Sustainable Viticulture for Climate Change Adaptation (LIFE VineAdapt)

Viticulture is one of the most intensive forms of agricultural land use. It will be strongly affected by climate change impacts in the near future. These impacts, including an increase in periods of drought in summer, a higher soil erosion risk due to short heavy rainfalls, and the invasion of new pests, need innovative solutions. 

In this context, the LIFE VineAdapt project aims to help improve the resilience of vineyard ecosystems to climatic changes by increasing their biodiversity and adapting their management. This approach maximises related ecosystem services provision, in particular regarding pest control, soil biota, humification (soil organic content), erosion protection, water retention, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. LIFE VineAdapt builds on the findings of the predecessor project LIFE VinEcoS. Existing knowledge is exploited to demonstrate resource-saving and climate-adapted vineyard management practices (e.g. resource-efficient fertilization and demand-orientated drip irrigation).

Demonstration and pilot actions within the project aim to evaluate, optimise and disseminate biodiversity management methods based on an ecosystem-based approach for vineyards on a transnational level, adopting them into wider practice. The sites are located in Germany (Saale-Unstrut), France (Luberon), Austria (Styra) and Hungary (Eger / Tokaj).