized, he continues, that there was know-how that was disappearing. However, in Grasse, there is enormous potential, and we wanted to demonstrate it.”

The first step therefore consisted of carrying out an important census of the different olive trees which adorn the Grasse region. “First, we set about carrying out terrestrial observation, what we call ground truth, continues the engineer, who was present in Cannes a few weeks ago for the 3rd Space Meetings. We therefore traveled the territory and noted the places where we observed olive trees. As a result of this, we created a mobile application allowing everyone to list olive trees.”

After this research, the scientists recovered all the environmental data surrounding the olive trees. “This data allowed us to be able to determine the temperature, if there was wind, the direction, etc. We created a large environmental database.”

A spectral signature

Thanks to spatial and environmental data, scientists were also able to uncover olive trees whose presence had not been observed visually. “All plants have a spectral signature, explains Antoine Troullier. It is a color that is visible from satellites, in space, at an altitude of 400km. Satellites can spot the color emitted by their chlorophyll.” A technique which allowed them, for example, to determine the different trees present in Aix-en-Provence, as part of another project. “We were able to tell if it was a chestnut tree, a poplar tree, etc.”

After various training and corrections of the application, the latter displays a reliability of 98%. It could help revive the olive growing sector in Pays de Grasse. “It is our will, confirms the engineer. All environmental data collected will be able to determine yields and quality of production based on their location and data. If we manage to show a relationship between environmental conditions and the diseases that olive trees can suffer from, for example, we will be able to say, in the future, that we are going to enter a period favorable to the development of such diseases. Consequently, the producer will be able to anticipate and provide the necessary care.”

“Maintain jobs”

A nice initiative with a long-term aim. “ Historically, in the Alpes-Maritimes, there were two major areas of olive cultivation: the Grasse region and the Roya valley. For reasons of real estate pressure, the land was reduced, the producers disappeared, but the olive trees remained. In small plots, people continue to bring their olives to the mill. Unfortunately, all this is lost, the mills close. We think it is a local Provençal tradition that must be maintained. And which could also maintain jobs.”