Sustainable viticulture to adapt to climate change (LIFE VineAdapt)

Viticulture is an intensive form of agriculture that will be severely affected by the impacts of climate change in the near future. An increase in summer droughts, a high risk of erosion due to heavy rainfall, and the arrival of new pests require innovative solutions. We expect that an ecosystem-based approach, based on a significant increase in biodiversity and improved vineyard management, will improve the ability of the vineyard ecosystem to cope with natural extremes and make the system more resilient to climate change.

Eight research and practice partners from Austria, France, Germany, and Hungary will pool existing knowledge within and outside the project group to demonstrate, optimize, and disseminate resource-efficient vineyard management practices adapted to climate change. The main objective is to increase native biodiversity in vineyards in order to maximize the associated ecosystem services in terms of pest control, soil organisms, humification, erosion control, water storage, and greenhouse gas reduction, and to secure production. The positive effects of increased biodiversity on grapevines and ecosystem services are obvious, but the transfer of knowledge into viticultural practice is not yet complete and is being pursued as part of the project’s public relations work. Resource-conserving methods for reducing climate-related stress in grapevines include resource-efficient fertilization and demand-oriented drip irrigation. Greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by reducing fertilizer use and machine passes. Conventional herbicides are to be replaced in conventionally managed vineyards by changing the management practices of the under-vine vegetation.

The project will convert 26 vineyards with a total area of approximately 35 hectares into biodiversity vineyards, covering a broad geographical and climatic gradient that will enable the project results to be transferred to other wine-growing regions and countries. Various methods of knowledge transfer, aimed at different interest groups, are intended to raise awareness in all project regions, as well as in other wine-growing regions, of the importance of applying climate-adapted and biodiversity-friendly methods, thus effectively transferring the project results into European wine-growing practice.

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Project priorities

• Work package 1: Establishment and effects of biodiversity vineyards
• Work package 2: Alternative methods of understock management
• Work package 3: Alternative fertilization options
• Work package 4: Resource-efficient irrigation
• Work package 5: Transnational assessment of ecosystem services in vineyards

Project region

Germany (Saale-Unstrut), France (Luberon),
Austria (Styria), Hungary (Eger/Tokaj)

Further project details

• Planting and effects of biodiversity vineyards

  Work package C1 aims to establish natural vegetation in the vineyard rows by sowing a mixture of native wild plants from certified, regional propagation that is suitable for the location. We expect positive effects in terms of plant species diversity and wild bees, an increase in pest antagonists, reduced soil erosion, higher soil fertility, improved soil structure, and water storage capacity. It is expected that the interaction of various effects will increase the resilience of the vineyard ecosystem. Wild bees and pest antagonists will serve as key indicators for a successful conversion to biodiversity vineyards.

  Responsible: Anhalt University of Applied Sciences

  

  

• Alternative methods of understock management

  In work package C2, chemical synthetic herbicide treatments in the understock area are to be replaced by more biodiversity-friendly understock management. A comparison of mechanical cultivation, treatment with acetic acid, and treatment with pelargonic acid is planned. The effects of the different measures on the vegetation in the understock area and in the aisles, as well as the suitability of the different variants for the colonization of typical vineyard geophytes, will be recorded.

  Responsible : Höhere Bundeslehr- und Forschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft Raumberg-Gumpenstein

• Alternative fertilization options

  Work package C3 will test alternatives to surface fertilization. The plan is to compare underfloor storage directly next to the rows of vines and to compare mineral and organic fertilization. The effects of the different fertilization methods on vegetation, soil, vines, and economic efficiency will be quantified.

  Responsible: Landesweingut Kloster Pforta

• Resource-saving irrigation

  Work package C4 focuses on resource-efficient irrigation with the aim of reducing drought-related stress on grapevines. In a trial facility, the effects of above-ground and underground drip irrigation on the vines will be compared. This will involve, among other things, investigations of leaf water potential, chlorophyll content, harvest yield, and grape quality. In addition, possible negative effects of irrigation on above-ground and underground biodiversity will also be evaluated.

  Responsible: University of Avignon

• Transnational assessment of ecosystem services in vineyards

  Work package C5 includes a detailed assessment of ecosystem services in vineyards, a cost-benefit analysis, and a transnational review of project indicators, which should lead to an overall assessment of the project’s impact, with particular emphasis on adaptation to climate change.

  Responsible: Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt