Project description

Grape production is among the most economically important agricultural activities in the Mediterranean region. In the context of climate change and increased consciousness of the negative environmental and public health impacts of agricultural activities (e.g. pesticide application), there is an increasing emphasis on the development of sustainable agricultural approaches in viticulture.

Climate change is also influencing the availability of water resources, which combined with a growing world population, is increasing competition for water. Therefore, the conservation of freshwater resources, through the use of non-conventional sources of water (e.g. reclaimed wastewater) for agriculture, is an increasingly relevant alternative. On the other hand, sustainability is also threatened by pollution, and pesticide reduction (or even elimination) represents a primary goal for attaining sustainability in viticulture.

The EnViRoS project aims to enhance the environmental sustainability of the wine-grape production system. Specifically, the project is focused on the optimization of the water inputs for irrigation, the introduction of new salinity-tolerant rootstocks able to ameliorate grapevine performance in saline soils and when irrigation uses recycled water, and the introduction of new fungal disease-resistant grapevine hybrids.

All these goals have real, tangible socioeconomic impacts that will positively influence the profitability and sustainability of grape production, and the health and well-being of vineyard workers and the surrounding communities.