1. Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences
  2. Research
  3. Research Groups
  4. Digital Agriculture, Food and Wine
Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences

Digital Agriculture, Food and Wine

HomeCapabilitiesPeopleProjects

The Digital Agriculture, Food, and Wine group works on the implementation and integration of new and emerging technologies, including but not limited to artificial intelligence tools on agricultural and food applications from farm to the palate.

Digital Agriculture (DA) deals with the implementation and integration of digital data, sensors, and tools on agricultural, food, and wine applications from the paddock/vineyard to consumers. These technologies can range from big data, sensor technology, sensor networks, remote sensing, robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

Data processing is performed using new and emerging technologies, such as computer vision, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, among others.

The latest advances made by the DAFW group for crop monitoring/decision making, assessment of the quality of produces, sensory analysis for consumer perception and animal stress, and welfare assessment.

News and events

Loading...

Contact the team

    Group Leader

  1. Associate Professor Sigfredo Fuentes

    Associate Professor in Digital Agriculture, Food and Wine Sciences

    • sfuentes@unimelb.edu.au
    • +61 3 9035 9670
  2. Digital Food

  3. Dr Claudia Gonzalez Viejo

    Postdoctoral Fellow in Digital Agriculture, Food and Wine Sciences

    • cgonzalez2@unimelb.edu.au
    • +61 412 055 704
  4. Digital Agriculture

  5. Dr Eden Tongson

    Postdoctoral Fellow in Digital Agriculture, Food and Wine Sciences

    • eden.tongson@unimelb.edu.au
    • +61 410 100 126

Emerging technologies based on artificial intelligence (AI) can be developed for any field of applied research.

Examples of the DAFW outputs are:

  • Assessment of aroma profiles in cocoa plantations based on aerial photogrammetry, canopy architecture and AI
  • Assessment of big data related to environmental factors affecting dairy cow stress and milk productivity and quality
  • Remote sensing and AI to assess crop water status
  • Use of robotics and remote sensing to assess the intensity of beer sensory descriptors , consumers acceptability , proteins and other physicochemical parameters
  • Use of biometrics from consumers to assess acceptability of beer , and insect-based snacks
  • A portable electronic nose (e-nose) coupled with AI to assess aromas in beer, smoke taint in wines after bushfires and detecting pest and diseases in crops , and
  • NIR and machine learning to assess physicochemical parameters and sensory descriptors of beer , and physicochemical parameters in chocolate , detection of pest and diseases in crops, assessment of berry cell death and plant water status, among others.
  • UAV‐based remote sensing and GIS mapping of crops and produce assessment

    UAV‐based remote sensing and GIS mapping of processed data for irrigation scheduling, plant water status assessment, nutrient assessment, pest and disease early prediction and smoke contamination.

  • Artificial intelligence/machine learning agriculture, food and animal sciences

    Machine learning based modelling and artificial intelligence applications for agriculture, food and animal sciences

  • Robotics, sensory evaluation/biometrics and machine learning modelling for brewages

    Integration of Robotics, sensory analysis of food and brewages with biometrics and machine learning algorithms to understand consumer preferences and quality of food and brewage products.

  • Computer applications development for agriculture, food and wine sciences

    Mobile computer applications development to be used for agriculture, food and wine sciences.

  • Advanced analytical platforms for plant physiology, climate change, sensory technologies and robotics

    The DAFW group has expertise in the use and maintenance of state-of-the-art instrumentation to obtain direct measurements of plant physiology and through remote sensing.

Our researchers.

    Group members

  1. Associate Professor Sigfredo Fuentes

    Associate Professor in Digital Agriculture, Food and Wine Sciences

    Sigfredo Fuentes’ scientific interests range from climate change impacts on agriculture, development of new computational tools for plant physiology, food, and wine science, new and emerging sensor technology, proximal, short and long-range remote sensing using robots and UAVs, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

    • Find an Expert profile
    • sfuentes@unimelb.edu.au
  2. Dr Claudia Gonzalez Viejo

    Postdoctoral Fellow in Digital Agriculture, Food and Wine Sciences

    Claudia Gonzalez Viejo’s research interests lie on the development of emerging technologies based on artificial intelligence such as robotics, sensors, computer vision, biometrics and machine learning modelling and their application in the field of agricultural, food and beverage sciences and engineering.

    • Find an Expert profile
    • cgonzalez2@unimelb.edu.au
  3. Dr Eden Tongson

    Postdoctoral Fellow in Digital Agriculture, Food and Wine Sciences

    Eden Tongson’s research interests are in the areas of genetics, high throughput phenotyping of crops and the implementation of digital tools and machine learning in agriculture and food sciences. She is also a professional scientific illustrator and digital artist for peer-reviewed journal articles and scientific books.

    • Find an Expert profile
    • eden.tongson@unimelb.edu.au
The Digital Agriculture, Food, and Wine group (DAFW) deals with the implementation and integration of digital data, sensors, technology, and tools with artificial intelligence (AI) for agricultural applications from the farm or vineyard to consumers.

Due to complexities involving agriculture, food, and wine sciences, many people consider these practices part science, part art. However, we attribute these complexities to intricate interactions that need to be taken into consideration and understood. These are related to complex processes happening in the soil, the root system, the plant, and canopies interacting with the atmosphere throughout the season.

The recent implementation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones and remote sensing opened up a variety of technologies that were developed for image analysis through computer vision, more robust modeling techniques through machine learning and artificial intelligence that can be applied to agriculture and food process.

Our group has made many advances in researching these potential techniques for practical applications in the industry and many more industries related to animal production and food science.

What is the difference between Precision Agriculture (PA) and Digital Agriculture (DA)?

Precision agriculture has been around for more than 30 years. It relates to the technology implemented to agricultural applications based mainly on remote sensing from satellites, unmanned aerial and terrestrial vehicles (UAV and UTV respectively) with information deployed in GPS-guided agricultural machinery. Digital agriculture has allowed many advancements in PA recently, since DA deals with the analysis of data using new and emerging tools from artificial intelligence (AI) such as sensor networks data, robotics, remote sensing, computer vision and machine learning, among others. The DAFW group creates intelligent and smart tools to interpret data for practical and tangible applications using machine learning, robotics, and artificial intelligence. The DAFW group has been developing practical and user-friendly DA tools that can be readily applied in industry.

Research projects

  • Implementing artificial intelligence to pest detection using a newly developed low-cost electronic nose (e-nose) and machine learning modelling

    This project aims to test an artificial intelligence (AI) detection system to detect pests in different grain crops.

    02 Nov 2020 Project
  • Biometric responses of animals to assess stress and welfare

    This project aims to develop rapid techniques to assess animal stress and welfare using non-invasive biometrics to analyse physiological responses (heart rate, respiration rate, startling, and temperature)

    30 Oct 2020 Project
  • Development of robotics and sensor arrays for food and agriculture

    This project aims to develop robotics and sensors such as electronic noses coupled with other artificial intelligence tools as rapid methods to assess food and beverages from farm to the final product.

    30 Oct 2020 Project
  • Computer apps, sensors and remote sensing using UAVs

    This project aims to test new and emerging technologies for in-field operations and management, ranging from proximal sensor network technology and remote sensing from UAV and satellite.

    30 Oct 2020 Project
  • Biometric, and sensory responses of consumers toward food products and packaging

    This project aims to understand the effects of food, beverage and packaging stimuli on the physiological, emotional, and sensory responses of consumers.

    30 Oct 2020 Project

Completed projects

  • Unlocking the food value chain: Australian food industry transformation for ASEAN markets

    This project aimed to assess and understand the physiological, emotional, and sensory responses of Asian vs Western consumers towards chocolate products.

    30 Oct 2020 Project
  • Staff Intranet
  • Contact Us

Support FVAS Donate Today


  • FVAS Facebook
  • FVAS LinkedIn
  • FVAS Twitter
  • FVAS Instagram

Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences

  • Study
    • Courses
      • DVM redir
    • Breadth
      • Breadth Subjects at Dookie
      • Australia in the Wine World
      • Insects Shaping Society
      • Beer: Theory and Craft
      • Feeding the World's Population
      • Living with Animals
      • Wine and Food
      • Feeding the World's Population
    • Honours
    • Scholarships
      • FVAS Scholarships
      • FVAS Prizes
      • Other scholarships and funding opportunities
    • Continuing Professional Development
    • Student Accommodation
      • Kendall Hall
      • Dookie Campus
    • Pre Ag Club
    • Pre Vet Club
    • Graduate Mentoring
    • Dookie Mentoring
  • News
    • New agriculture degree sees graduates ready for the ‘boom century’
    • U-Vet Werribee Animal Hospital and Werribee campus redevelopment
    • Dookie Day 2017
    • Clinical trial: Investigation of stem cells as treatment for spinal cord injuries in dogs
    • Dookie Day 2018 opens the University of Melbourne's agricultural campus to the community
    • New Technology Applications for Agriculture: Going Beyond Awareness
    • Dookie campus produce for sale
    • Call for donors: cats to help other cats at new feline blood bank
    • Herd mentality: Norm Williamson’s multi-faceted career
    • Dog blood saves sick cat's life ahead of opening of new feline blood bank
    • Calling to dog owners for canine CPR research study
    • Bachelor of Agriculture Capstone Showcase 2018
    • Research Week showcases veterinary, agricultural and food science collaboration
    • 2018 Academic promotions reflect push for gender equality in universities
    • New professor boosts Melbourne's precision agriculture research and teaching
    • University of Melbourne opens new $100 million life sciences complex in Melbourne’s biomedical precinct
    • Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences Awards Night 2019
    • Students and community to benefit from veterinary campus expansion
    • Melbourne Veterinary School Learning and Teaching Building Opening
    • Surgery success for one of Australia’s oldest lions
    • Dookie Day explores the future of agriculture and the Goulburn Valley region’s Indigenous heritage
    • Microwaves put the heat on herbicide resistant weeds
    • What is conservation medicine, and why is it important?
    • Agriculture students present solutions to issues facing industry
    • Study investigates suitable rootstocks for Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir
    • New book explores the perspectives of the first women to study at Dookie
    • Herd mentality
    • The University of Melbourne: Bushfire response
    • New project to help prevent spread of animal to human diseases
    • Work needed to reduce the negative effects of heat stress on Australian dairy cows, research reveals
    • Researchers call for rigorous wildlife surveillance to prevent disease outbreak
    • Bite-sized lecture: The science behind sourdough
    • Take a virtual tour of our campuses at Dookie, Parkville and Werribee
    • The 2020 Dungala Kaiela Oration
    • Using environmental DNA to help stop frogs from croaking it
    • Hyperspectral insight provides early warning of threatening crop disease
  • Events
  • Research
    • Research Areas
    • Learning and Teaching
    • Graduate Research
    • Research Centres
      • Animal Welfare Science Centre
      • Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health
      • Centre for Equine Infectious Disease
      • Unlocking the Food Value Chain
      • Healthy Soils for Sustainable Food Production and Environmental Quality
      • The Mackinnon Project
      • OIE Collaborating Centre for Diagnostic Test Validation Science in the Asia-Pacific Region
      • Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre
    • Research Groups
      • Agricultural and Urban Waste Management
      • Analytics, Modelling and Technology
      • Bone and Muscle Cell Biology
      • Digital Agriculture, Food and Wine
      • Food Chemistry and Microbiology
      • Greenhouse Gas and Climate Change
      • Hyperspectral and Thermal Remote Sensing Laboratory (HyperSens)
      • Nutrient Management
      • One Health Research Group
      • Parasitology
      • Smart Fertilisers
      • Soil-Plant Microbiomes
      • Taking the Query out of Q Fever
      • Veterinary Epidemiology @ Melbourne
    • Research Projects
      • Health, welfare and biosecurity of livestock exposed to Australian bushfires
    • Research Week
  • Alumni
    • News & Pursuit
    • Reunions
    • Alumni Profiles
    • Professional Development
    • Alumni Benefits
    • Update your details
  • Support Us
    • How can I make a gift?
    • Impact
    • Visionary Veterinarians
    • Dookie Fund
    • Animal Pain Management & Rehabilitation Fund
    • A fruitful philanthropic partnership between LMCF and FVAS
  • About Us
    • About Our Faculty
    • Accreditation
    • Contact Us
  • U-Vet - Werribee Vet Hospital
  • Current Students
    • Current Students
    • Guide to your course
    • Enrich your study
      • Cross-institutional Study
      • Exchange and Study Abroad
      • Intensive subjects at Dookie
      • Internships
      • Mentoring programs
      • Research Project Subjects
    • Student life and support
      • Clubs and Societies
      • Scholarships, awards and prizes
      • Support services
      • Wellbeing Grants
  • Dookie
  • Current Students
  • Library
  • Staff