CONTEXT & OBJECTIVES
THE IMPORTANCE OF WINE SECTOR IN EU
12 million.
This is the number of olfactory cells that are in our nose. These cells allow a recognition for a relevant variety of odours. Olfactory cells relate to our deep memories and for a quick food assessment.
One of those foods is the wine, that boots the olfactory stimulation in an exceptional way, because of its richness and complexity regarding the different molecules inside. In addition, the wine is an industry with a relevant impact, related to a huge commercial value at European level. The Eurostat statistics say that production of wine in Europe is relevant and the EU is leader in this field: in 2018, the EU Member States exported €22.7 billion (bn) of wine, and imported a total of €13.4 bn. All told, the sold production of wine (including sparkling wine, port and grape must) in the EU was around 15 billion litres. The total area under vines in the EU was 3.2 million ha in 2015, representing around 45% of the world’s total area under vines and the 1.8 % of the total utilised agricultural area.
NEW ICT TOOLS FOR PROCEDURAL LEARNING
In the last years, new tools are emerging as the Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) empowered by artificial tutoring systems. This paradigm is a natural candidate for an enhancement of the academic learning methodologies for practical activities as the basic sensory training, by providing new tools for the students using an autonomous and distance learning approach.
MERGO GENERAL AIM AND TRANSNATIONAL APPROACH
The project MERGO aims to bridge the MOOC learning with the procedural learning for the recognition of sensory features using Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs). The project will develop ICT innovative tools that allow the student an autonomous training with olfactory stimuli and applying a validated framework delivered with a scientific approach, applying artificial intelligence modules (adaptive artificial tutors). The MERGO project aims to enhance the knowledge triangle in this sector in order to put in a strong relation education, research and innovation. The transnational element and EU dimension are decisive for its multilingualism approach and for the development of EU online open course that benefits from the regional excellences and the cultural differences in the wine sector.