Survey assessing different practices for mechanical winter pruning in Southern France vineyards

Agri-photovoltaics (apv) describes the dual use of an agricultural area for food production and solar power generation. There are already a number of systems in operation around the world with various crops and under a wide range of different set-ups. In large parts, they still allow mechanical cultivation and other positive side effects of an APV system were observed in addition to the increase in utilization in the form of electricity and food: effects on the water balance and passive protection against extreme weather events.

The Earth’s system is undergoing major changes through a wide range of spatial and temporal scales as a response to growing anthropogenic radiative forcing, which is pushing the whole system far beyond its natural variability. Sources of greenhouse gases largely exceed their sinks, thus leading to a strengthened greenhouse effect. More energy is thereby being supplied to the system, with inevitable shifts in climatic patterns and weather regimes. Over the last decades, these modifications have been manifested in the full statistical distributions of the atmospheric variables, with dramatic changes in the frequency and intensity of extremes. Natural hazards, such as severe droughts, floods, forest fires, or heatwaves, are being triggered by extreme atmospheric events worldwide, thus threatening human activities. Viticultculture is not only exposed to changing climates but is also highly vulnerable, as grapevine phenology and physiological development are strongly controlled by atmospheric conditions. Therefore, the assessment of climate change projections for a given region is critical for climate change adaptation and risk reduction in viticulture. By adopting timely and suitable measures, the future sustainability and resiliency of the sector can be fostered. Climate-grapevine chain modelling is an essential tool for better planning and management. However, the accuracy of the resulting projections is limited by many uncertainties that must be duly taken into account when transferring knowledge to stakeholders and decision-makers. Climate-smart viticulture will comprise ensembles of locally tuned strategies, envisioning both adaptation and mitigation, assisted by emerging technologies and decision-support systems.

Increasingly pronounced climate changes, including prolonged drought periods, pose a significant challenge to the cultivation of table grape varieties.

Growing fungus-tolerant cultivars (PIWIs) reduces the need of fungicide use by 50-80 %. PIWIs have the potential to address climate change adaptation and mitigation simultaneously.

The color of rosés wines is extremely diverse and a key element in their marketing. It is due to the presence of red anthocyanins extracted from grape skins and pigments formed from them and other wine constituents during wine-making.