terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 OIV 9 OIV 2024 9 Short communications - Viticulture, table grapes, dried grapes and unfermented grape products 9 The socioclimatic dynamics and the table grape production during a long-drought: the case of Brazilian semiarid

The socioclimatic dynamics and the table grape production during a long-drought: the case of Brazilian semiarid

Abstract

In 2022, the area cultivated with grapes in brazil counted 75 thousand ha. About 1/2 of the grape production is located in rio grande do sul state, in South Brazil. Nonetheless, the northeast region, especially the Sao Francisco River Valley (SFRV), is increasing its area and production, mainly pushed by table grapes. The states of bahia and pernambuco already respond for circa 1/3 of brazilian grape production. It can be explained by the peculiar climatic and technological factors inherent to that place, which enable the vineyards in sfrv to perform a productivity of 44 ton/ha average, against the national average of 20 ton/ha. The climate is classified as tropical semi-arid and it is characterized by a monthly average temperature varying from 25°c to 29°c, and an average annual rainfall of about 420 mm, normally concentrated between november and april. The region is equipped with well-structured irrigation schemes supplied by the water of the sao francisco river basin – one of the most important brazilian watersheds. The ensemble of pruning, irrigation and plant physiology management allows growers to schedule the grape production throughout multiple periods, harvesting at least twice a year and serving the domestic and foreign markets without interruption. Despite showing a stable climate, with well-defined hot dry and hot wet seasons, from 2011 to 2019, a severe drought took place in northeast brazil, including sfrv. The accumulative effect of annual precipitation rates below the climatological normal led regional reservoirs to their minimum levels and constrained irrigation schedules. Therefore, considering the increased risk of droughts and the need for adaptation strategies to climate change, this study aims to analyze the relationship of water availability (and the lack of it) with table grape production indicators during the period of 2010 until 2022 (pre, during, and post-drought phenomenon). Considering the context presented above, this study employs one of the first steps preconized by the oecd in the construction of composite indexes: the multivariate analysis. The aim is to explore the structure and suitability of climatic, technical, and socioeconomic indicators to synthesize the vulnerability of vineyards to extreme events like severe droughts. It enables the investigation of the probable signal of influence of indicators, as well as, similarities, differences and possible redundancy in data information. This step follows the vulnerability framework: vulnerability (v) = exposure (e) + sensitivity (s) – adaptive capacity (ac). Representing each dimension, we propose the application and relationship investigation of the dryness index (e), gross production value and productivity (s) and type of irrigation system (ac). The analysis has been applied to the vineyards located in the oldest irrigation scheme in sfrv, the bebedouro public irrigation project (pip), and brazil’s biggest pip, the nilo coelho irrigation scheme, also located in sfrv. In addition, we are searching to investigate the socioclimatic vulnerability of table grape production practiced by companies and smallholders in those locations. This methodological approach is not an innovation per se and has been used in several previous studies, including water management, adaptation to climate change and supporting stakeholders’ decision-making. Nonetheless, we test specific indicators for table grape production under irrigation, underpinning quantitative measures for comparison of vineyards’ preparedness to climate change in spatial and time scales.

La dinámica socioclimática y la producción de uva de mesa durante una larga sequía: el caso del semiárido brasileño

En 2022, la superficie cultivada con vid en brasil ascendía a 75 mil hectáreas. Aproximadamente la mitad de la producción de uva se encuentra en el estado de rio grande do sul, en el sur de brasil. Sin embargo, la región nordeste, especialmente el valle del Río Sao Francisco (SFRV), está aumentando su superficie y producción, impulsada principalmente por la uva de mesa. Los estados de bahía y pernambuco ya responden por alrededor de un tercio de la producción brasileña de uva. Esto se explica por los peculiares factores climáticos y tecnológicos inherentes a ese lugar, que permiten a los viñedos en sfrv realizar una productividad de 44 ton/ha promedio, contra el promedio nacional de 20 ton/ha. El clima se clasifica como tropical semiárido y se caracteriza por una temperatura media mensual que varía de 25°c a 29°c, y una precipitación media anual de unos 420 mm, normalmente concentrada entre noviembre y abril. La región está equipada con sistemas de riego bien estructurados, abastecidos por el agua de la cuenca del río sao francisco, una de las cuencas hidrográficas más importantes de brasil. El conjunto de manejo de poda, riego y fisiología vegetal permite a los productores programar la producción de uva en múltiples períodos, cosechando al menos dos veces al año y atendiendo al mercado nacional y externo sin interrupción. A pesar de mostrar un clima estable, con estaciones cálidas secas y cálidas húmedas bien definidas, de 2011 a 2019 se produjo una grave sequía en el noreste de brasil, incluido el sfrv. El efecto acumulativo de tasas de precipitación anuales por debajo de lo normal climatológico llevó a los embalses regionales a sus niveles mínimos y restringió los calendarios de riego. Por lo tanto, considerando el mayor riesgo de sequías y la necesidad de estrategias de adaptación al cambio climático, este estudio tiene como objetivo analizar la relación de la disponibilidad de agua (y la falta de ella) con los indicadores de producción de uva de mesa durante el período 2010 hasta 2022 (pre, fenómeno durante y después de la sequía). Considerando el contexto presentado anteriormente, este estudio emplea uno de los primeros pasos preconizados por la ocde en la construcción de índices compuestos: el análisis multivariado. El objetivo es explorar la estructura e idoneidad de indicadores climáticos, técnicos y socioeconómicos para sintetizar la vulnerabilidad de los viñedos ante eventos extremos como sequías severas. Permite investigar la probable señal de influencia de los indicadores, así como similitudes, diferencias y posible redundancia en la información de los datos. Este paso sigue el framework de vulnerabilidad: vulnerabilidad (v) = exposición (e) + sensibilidad (s) – capacidad adaptativa (ac). Representando cada dimensión, proponemos la aplicación y la investigación de la relación del dryness index (e), valor bruto de producción y productividad (s) y tipo de sistema de riego (ac). El análisis se aplicó a los viñedos ubicados en el sistema de riego más antiguo de sfrv, el proyecto público de riego (pip) de bebedouro, y al mayor pip de brasil, el sistema de riego nilo coelho, también ubicado en sfrv. Además, buscamos investigar la vulnerabilidad socioclimática de la producción de uva de mesa practicada por empresas y pequeños agricultores en esas localidades. Este enfoque metodológico no es una innovación per se y se ha utilizado en varios estudios anteriores, incluida la gestión del agua, la adaptación al cambio climático y el apoyo a la toma de decisiones de las partes interesadas. No obstante, probamos indicadores específicos para la producción de uva de mesa bajo riego, sustentando medidas cuantitativas para comparar la preparación de los viñedos al cambio climático en escalas espaciales y temporales.

Le dinamiche socioclimatiche e la produzione di uva da tavola durante un lungo periodo di siccità: il caso della zona semiarida brasiliana

Nel 2022, la superficie coltivata a vite in brasile ammontava a 75mila ettari. Circa la metà della produzione di uva si trova nello stato del rio grande do sul, nel sud del brasile. Tuttavia, la regione nordorientale, in particolare la valle del fiume Sao Francisco (SFRV), sta aumentando la propria superficie e la propria produzione, soprattutto grazie all’uva da tavola. Gli stati di bahia e pernambuco rispondono già per circa 1/3 della produzione di uva brasiliana. Ciò si spiega con i peculiari fattori climatici e tecnologici inerenti a quel luogo, che consentono ai vigneti in sfrv di realizzare una produttività media di 44 ton/ha, contro la media nazionale di 20 ton/ha. Il clima è classificato come tropicale semiarido ed è caratterizzato da una temperatura media mensile che varia dai 25°c ai 29°c, e da una piovosità media annua di circa 420 mm, normalmente concentrata tra novembre e aprile. La regione è dotata di sistemi di irrigazione ben strutturati, alimentati dall’acqua del bacino del fiume Sao Francisco, uno dei più importanti bacini idrografici brasiliani. L’insieme di potatura, irrigazione e gestione della fisiologia vegetale consente ai viticoltori di programmare la produzione dell’uva su più periodi, raccogliendo almeno due volte l’anno e servendo i mercati nazionali ed esteri senza interruzioni. Nonostante abbia mostrato un clima stabile, con stagioni calde secche e calde umide, dal 2011 al 2019, nel nord-est del brasile si è verificata una grave siccità, compresa la sfrv. L’effetto cumulativo dei tassi di precipitazione annuali inferiori alla norma climatologica ha portato i bacini idrici regionali ai livelli minimi e ha limitato i programmi di irrigazione. Pertanto, considerando l’aumento del rischio di siccità e la necessità di strategie di adattamento ai cambiamenti climatici, questo studio si propone di analizzare la relazione tra la disponibilità di acqua (e la sua mancanza) con gli indicatori di produzione di uva da tavola durante il periodo dal 2010 al 2022 (pre, durante e dopo il fenomeno della siccità). Considerando il contesto sopra presentato, il presente studio impiega uno dei primi passi preconizzati dall’ocse nella costruzione di indici compositi: l’analisi multivariata. L’obiettivo è esplorare la struttura e l’idoneità degli indicatori climatici, tecnici e socioeconomici per sintetizzare la vulnerabilità dei vigneti a eventi estremi come gravi siccità. Consente di indagare sul probabile segnale di influenza degli indicatori, nonché su somiglianze, differenze e possibile ridondanza nelle informazioni sui dati. Questo passaggio segue il quadro delle vulnerabilità: vulnerabilità (v) = esposizione (e) + sensibilità (s) – capacità adattiva (ac). Rappresentando ciascuna dimensione, proponiamo l’applicazione e l’indagine delle relazioni tra l’indice di siccità (e), il valore della produzione lorda e la produttività (s) e il tipo di sistema di irrigazione (ac). L’analisi è stata applicata ai vigneti situati nel più antico schema di irrigazione della sfrv, il bebedouro public irrigation project (pip), e al più grande pip del brasile, lo schema di irrigazione nilo coelho, anch’esso situato nella sfrv. Inoltre, stiamo cercando di indagare la vulnerabilità socioclimatica della produzione di uva da tavola praticata da aziende e piccoli proprietari in quelle località. Questo approccio metodologico non è un’innovazione di per sé ed è stato utilizzato in diversi studi precedenti, tra cui la gestione dell’acqua, l’adattamento ai cambiamenti climatici e il supporto al processo decisionale delle parti interessate. Tuttavia, testiamo indicatori specifici per la produzione di uva da tavola sotto irrigazione, sostenendo misure quantitative per confrontare la preparazione dei vigneti ai cambiamenti climatici su scala spaziale e temporale.

Publication date: November 18, 2024

Issue: OIV 2024

Type: Article

Authors

Luiz Gustavo Lovato¹, Jurandir Zullo Junior¹

¹ UNICAMP, Brazil

Contact the author*

Tags

IVES Conference Series | OIV | OIV 2024

Citation

Related articles…

A look back at 20 years of exploring the future of the vines and wines sector

What if, in 25 years, most wines were dealcoholized and flavored ? What if vines were only cultivated to combat erosion, store carbon, and provide anthocyanins…? What if climate change completely changed the list of vine varieties cultivable for wine production in France? What if food stores had completely disappeared in favor of virtual platforms? And if… because the long-term future is not predetermined and therefore not knowable, because the future is open to several possibilities, because the future does not emerge from nothing but from the present which conceals heavy trends and weak signals, prospective approaches make it possible to consider the room for maneuver that actors have to promote the advent of a future, which we can hope to be chosen, at least in part.

Pierce’s disease of grapevines, a new threat to the wine industry in Southern Europe

Pierce’s disease (PD) is considered a potential threat to european viticulture (EPPO a2 list of pathogens since 1981). In the usa, infections caused by the vector-borne bacterium xylella fastidiosa have caused recurrent damage to vineyards in California and the southeastern states. However, vineyards in Europe have remained free of PD until recently, when it was first detected on the island of Mallorca in 2017. The reasons for the absence of PD in continental Europe have not been convincingly explained.

Challenges and opportunities for increasing organic carbon in vineyard soils: perspectives of extension specialists

Context description and research question: an increasing number of farmers are considering the impact of conservation practices on soil health to guide sustainable management of vineyards. Understanding impacts of soil management on soil organic carbon (SOC) is one lever for adoption of agroecological practice with potential to help maintain or improve soil health while building SOC stocks to mitigate climate change (Amelung et al., 2020).

History of inorganic and isotopic signatures in Champagne over the last century: lessons

The notion of «terroir» refers to the link between the composition, quality and taste of a wine, on the one hand, and its place of origin, on the other. It involves, among other things, the signature of soil elements, as well as the influence of climatic conditions and plant material used. The composition of the wine is also influenced by the winemaking, storage and bottling processes. We were lucky enough to have a time series of the same champagne, from the end of the first world war to the present. On this exceptional time series, we followed, with the most advanced methods, all the elemental signatures by isotopic multi-dilution, the evolution of the isotopic ratios of heavy elements with very high precision of Sr, Pb, B and Cu.

From vine to wine : a multi-trait experiment for increasing the varietal diversity in the bordeaux wine region. How to adapt to climate change without damaging terroir expression?

Context and purpose of the study climate change is impacting wine typicity across the globe, raising concerns in wine regions historically renowned for the quality of their terroir. Replacing some of the plant material can be an efficient lever for adapting to climate change. However, the change of cultivars also raises questions about the region’s wine typicity. This study, based on seven years of data, investigates the potential adaptability of over 50 different varieties in the bordeaux wine region.