The Hungarian partners of the international LIFE VineAdapt project welcomed a prominent guest. Minister President Dr Reiner Haseloff had the research conducted by the Institute of Organic Agriculture ÖMKI explained to him. The scientists were able to prove that wild bees, for example, are significantly more likely to be found in vineyards with flower strips. At the meeting in Budapest, Isabel Reuter, project coordinator at Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt, also presented further project results. The Minister President also had a dialogue with a local winegrower who is involved in the project.

Our photo:
Seed mixtures for flower strips in vineyards were shown to Minister President Dr Reiner Haseloff in Budapest (from left to right: Robert Zeßner, German Embassy in Hungary; Isabel Reuter, Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH; Minister President Dr Reiner Haseloff; Dr Tamás Miglécz, Dr László Mezőfi, both ÖMKI; State Secretary Dr Jürgen Ude; Dr Dóra Drexler, Head of ÖMKI; Zoltán Szoboszlay, winegrower)

The Central German wine industry met in Naumburg at the beginning of February 2024. Around 100 winegrowers and representatives from associations and politics, such as Sven Schulze, Minister of Economics, Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry of Saxony-Anhalt, learnt about current developments in viticulture in the region. Oliver Brand from Landesweingut Kloster Pforta presented the LIFE VineAdapt project - sustainable viticulture to adapt to climate change - at an information stand. Among other things, the winegrowers were interested in the regional seed mixtures that are being sown in the alleys of the experimental vineyards as part of the project. Oliver Brand therefore also handed out small sowing samples as a test, which were gladly taken away.

Future TecDay is a specialist conference for new technologies in viticulture. Around 60 students and practitioners attended the diverse presentations at the State Teaching and Research Centre for Viticulture and Fruit Growing in Weinsberg in January 2024. Jens Eckner from Landesweingut Kloster Pforta and Janik Schäfer from Anhalt University of Applied Sciences were also there. They presented the LIFE VineAdapt project - sustainable viticulture to adapt to climate change. Interesting discussions also took place on the other presentation topics, such as experiences from the field of agricultural PV and PS robots and the use of drones in viticulture.

We wish everyone a good start to the new year 2024! A new calendar from the LifeVineAdapt project is available. Impressive photos show the diversity of flora and fauna in the project vineyards. 

Click here for the 2024 calendar.

Partners of the LIFE VineAdapt project have published a scientific article entitled Effect of spontaneous vegetation on beneficial arthropods in mediterranean vineyards. The article is available in the section Material > Scientific contributions.

The French project partners from the University of Avignon and the Marrenon wine cooperative organized a varied excursion for the guests from Hungary and Germany. In addition to visiting selected greening and irrigation trial areas, the program also included a visit to the winery in Bonnieux and the Marrenon wine cooperative in La Tour-d'Aigues. Besides, winemaker Romain Doll provided insights into his work and farm philosophy, which focuses on soil conservation.

Also part of the excursion was a course with the financial expert Barbora Patockova of the company Ernst & Young, commissioned by the EU, as well as a discussion on the current project status. In the last months, among other things, all the information boards and signs were installed, the complete database of demonstration sites was put online, the label "Biodiverse Winegrowing" was presented and the socio-economic surveys were completed. In addition, the partners presented the project at several international conferences, amongst others in Australia and Greece.

The 27 partner wineries of the LIFE VineAdapt project are now online under "Locations". For some wineries, links lead to their websites for further information. We very much appreciate that the wineries are part of the project and make their land available for project activities such as the greening of vineyard alleys, research into alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides and to mineral fertiliser as well as different irrigation methods. Finally, for biodiversity- and climate-friendly viticulture, adaptation of management is essential.

In addition, the website has been restructured in some places. Under the heading "News", for example, an archive was added that contains older news articles. The project goal, expected results and the description of the work packages are now centrally located under "Project". The complete project material, whether flyers, Power Point presentations or scientific contributions, is clearly arranged under "Material". The contacts of the project partners are listed under "Partners". We are looking forward to questions, suggestions and perhaps a closer cooperation and wish all users a lot of reading pleasure and interesting insights into our project! 

Many visitors found their way to the Landesweingut Kloster Pforta for the open wine cellar days on the first weekend in August 2023. Two representatives of the LIFE VineAdapt project were also on site. Lena Schober and Isabel Reuter from the Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt again conducted surveys on the project. Even the wine princesses Paula Löber (Bad Kösen) and Lea-Michelle Poppendicker (Großjena) answered the questions and thus contributed to the evaluation and further development of the project. The survey runs until 27.08.2023! You can participate here: 

If you live in the Saale-Unstrut region (i.e. in the Burgenlandkreis, Saalekreis, in Bad Sulza or in Dornburg-Camburg), follow this link: https://arcg.is/0jyavO 

If you are a guest of the Saale-Unstrut region (i.e. do not live in the Burgenlandkreis, Saalekreis, in Bad Sulza or in Dornburg-Camburg), follow this link: https://arcg.is/10ejKn1

The new label "Biodiverse Viticulture" of the LIFE VineAdapt project may be used by winegrowers who sow certified and regionally adapted wild plant mixtures in the vineyard alleys. For all those who enjoy wine, it offers guidance when choosing a wine and creates transparency. Because by buying wines that carry the label, they support climate- and biodiversity-friendly viticulture.

At the presentation of the new label on the Eulauer Heideberg, Naumburg's mayor Armin Müller was delighted that flowering strips now also increase biodiversity in the vineyards. Project coordinator from the Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt Isabel Reuter added: "The greening of vineyard alleys with wild plant mixtures has several advantages. It protects the soil from erosion, e.g. during heavy rainfall, and from drying out. In addition, wild plants such as corn poppy, chicory and agrimony attract insects that attack pests in the vineyard." Jens Eckner from the Landesweingut Kloster Pforta pointed out that the wild plant mixture is specially adapted to the Saale-Unstrut region. The robust plants do not take any water off the wine. Janik Schäfer from the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, which is also involved in the project, confirmed that there are significantly more insects in vineyards that have been planted with vegetation in this way. 

In the Saale-Unstrut region, around 20 winegrowers are involved in the project, in addition to the Kloster Pforta state winery. They offer their vineyards for sowing and accompany the measures. With the new free label, they can now point out their commitment. Bottle tags are available, but also a digital version of the logo, which can be printed on labels and published on the internet. In addition, a leaflet is available to raise awareness of the project among other winegrowers and to inform wine lovers about the new label. Bottle tags and leaflets are also available in the languages of the other project partners, who use them to award the participating wineries in their respective countries.

If winegrowers are interested, they can contact Jens Eckner from the Landesweingut Kloster Pforta (phone: 034463 30021, e-mail: eckner(at)kloster-pforta.de).

Click here for the BLK Regional TV report on the occasion of the presentation of the new label: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50Z-oJXteXk

The international LIFE VineAdapt project is investigating how viticulture can adapt to climate change. Frequent droughts in summer, short, heavy rainfalls and the immigration of new pests require solutions. The LIFE VineAdapt project aims to help make viticulture fit for climate change. The links take you to a short survey on the project. The survey is in German.

If you live in the Saale-Unstrut region (i.e. in the Burgenlandkreis, Saalekreis, in Bad Sulza or in Dornburg-Camburg), follow this link: https://arcg.is/0jyavO

If you are a guest of the Saale-Unstrut region (i.e. do not live in the Burgenlandkreis, Saalekreis, in Bad Sulza or in Dornburg-Camburg), follow this link: https://arcg.is/10ejKn1

Thank you for supporting the evaluation and further development of the international research project of the Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH and seven other project partners with your answers!

For many, it is simply part of Whitsun: the wine mile between Bad Kösen and Naumburg. About 20,000 people make their way from winery to winery every year. The walk is combined with the enjoyment of regional wines and a colorful entertainment program.

A fixed stop on the wine mile is the Landesweingut Kloster Pforta. Johanna Weinreiter and Isabel Reuter from the Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH were present there this year to ask guests' opinions about the LIFE VineAdapt project. The answers will be used for the evaluation and further development of the project. Among other things, it is about the level of knowledge and attitudes of the guests to the measures implemented in the project.

The guests could participate online or also by printed questionnaire. The questionnaires will also be available to the general public shortly.

Warmer winters, hot and dry summers, local heavy rainfall: winegrowers also have to deal with the challenges of climate change. Earlier budbreak after a mild winter, for example, poses the threat of late frost, which can cause considerable damage to the vines. During long dry periods, they are more often under drought stress, which results in less berries forming, and other problems. Heavy rain can wash away the soil and an overall milder climate favours the immigration of new pests.

The international LIFE VineAdapt project aims to provide practical insights to make viticulture fit for climate change. Increasing biodiversity and adapting vineyard management are crucial for this. Eight practice and research partners from Germany, France, Austria and Hungary have joined forces in the project. It is co-financed with funds from the European environmental programme LIFE and the Ministry of Economics, Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry of Saxony-Anhalt. The Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH acts as coordinating partner.

The interim results of the project were recently presented at an international workshop in Saxony-Anhalt. In addition, prominent experts gave a wide range of presentations on sustainable viticulture. In addition, winegrowers and representatives of winegrowing associations, scientific institutions and authorities finally worked out recommendations for climate-adapted viticulture.

Read more...

After the informative presentation on 19.04.2023, work will now continue on the basis of the insights gained. In the next step, winegrowers, representatives of winegrowing associations, scientists and decision-makers will develop recommendations for climate-adapted and biodiversity-friendly viticulture in Europe. Interested parties who could not attend the first part are also welcome! At the beginning of the workshop, the presentations will be briefly summarised. The main topics will be the greening of vineyards, different fertilisation methods, alternatives to chemical-synthetic pesticides, irrigation and the ecosystem services of vineyards.

The event starts on Wednesday, 26.04.2023, 10.00 a.m. at the Landesweingut Kloster Pforta in Bad Kösen (Saalberge 73) and lasts until about 3.00 p.m.. Click here for the programme. Registration is possible by e-mail at reuter.i@lgsa.de.

In Hungary, the second part of the Midterm Workshop will take place on Friday, 28.04.2023 at Eszterházy Wine Estate in Eger. In Austria, the event is scheduled for Saturday, 06.05.2023 at the Landesweingut Silberberg in Leibnitz. In France, it will take place on Thursday, 11.05.2023 at the cave viticole de Bonnieux.

The technical presentations that were presented at the first part of the Mid-term Workshop are now available on this website under Material.