Project description
Breeding and pest management approaches to increase viticulture resilience
The EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030 aims to preserve nature and reverse ecosystem degradation due to climate change. Although viticulture represents an essential component of the EU’s agro-industrial economy, it is seriously challenged by the high use of agrochemicals and the increased risk of biodiversity loss. In this context, the EU-funded SHIELD4GRAPE project will implement sustainable agro-ecological methods to enhance viticulture resilience against pest diseases exacerbated by the ongoing climate scenario. The project will exploit grapevine biodiversity and use new breeding techniques, mutagenesis, and demonstration fields in major EU regions to improve the efficacy of applied integrated pest management protocols. SHIELD4GRAPE supports farmers, researchers and actors in value chains, promotes eco-friendly strategies, and safeguards vineyards, farmers and consumers.
Objective
Climate change and environmental degradation have been challenging Europe and the whole world. The EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 is a comprehensive, ambitious and long-term plan to preserve nature and reverse the ecosystem degradation. Grapevine (Vitis spp.) is one of the major fruit crops worldwide, and although viticulture is a leading sector of the EU agro-industrial economy, it is the cropping system with the highest use of agrochemicals and with a high risk of biodiversity loss. SHIELD4GRAPE (S4G) will adopt sustainable agroecological approaches addressed to improve the resilience of the viticultural system against pest diseases in a context of climate change. The S4G consortium brings together the best excellences in the sector; it is multi- and interdisciplinary, collaborative and well representative of different EU biogeographical regions. S4G will i) exploit grapevine biodiversity and identify new resilience traits; ii) implement breeding activities, including new breeding techniques and mutagenesis, iii) introduce safer and more sustainable strategies against pathogens. Demonstration fields will be set up in all the most important EU regions interested in viticulture to improve the efficacy of applied integrated pest management protocols in combination with the new resilient genotypes. S4G aims to support farmers and researchers, to provide advisory services and actors in value chains by establishing an interrelated community that will facilitate exchange of knowledge and of the best practices at different levels and socio-economic resilience. S4G impacts will add value to the wine heritage of the EU regions by reducing chemical treatments (at least by 50%), using strategies that are less hazardous to the environment and favouring beneficial organisms. S4G will contribute to safeguard the territory (particularly those areas with a high concentration of vineyards), human health, farmers, the population living in grape-growing areas and consumers
Fields of science
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticultureviticulture
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagricultureagronomyplant protection
- agricultural sciencesagricultural biotechnologyagricultural genetics
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiodiversity conservation
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagricultureagronomyplant breeding
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
00185 Roma
Italy
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Participants (16)
113 63 ATHENS
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546 36 THESSALONIKI
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12050 Castagnito
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
26006 La Rioja
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
28006 Madrid
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30150 La Alberca
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1749 016 Lisbon
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
1749-016 Lisboa
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00184 Roma
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21006 Dijon
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205 00 NEMEA
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
2950-206 Palmela
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1077 Nicosia
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
21078 DIJON
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2780 157 Oeiras
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10121 Torino
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Partners (1)
7622 Pecs
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