Climate change is significantly affecting agriculture in the Mediterranean region, especially perennial crops such as vines. To address these challenges, the European Climed-Fruit project seeks to collect and disseminate practical knowledge that is ready for implementation, with the aim of improving climate change adaptation and mitigation in this sector.
The project is led by a multidisciplinary consortium that includes consultants, farmers’ associations, research institutes, educational and training institutions, and a standardisation body. Climed-Fruit draws on the results obtained by nine Operational Groups (OGs) across Europe and aims to enable the direct transfer of knowledge between researchers and professionals in the sector.
Among the practices compiled by Climed-Fruit, we highlight four innovative solutions applicable to the wine sector, which have proven effective in improving the resilience of vineyards to extreme weather conditions. The practices described are included in ‘’Factsheets’ and ‘’Digital Stories’ (short videos), which specify their origin, offer technical advice for their application and include a simplified analysis of the corresponding costs and benefits.
Next, we present the second of the four selected solutions:
Green manure in Mediterranean viticulture
The use of green manure in Mediterranean vineyards is a key strategy for improving soil health and increasing its water retention capacity. This practice, developed by the GASCOGN’INNOV operational group, consists of sowing specific plant species between the rows of vines, which are then incorporated into the soil as organic matter.
The benefits include improved soil fertility, increased biodiversity in the vineyard ecosystem, and greater resistance to erosion. In addition, green manure can act as a natural barrier against water stress, helping to maintain soil moisture during periods of drought.
For further technical advice and to learn more about the work carried out on this topic by the GASCOGN’INNOV task force, coordinated by the IFV, please refer to the dedicated fact sheet and explanatory video:
