Frontiers in Plant Science has published a peer-reviewed study, testing an autonomous vineyard sensor that combines digital holography with artificial intelligence to identify airborne spores of downy and powdery mildew in near real time, potentially allowing spraying decisions to be based on actual pathogen presence rather than weather forecasts alone. Field case studies in Switzerland and Bordeaux found that spore-informed management could reduce fungicide applications while retaining disease control, including a Bordeaux trial where the monitored Merlot parcel received 30% less fungicide than other parcels in 2022 while recording comparable yield and quality, although the authors stress that the Bordeaux work was an operational case study rather than a replicated controlled experiment. The results are promising for precision viticulture, but the researchers explicitly call for validation across more seasons, climates and vineyards before treatment thresholds can be generalised.