Acronyme : WatEnerWine

Project Title : Water and Energy in the wine sector: transition towards a sustainable, efficient and resilient industry

 Funding : SMP-COSME-2023-AGRICLUSTER

 Duration : 2024-2027

 Status IFV : Partner

Summary :

The aim of the project is to develop an European initiative to improve efficient use of water and energy and to promote the increase of the use of renewable energy sources in the wine industry. Consortium members belong to the three top wine county producers in Europe.

WatEnerWine will base their tasks on promoting a partnership with clusters, tech centers, other BSO, technology providers and SMEs wineries.

The activities proposed grouped in WP are focused on:

• Creating a network of clusters, BSOs, technology centers and SMEs to work in cooperation to improve sustainability and competitiveness of EU SMEs, developing a Common Strategic Agenda for the next 10 years and collaborating with already existing initiatives.
• Improving the structures and capabilities of EU clusters and BSOs to support SMEs in their sustainability transition, creating the Green Transition Centers and Advisors
• Improving wineries’ energy and water efficiency and management by fostering the uptake, adoption and deployment of technologies to improve their sustainability through thematic national and EU level Working Groups.
• Creating knowledge transfer resources such as a guide of best practices or the innovation Catalogue
• Involving organizations in sustainability initiatives at EU level trough events and dissemination activities

By fulfilling these goals, the project will encourage the creation of a more competitive and sustainable European Wine value chain: Wineries, auxiliary industry, tech centers, clusters and other BSOs… reducing GHG emissions and operational costs.

The project is coordinated by the Catalan cluster INOVI (Spain).

More information :

Contact IFV : Pascal Poupault

Acronyme : LivingSoilLL

Project Title : Healthy Soil to Permanent Crops Living Labs

Funding : HORIZON-MISS-2023-SOIL-01-08

Duration : 2024-2028

Coordination : IFV

Status IFV: PARTNER

Summary :

The EU is currently facing soil degradation, which is undoubtedly linked to the intensification of agriculture. Thus, a new soil management paradigm, based on soil monitoring, restoration and protection, must be the business of farmers and the European Commission. A new soil management paradigm, based on soil monitoring, restoration and protection, must be an initiative of farmers, scientists, businesses, politicians and citizens.

LivingSoiLL intends to respond to these challenges by creating 5 Living labs in Portugal, France, Spain, Italy and Poland, focusing on permanent crops (vineyards, olive groves, chestnut, hazelnut and apple orchards), comprising at least 50 demonstration sites and 10 showcase sites, with the active participation of over 2,000 local stakeholders.

These Living labs will focus on improving soil health and ecosystem services through the co-creation, co-implementation and co-testing of (digital) solutions aimed at reducing erosion, improving soil structure, reducing the impact of intensive fertilizer and pesticide use, increasing water storage, enhancing soil biodiversity and overall soil resilience.

The project is coordinated by UTAD with the implication of 50 partners.

IFV is coordinating a living lab on soil in France (Beaujolais and Loire Valley) focusing on the following practices:

1. a) low-water cover crops
2. b) biosourced mulch, biochar or woven ground cover
3. c) sustainable management of organic matter

More information :

Contact IFV : David Lafond

Funding : HORIZON-EIC-2022-PATHFINDER-OPEN-01

Duration : 2022-2026

Coordination : TECHNION – ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Status IFV : Partner

Summary :

Inspired by superhydrophobic plants, such as lotus and broccoli which exhibit wax crystals on their cuticles, the project proposes a generic sustainable strategy for passive crop protection against fungal pathogens. Our biomimetic technology, termed SafeWax, relies on bioderived non-toxic fatty acid-based sprayable formulations which self-assemble into a multifaceted protective coating with antiadhesive, self-cleaning and antifungal properties. When applied on sensitive crops, which do not naturally exhibit wax crystals, SafeWax will synthetically render their foliage to passively resist pathogens. SafeWax concepts will initially be demonstrated on grapevine, as a relevant model crop of high importance to Europe’s economy, environment and culture, which is highly susceptible to fungal diseases and is the most-frequently treated crop. SafeWax will then be expanded to other sensitive commodity crops. The biodegradable SafeWax coating will not only protect crops from fungal infections but will also be tuned to provide UV radiation filtering, prevent sun damage, as well as facilitate water collection from dew condensation, mitigating inevitable effects of climate change.

The consortium is led by TECHNION – ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY and brings together 4 other partners from 3 countries (IFV-French Wine and Vine Institute and Eurofins Agroscience Services in France, University of Bologna – Italy, BASF- Germany) and will run from 2022 to 2026.

IFV participate mainly in the experiments for demonstrating the efficacy of the solution and in the transfer of the results to the wine industry.

More information :

Home – safewax (safe-wax.eu)

Contact IFV : Eric Chantelot

Funding : Erasmus

Duration : February 2022- July 2024

Coordination : Universidad Internacional de la Rioja (UNIR)

Status IFV : Partner

Summary :

Green Vineyards : Upskilling wineries staff: Responding to the challenges of climate change

The aim of ‘Green Vineyards’ project is to raise the knowledge, skills and aptitudes of workers in the wine sector, addressing the challenges of climate change. The project objectives are:

1. a) To identify the environmental competences required by the workers to ensure a positive ecological footprint of the activities carried out.
2. b) To identify common gaps in the workers’ knowledge, attitudes and skills, to better address their training necessities.
3. c) To provide personalized training for wineries sector staff, according to the identified skills gaps and making the required training available online
4. d) To facilitate access to training, creating a friendly and accessible online learning environment for all workers of wine sector.
5. e) To raise awareness of climate change impact in the key sector of wine production. f) To improve the climate literacy of rural communities.
6. g) To disseminate the expected outcomes in order to transmit the created knowledge all
   over Europe, making the knowledge and technology transfer from the wine sector to other agri-food sectors as smooth as possible…

It is a cooperative partnership of six partners from five European countries—Germany, Italy, France, North Macedonia, and Spain. 

The project will produce the following tangible results:  
a) An environment-oriented Competence Framework, transferable to many other sectors.

1. b) A catalogue of best practices
2. c) Multimedia resources, based on the catalogue of selected practices
3. d) A self-assessment and recommendation tool,
4. e) A complete set of appropriate training materials
5. f) An free access online Learning Hub
6. g) A transferability Toolkit. a step-by-step guide that will describe and plan the transfer of the Green Vineyards methodology and contents. 

After having tested the learning scheme by 300 workers, the sector will get a specially created tool to improve its workforce capacities to participate in a more ‘green’ and sustainable economy, enhancing at the same time the overall society awareness about climate change. 

IFV brings its expertise on the theme of Climate Change, and its knowledge and involvement into the French wine industry. 

Discover the online lesson on sustainable viticulture

More information : https://greenvineyards.eu/ 

Twitter:  @green_vineyards 

Contact IFV : Carine Herbin

Funding : Horizon Europe – DIGITAL-2022-CLOUD-AI-02-TEF-AGRIFOOD 

Duration : 2023-2028

Coordination : FONDAZIONE BRUNO KESSLER (Italy)

Status IFV : Affilated entity of ACTA

Summary :

AgriFoodTEF is a network of test and validation infrastructures in Europe that supports Agri-Food technology companies to do near product development of their AI and Robotics solutions in real-world facilities. The overall aim is to close the gap between excellent research in these fields and actual products that support an efficient and sustainable agriculture, while meeting stringent usability and economic requirements of their end-users.

AgriFoodTEF foundations are solidly rooted in existing experimental farms and facilities for AI and Robotics in Agriculture, already operational in various regions highly representative of European Agri-Food production. These have been clustered to build scale and further enhance EU role in guaranteeing world food security with testing and validation facilities that will engage all relevant stakeholders with the best experts in the AI and Robotics technology domains.

Furthermore, standards for dataset creation, data sovereignty, algorithm or benchmark interoperability will be based on GAIA-X as the ambassadors of different GAIA-X agri-domains in Europe are part of the proposal.

While each TEF-node will promote independent operations with a sustainable business model that will be optimized for the specialties and territorial needs, all TEF-nodes will share common guidelines, standards and support each other with services that can be also offered across the different regions represented by nodes and satellites.

The final aim is to help Europe achieve leadership in fostering top quality, technology driven and massive adoption of innovative solutions for Agri-Food, bringing primary production to new levels of efficiency akin to what was achieved by the Green Revolution

IFV’s will participate through its demo farm (Digiferme® Vinnopole Sud Ouest) by providing physical and digital testing infrastructure for innovative solutions de developed by companies, and will participate in quality management & methods, and communication and dissemination activities.

More information : https://www.agrifoodtef.eu

Contact IFV : Christophe Gaviglio

Funding :  HORIZON-CL6-2021-GOVERNANCE-01-23] [Broaden EIP Operational Group outcomes across borders by means of thematic networks, compiling and sharing knowledge ready for practice]

Duration : 2022-2025

Coordination : IFV

Summary :

CLIMED-FRUIT aims to share knowledge ready for practice, collected from different Operational Groups (OG) across Europe, for a better adaptation to climate change and mitigation, in perennial crops in the Mediterranean Area (grape vine, olive, fruits). The project builds on the results of a core group of 9 OG coordinated by a multi-actor consortium members (advisors, farmer organisations, research and education institutes, standardisation organisation), covering several Mediterranean crops in 7 different countries (France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Serbia). Best practices collected and shared range from (i) soil conservation and carbon storage, (ii) improving resilience of crops facing climatic hazards (frost, hail), (iii) innovative practices for adapting water stress management, (iv) adaption of food chain processes to climate change and diversification, and (v) preserving biodiversity for a better resilience to climate change issues and pests. These groups will share their experience through a combination of innovative digital formats, cross-visits and interactive local dissemination events. In addition, new knowledge and practices will be gathered more widely by organising an open contest. Participants from other European projects, other EIP OGs or even international projects from the Mediterranean area will be invited to propose abstracts. The most applicable solutions will be selected and pitched in a broad online conference. Participants will be invited to rank the best presentations according to cost/benefit ratio, which will then be widely disseminated and shared. Social media channels, videos, podcasts, crowd writing contests will be used to spread the knowledge. Specific editorial partnerships will be established with most popular technical reviews. The network will host a forum to capitalise on existing OG experiences and aims to foster new OGs to spread and explore new practical knowledge in relation to adaptation to climate change.

IFV is the coordinator of the project.

More information :

Home – Climed-Fruit

Contact IFV : Clara Gérardin

Funding : HORIZON-CL6-2021-GOVERNANCE-01-22: Assessing the impacts of digital technologies in agriculture

Duration : 2022-2026

Coordination : University of Pisa

Status IFV : Affiliated entity of ACTA

Summary :

CODECS will (i) produce and provide information on the costs and benefits of digital technologies – assessed at different scales and in real life – to farmers, advisors, and policy makers, (ii) study and create the conditions for increasing capacities of farmers and rural communities to use them, and (iii) build policy recommendations to foster the agricultural digital technologies conducive to sustainable development. CODECS consortium will be devoted to implement policies of reference for this topic, to be achieved through: (i) specific engagement activities as Living Labs at regional, national, European level, (ii) a dedicated work package on policy analysis and policy tools (iii) the establishment of a science-policy interface and a set of policy briefs as a part of the Dissemination, Exploitation, Communication and Outreach strategy. In this way, CODECS aims to contribute to:

• the Green Deal strategy, by aligning digitalisation pathways to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• the “Europe fit for the Digital Age” strategy, by supporting appropriate digital technology development for farming tailored to the needs and to the characteristics of the vast majority of European farmers.
• the “Economy that works for all”, by developing a system-based actor-centred approach to farm digitalisation, which will facilitate digital technology uptake in coherence with sustainability principles.
• the « EU framework to facilitate sustainable investments », by providing a methodology for an assessment of costs and (co-)benefits of digital technology, including a technology assessment grid.

IFV participates in this project by providing activities on its experimental farm “Vinnopole Sud Ouest” in the South West of France.

More information : https://www.horizoncodecs.eu/ 

Contact IFV : Eric Serrano

 Funding :   CL6-2021-GOVERNANCE-01-23: Broaden EIP Operational Group outcomes across borders by means of Thematic networks, compiling and sharing knowledge ready for practice

Duration : 2022 – 2025

Coordination : Agricultural University of Athens (AUA)

Status IFV : Partner

Summary :

Oper8 project will build upon the activities of 8 European Innovation Partnership Agri (EIP Agri) Operational Groups (OG) on non-chemical weed control to create a geographically balanced, multi-actor thematic network across the EU. The selected groups will join forces with the aim to maximise their potential in reaching out to AKIS actors and broaden their outcomes within the EU ecosystem, allowing for resilient agriculture systems to be developed.

Oper8 aims to promote innovative, non-chemical weed control methods and increase the flow of information in the EU by drawing upon concrete demonstration cases and tangible results available from the participating and future OGs. The Oper8 approach is based on the establishment of a Thematic Network involving core AKIS actors (farmers, advisors, researchers, industry representatives) to: (i) connect OGs to each other to render their activities visible; (ii) make collective analysis and adaptation, and scale solutions up to the EU level, and (iii) stimulate a mindset shift towards sustainable farming.

IFV will build on its experience of the “Operational Group Zero herbicides in the Mediterranean area” for the viticulture sector.

More information :
https://www.oper-8.eu/

Contact IFV : Camille Guilbert

Funding : LIFE-2021-SAP-ENV-ENVIRONMENT

Duration : 2022-2026

Coordination : CAVIRO (Italy)

Academic/Research partners: Università degli Studi di Padova, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Institut Français de la Vigne et du Vin
Business/Industry partners: Caviro Extra, Ever, Vinidea

Abstract

• 40% of grape pomace produced in EU wine industry is destinated to a low waste-hierarchy stage (fertilizer or fuel) although the grape seeds are rich in proteins that shall be extracted and revalorized during winemaking process.
• SEEDSPRO2WINE implements one circular business model based on a pioneering & mature-R&D-results industrial process for the extraction of proteins from de-tannificated grape to be exploited as a fining agent in the wine industry and to replace the traditionally-used protein gelatin of animal origin and protein extracts from food crops.
• The system will produce 24 tons/y of proteins by end of the project while 120 tons/y are planned by 2031, covering 17% of Italian protein demand (5% EU).
• A reduction of GHG emission is expected comparing our process with the animal and vegetal-based proteins.

Main project goal

• Promoting one circular-based industrial process, environmentally and economically sustainable and technically feasible, finalized at the extraction of proteins from grape seeds (currently considered as waste and destinated to fertilization and fuel purposes) to be re-valorized as fining agent in the wine clarification in place of raw materials currently used, such as the traditionally-used protein gelatins of animal origin and proteins extracts from food crops.

Specific objectives

• Development, upon the available R&D studies carried on by Università degli Studi di Padova, of one small-scale industrial plant to integrate the extraction process of grape seed proteins into a tannin extraction process already present in CAVIRO company to obtain a final product that can be firstly applied as fining agent for wine industry.
• Reduction of the overall environmental burden / footprint of winemaking process in the transition from traditionally-used protein gelatin of animal origin and protein extracts from food crops to grape seed proteins. In specific, the goal is to find the optimal balance between high-quality protein contents and resources used in the extractions (water, energy, chemicals, etc.).
• Replication of the circular business model experienced by CAVIRO at larger European scale to demonstrate that the technology/approach for proteins extraction and revalorization is – upon certain conditions disclosed by the project – technically feasible and economically sustainable by most of the European winemakers, environmentally less impacting than animal-base proteins clarification process and – overall – in line with healthy and sustainable dietary patterns streamlined by the Farm-to-Fork strategy.

Project duration

48 months – from 01/08/2022 to 31/07/2026

Project website
http://www.seedspro2wine.eu

More information :

Contact IFV : Philippe Cottereau

Total Eligible Budget
€ 4,091,892.00

Project 101074362 – LIFE21 – ENV – IT – SEEDSPRO2WINE is co-funded with the contribution of the European Commission, under the LIFE Program – Circular Economy and Waste – Grant Agreement n. LIFE21-ENV-IT-SEEDSPRO2WINE/101074362

Project Title : Development of eco-sustainable systemic technologies and strategies in key Mediterranean crop systems, contributing to small farming socio-economic resilience.
Funding : PRIMA
Duration : 2022-2025
Coordination : University of Léon (Spain)
Status IFV: Partner

Summary :
SUSTEMICROP’s main objective is to increase resilience of Mediterranean cropping systems and competitiveness of small-scale farming, by developing and implementing systemic eco-sustainable technologies and strategies, adapted to regional particularities, and based on four approaches:

1. functional biodiversity as crop defence by the use of crop residues enriched with Biological Control Agents (biofertilisers)
2. the design and use of bio-pesticides obtained from natural extracts;

• the use of novel and traditional varieties better adapted to climate change’s adverse effects,

1. agricultural practises (overall) sustainability assessment and related digital supporting tools for improving decision-making by small farmers.

SUSTEMICROP will deliver a package of sustainable strategies, products, and tools that, when applied individually or adopted as a whole in an integrated management, will allow small farmers to increase their competitiveness, adopt innovations and achieve overall sustainability, in the project target crops (hop, vineyards (both, wine and table grapes) and date palm).

The consortium is led by University of Leon (Spain) and brings together 10 partners from 7 countries (Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Tunisia, Marocco, Lebanon) and will run from 2022 to 2025.

IFV participate mainly in WP4 lead by INRAE will screen, monitor and test resistant crop varieties that are more resilient and adapted to climatic change conditions in the Mediterranean context. IFV will participate in Screening and monitoring of vineyard varieties for resilience and adaptation to climatic change with or without resistance genes against several fungal diseases (Greece, Lebanon, France)

More specifically, partners will evaluate several grapevine genotypes, for their ability to produce and maintain fruit and wine quality under environmental conditions matching the predicted by Global Climate Change models. In addition, varieties known to resist against downy and powdery mildew will be tested under different climate conditions, and new genotypes from early stage of selection will be tested in different CO2 conditions. The plant material to be tested is (1): genotypes already registered in the grape catalogue, tested for the presence of downy and powdery mildew resistance genes, and other agronomical characters; and (2): others produced in the project, such as genotypes from new crossing aiming at producing vines less demanding in acidity corrections, organoleptically ripe at a lower sugar concentration. Available grafted material will be planted in good growing conditions (before the official start of the project) to produce grape within the 3 years project, or a dwarf model will be used to obtain new material and cultivate it in the new environments within the 3 years period.

IFV will also participate in the following activities :

• WP3 led by INRGREF (National Research Institute of Water, Forests and Rural Engineering – University of Carthage – Tunisia) will formulate new bio-pesticides against diseases based on essential oils and natural extracts from aromatic plants. IFV will analyse the lab efficiency of new Biopesticides from essential oils and extracts of aromatic plants addressing downy and powdery mildew in vineyards.

• WP6 led by UMP (Mohamed I University -Morocco) dedicated to the Sustainability assessment of proposed solutions

More information :

https://sustemicrop.eu/project

Contact IFV : Cédric Moisy

Project Title :
An EU-wide farm network demonstrating and promoting cost-effective IPM strategies

Funding : SFS-06-2018-2020: Stepping up integrated pest management
Duration : 2019-2022
Coordination : INRAE UMR Agroécologie
Status IFV : Third party of ACTA

Summary :
IPMWORKS aims to promote the adoption of Integrated Pest Manament strategies, based on a EU-wide network of farmers, who will both progress further in the adoption of IPM – through peer-to-peer learning and joint efforts – and demonstrate to other farmers that holistic IPM “works”; i.e. allows a low reliance on pesticides with better pest control, reduced costs and enhanced profitability.
IPMWORKS will coordinate existing networks across Europe, promoting IPM and launching new hubs of farms in regions or sectors where IPM pioneers are not yet engaged in a relevant network. Advisors coordinating hubs will have a major role in facilitating knowledge sharing, coaching farmers to find their own IPM solutions, and organising local demonstration activities. IPMWORKS will stimulate access to the ‘IPM Decisions’ platform and provide information on the IPM methods. It will collect data for comparing IPM strategies, and share results and dissemination material through channels widely used by farmers, broadcasting IPM success stories. It will organise training, and produce training material, targeting both farmers outside the network and advisory services, in order to prepare for the future dissemination of the peer-to-peer learning approach and the general adoption of IPM throughout the EU.
IPM Works is coordinated by INRAE UMR Agroécologie, and is implemented by a consortium of 54 partners.
IFV coordinates a hub of European “demo farms” in the viticulture sector, participates in different cross visits link to IPM, and disseminates project’s information and results.

Contact :
David Lafond

Press Release :
Lancement du projet européen H2020 IPMWorks – réduction de l’usage des pesticides (acta.asso.fr)

Project Title :
INTEGRATED NOVEL STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING THE USE AND IMPACT OF PESTICIDES, TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE MEDITERRANEAN VINEYARDS AND OLIVE GROVES

Funding : SFS-04-2019-2020
Duration : 2020-2024
Coordination : IRTA
Status IFV : Partner

Summary :
The DIRECTIVE 2009/128/EC ON THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF PESTICIDES gives directions for attaining the sustainable use of pesticides in the EU. The objective is to minimize risks and impacts for the environment and human health by promoting alternative strategies. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is one of the cornerstones of the Directive. NOVATERRA aims to reduce the use and negative impacts of CONTENTIOUS PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS (PPP) for integrated pest, disease and weed management in the two main Mediterranean crops in Europe: grapevines and olives. NOVATERRA will develop a pool of novel, integrated and sustainable strategies, technically and economically viable, resulting from three different approaches: a) To develop novel combinations of ALTERNATIVE, non-synthetic PRODUCTS and biological control techniques for plant protection, b) To optimize the application and dosage of PPP through SMART FARMING technologies and c) To mitigate the appearance of pest and diseases through the use of new SOIL MANAGEMENT strategies. Those approaches will be evaluated and validated in a combination of integrated solutions for updating and improving IPM strategies. Indicators for measuring the impact of crop management and protection on human health, air, water, soil, biodiversity, energy will be implemented. Further analyses will be done in terms of economic costbenefit for farmers to adopt the different techniques and farmers and consumers’ willingness to pay. The consortium composition will guarantee a multi-actor approach with contributions coming from research institutions, growers, technological SMEs, auxiliary industry and relevant associations. Finally, the Exploitation Plan together with the Communication and Dissemination Plan will ensure the outreach of results among the stakeholders in the European farming sector. NOVATERRA outputs will also be key for further discussion with policymakers in terms of EU plant health policies and risk assessment around PPPs usage.
NOVATERRA is coordinated by IRTA (Food Research and Technology Institute) of Catalunia (Spain) and is implemented by a consortium of 19 partners.
IFV will coordinate a case of study for grapevine in France and will coordinate and implement the testing of new natural alternative plant protection products, biopesticides and biocontrol techniques in the vineyard. IFV will contribute to the assessing of smart farming technologies in field conditions and validating the integration of global solutions for an effective and adapted IPM strategy.

Contact :
Eric Chantelot

Website :
www.novaterraproject.eu

Project Title :
Connecting advisors to boost interactive innovation in agriculture and forestry
Funding : H2020 RUR 16
Duration : 2019-2024
Coordination : Assemblée Permanente des Chambres d’Agricultures (APCA)
Status IFV: Third party of ACTA

Summary :
The i2connect project aims to fuel the competencies of advisors who will support and facilitate interactive innovation processes responding to multiple challenges in European agriculture and forestry. This facilitation requires awareness, new tools and methods, motivational and organisational approaches for advisors. The strategy in i2connect is to use the existing advisor networks and the experiences of success in different contexts to create a broader network and momentum of change enabling a new culture of bottom up led innovation support. This resource of over 40,000 advisors are critical actors supporting agriculture and forestry on the ground and must be influenced in this project to support interactively innovation with particular emphasis on EIP 2020 target of 3,500 operational groups and beyond.
The i2connect consortium is composed of 24 beneficiaries from 16 European countries.
IFV’s will participate in cross visit activities and will provide and supporting adequate training material for advisors in the field of viticulture and enology.

Website :
https://i2connect-h2020.eu/

Video :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlGW8FkNdU0

Contact :
Eric Serrano

Acronyme : GRAPEBREED4IPM
Project Title : Developing sustainable solutions for viticulture through multi-actor innovation targeting breeding for integrated pest management
Funding : HORIZON-CL6-2023-BIODIV-01-14
Duration : 2024-2028
Coordination : INRAE
Status IFV: Partner

Summary :
According to the World Economic Forum and the European Union’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse are major threats facing humanity in the next decade. Massive consumption of chemical pesticides in agriculture is a significant contributing factor. Viticulture  ranks high among the crops that depend on a massive consumption of chemical pesticides, consuming approximately sixty percent of the fungicides applied in the EU, making it a priority target for reducing the use of chemical plant protection products. At the same time, grapevine is economically and culturally important in the EU, with wine being the largest EU agri-food sector.

Recent advances and new perspectives in grapevine breeding have opened the possibility for GrapeBreed4IPM to address the reduction of fungicides and preserve biodiversity. Lessons learned from past experience in viticulture have shown that success in improving sustainability relies on global involvement of all actors. Therefore, we brought together the top European research groups in grapevine breeding and involved different stakeholders along the grapevine industry value chain in a multi-actor and co-design approach to produce the best insights for maximum impact. The project will develop grapevine varieties with resistance to relevant diseases, adapted to local environmental and pedoclimatic conditions, and with the goal of reducing reliance on chemical pesticides.

In addition, the project will provide farmers, winegrowers and advisers with best practices and guidelines for integrated pest management, adapted to disease-resistant varieties, as ingredients for their largest possible adoption and leading to a long-awaited more environmentally friendly and sustainable viticulture in Europe. The project’s outcomes will support evolution of the grapevine market to meet regulatory requirements and consumer expectations, a market that is expected to reach nearly EUR 204 billion by 2025.
The consortium is led by INRAE and brings together 21 partners.

IFV participates in the creation of resistant varieties, the monitoring of the resistances, and the dissemination to the wine industry.

More information

Contact IFV
Benoit Laurent

Illustrations

Acronyme : VINIRRIG
Project Title : Teaching vine irrigation from theory to practice
Funding : Erasmus
Duration : 2023-2026
Coordination : IFV

Summary :
Objectives: What do you want to achieve by implementing the project?
Climate change is impacting the four more important wine producing countries in EU over two key aspects: more and more vineyards need water for sustaining their activity, while water resources are becoming scarcer. The project aims to develop a set of tools for the teaching and dissemination of good practices for vineyards irrigation, mitigating the impact of climate change on the economic viability of wine production through the sustainable use of water resources.

Implementation: What activities are you going to implement?

The project will develop two main outcomes to provide training answering simple questions raised by end users of irrigation in viticulture, both new and experienced farmers or advisors. First, an e-learning course of 20 hours available in 4 languages with 6 main chapters; second, a field training course provided in a network of exemplary farms, showing best irrigation practices complementary to the e-learning. These courses will be enriched with trainees panel feedbacks and experts validation.

Results: What project results and other outcomes do you expect your project to have?

VINIRRIG will develop a methodological framework to gain skills and adapt practices for facing climate change and reduce the water footprint thanks to an e-learning, a Network of Best Irrigation Practices Vineyards and the assessment and dissemination guides. VINIRRIG will be available to advisors and end-users for a minimum of 8 years and will develop a methodology to encourage the dissemination of “VINIRRIG knowledge” across Europe.

More information

Contact IFV
Thierry Dufourcq

Illustrations :

Acronyme : STELLA
Project Title : Harnessing the power of digital technologies to protect plants & the environnement
Funding : HORIZON-CL6-2023-GOVERNANCE-01-16
Duration : 2024-2027
Coordination : Agricultural University of Athens (AUA)
Status IFV : Partner

Summary
This European project, initiated by the University of Athens, is based on a multi-actor approach. The project brings together 14 partners from eight countries. Complementarity of structure types and skills is an important point for the project.

What are the aims of the project?
The project aims to test digital tools for epidemiosurveillance and the integration of these data into a centralized platform that will be the STELLA pest surveillance system. The tools will be applied to various quarantine and regulated pathogens.

What is IFV’s role?
IFV is responsible for a vineyard case study, in Alsace, on leafroll virus and bois noir. Several pest monitoring techniques will be tested, such as connected traps for vectors. Other tools will also be tested, such as the use of satellite data, citizen participation applications and proxi-detection.

More information
https://stella-pss.eu/

Contact IFV
Celine Abidon

Illustrations

Acronyme : VTskills
Project Title : Cooperation for Upskilling and building Regional Ecosystems in sustainable precision viticulture
Funding :  ERASMUS-EDU-2023-PI-ALL-INNO-EDU-ENT
Duration : 2024-2026
Coordination : University of Seville (Spain)

Summary :
VTskills is a project focused on viticulture in the Mediterranean region. It includes four universities, three VET institutions, and seven labour market actors. The consortium’s aim is to promote the adoption of environmentally, socially, and economically responsible practices in the viticulture industry. The project’s goals align with those of the Green Deal, PAC, Farm to Fork, and Biodiversity strategies. Sustainable Precision Viticulture (SPV) combines Precision Agriculture and organic farming, enabling efficient technological use while maintaining a healthy agricultural environment. The project will create a new, transnational curriculum in viticulture studies that offers digital, green, and resilience skills to train HEI students, VET learners, consultants, managers, technicians, and farmers on SPV.

The main activities of the project will begin by identifying the primary digital, green, and resilience/entrepreneurial skills that are missing in the viticulture industry. Research will use NLP and data-mining techniques and will be validated through an extensive investigation with farmers. Partners will then design a new curriculum for SPV that is tailored to the needs of HEIs and VETs. The training courses will use a micro-credentials approach, will be tested in partner organisations and will involve HEI learners (EQF-6), VET learners (EQF-5), farmers/ workers, and consultants. Finally, in WP5, partners will design and test the VTskills e-demofarm, a new model of demofarm that features three primary components: formative (delivering challenge-based learning educational experiences), informative (referring to events and EU-funding opportunities that might benefit farmers), and demonstrative (virtualizing good practices already carried out by farmers).

Effective and efficient communication strategies will enable the project to gain visibility and reach 20,000 relevant actors throughout EuroNew skills and enhanced synergies for sustainable precision viticulture.

More information

Contact IFV
Eric Serrano

Illustrations : 

Acronyme :VITISAD II
Project Title :Sustainable winegrowing strategies and practices for climate change adaptation
Funding :INTERREG POCTEFA
Duration : 2024-2027
Coordination : IFV
Status IFV: COORDINATOR

Summary :

The general aim of the VITISAD II project is to integrate adaptation to climate change into the agronomic practices of vineyards in the POCTEFA area (the European cooperation zone of the INTERREG program located in the Franco-Spanish Pyrenees) by defining common strategies and action plans.  

The work will involve i) testing a selection of planting material from a first program for tolerance to water and heat stress, and ii) testing the combination of practices to regulate the vine’s water status and limit soil erosion (mulch/mulching, underground irrigation, plant cover, vine shading, etc.). 

Finally, beyond agronomic and environmental expectations, iii) the practices will be effective from the point of view of their acceptability to public policies and civil society (development priorities, the place of the vine in the territorial project, water use strategies, etc.); it will also be necessary to identify the barriers and levers for their implementation by professionals in the sector, and finally to gather the consumer’s appreciation. The aim is to raise awareness of the risks and challenges facing the wine industry.   

The transfer of agronomic strategies to the profession is planned via various actions and media in the POCTEFA region (study trips, videos, conferences, etc.).  

IFV is coordinating this project, which involves 4 other partners on either side of the Pyrenees:
Pyrénées Atlantiques Chamber of Agriculture (France)
NEIKER: Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario (Spain)
Government of La Rioja: Dirección General de Agricultura y Ganadería del Gobierno de La Rioja (Spain)

More information
https://www.vitisad.eu/vitisad-2/

Contact IFV
Carole Fleihes

Illustrations

Acronyme : OENOPROT
Project Title : New digital and protein engineering technologies in winemaking processes to meet the challenges of the wine sector in the POCTEFA region
Funding :INTERREG POCTEFA
Duration : 2024-2027
Coordination : IFV

Summary :

The wine industry in the POCTEFA region (an INTERREG cooperation zone centered on the Pyrenees) is facing major challenges. Climate change is leading to increased water stress and shorter grape ripening times. Efforts to mitigate these effects are mainly focused on cultivation methods, but winemaking processes will also have to adapt to new situations. 

The overall aim of the project is to develop new winemaking technologies through the multidisciplinary integration of protein engineering, design engineering, ohmic methodologies and artificial intelligence, in order to meet the challenges facing the wine sector in the POCTEFA region. 

The project will integrate the relevant players on both sides of the border, bring together technology development centers and facilitate the transfer of innovative and sustainable solutions for wine production, in order to increase the competitiveness of the territory and the European Union.

 The project is coordinated by the University of Zaragoza (Spain).

More information

Contact IFV
Carole Fleihes

Illustrations

Acronyme : ECOSPHEREWINES
Project Title : Improving ecosystem services in vineyard landscapes with high ecological value
Funding : INTERREG POCTEFA
Duration : 2024-2026
Status IFV : Partner

Summary :

The ECOSPHEREWINES project focuses on improving vine-growing landscapes, a fundamental economic and tourism resource in the SUDOE area (the INTERREG program cooperation zone covering South-West Europe: Spain, France, Portugal), particularly in inland areas affected by depopulation and ageing, where preserving natural and environmental capital is crucial for rural communities. 

The aim of the project is to improve the ecosystem services provided by vineyard landscapes through the implementation of a network of green infrastructure in areas of high ecological value, as part of a strategy focused on their conservation and sustainable management, enhancing biodiversity and increasing their resilience to climate change.  

The ecosystem services approach to land-use planning has already proved to be an effective method for sustainable planning and management, particularly in urban areas. However, the application of this method in rural areas is hampered by a lack of specific data. 

To meet this challenge, the project will analyze the state of the art at different landscape scales, identify the drivers and barriers to its implementation in vineyard landscapes, and design and test in pilot projects a methodology for selecting, calculating, measuring and mapping the most relevant ecosystem services at different scales. 

This work will enable scenarios to be drawn up for management decisions in winegrowing landscapes with similar characteristics, and solutions tested to be transferred and capitalized on at transnational level, in order to develop a more global and holistic management approach that enhances biodiversity, the environment and tourism and cultural services in rural areas of the SUDOE region.

The project is coordinated by the Juana de Vega Foundation. This organization is a private, non-profit foundation whose aim is to channel development opportunities into Galicia’s rural environment through research, training, dissemination and knowledge transfer.

More information

Contact IFV
Fanny Prezman

Illustrations