Results of viticulture project presented in Freyburg
More than 60 representatives from winegrowing practice, science, associations and authorities recently came together at the Weinberghotel Edelacker in Freyburg (Unstrut). The occasion was the presentation of the results of the international viticulture project LIFE VineAdapt, which is now coming to a successful end after five years. Since 2020, the eight project partners from France, Austria, Hungary and Germany have been investigating how viticulture can adapt to climate change.
In his welcoming address, State Secretary Gert Zender from the Ministry for Economy, Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry of the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt emphasised that winegrowers are well aware of the need to adapt to climate change. He described the LIFE VineAdapt project as a ‘stroke of luck’ for the Saale-Unstrut region. It is about practical solutions that the state of Saxony-Anhalt would like to continue to promote and support.
Among other things, the project partners researched the greening of vineyard alleys with flowering wild plants, alternatives to mineral fertilisation and chemical-synthetic pesticides as well as various irrigation methods. In all project regions, there were more plant species in the vineyards planted with wild plants than in the control vineyards. These plants attracted significantly more wild bees and beneficial insects, particularly in Germany. However, appropriate care management is important. There were no differences in yield and grape quality between the biodiverse and the control vineyards.
In the under-vine area, mechanical soil cultivation using a mower with a brush attachment proved to be the most effective and economical alternative to the use of herbicides. There were few differences between mineral and organic fertilisation methods, e. g. in terms of grape health. In France, irrigation led to less coverage of the vineyard alleys with flowering plants, which is why beneficial insects that depend on flowers, such as ladybirds, were less common in the irrigated vineyards. Soil organisms, however, benefited from the irrigation.
The participants were given a practical insight into the establishment and maintenance of a biodiversity vineyard during an excursion to the Pfortenser Köppelberg vineyard at the Kloster Pforta state winery. Vineyard manager Dietrich Frank and his colleague Anne Hauschild demonstrated the appropriate techniques for preparing the soil and sowing. Dr Daniel Elias and Lea Sieg from Anhalt University of Applied Sciences explained the plant and animal species that have been identified as well as the care management. Project coordinator Isabel Reuter from Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH added: ‘In all partner countries, winegrowers were trained in corresponding workshops and excursions. And visitors to the project regions will find information boards in the vineyards that draw attention to the project.’
In addition to the Saale-Unstrut wine-growing region, the project area includes the French wine-growing region of Luberon, the Austrian wine-growing region of Südsteiermark and the Hungarian wine-growing region of Eger/Tokaj. The project is funded by the European environmental programme LIFE and the Ministry for Economy, Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry of the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt. Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH acts as the coordinating partner.
If you have any questions about biodiversity-promoting viticulture, please contact Dietrich Frank at the Kloster Pforta state winery (phone: 034463 30021, e-mail: frank(at)kloster-pforta.de).
Photos: © Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH