GrapeBreed4IPM: developing sustainable solutions for viticulture through multi-actor innovation targeting breeding for integrated pest management

Abstract

According to the World Economic Forum and the European Union’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the loss of biodiversity and the collapse of ecosystems are major threats facing humanity in the future. Viticulture ranks high among the crops that depend on a massive use of chemical pesticides. It consumes approximately sixty percent of the fungicides applied in the EU, making it a priority target for reducing the use of chemical plant protection products. At the same time, grapevine is of great economic and cultural importance in the EU, with wine being one of the largest EU agri-food sector. Recent advances in grapevine breeding have opened up the possibility of tackling the reduction of fungicides. Consumers are gradually recognizing PIWI (pilzwiderstandsfähig, pioneering wine, disease-resistant) varieties as alternatives of equal quality to traditional grape varieties, which also allow the need for fungicides to be reduced by an average of 50 to 80%. However, the reduced need for fungicides cannot be easily implemented and requires holistic pest control strategies and varieties adapted to future conditions.

Therefore, the project develops grapevine varieties with resistance to relevant diseases, adapted to local environmental and pedoclimatic conditions, and with the goal of reducing reliance on chemical pesticides. Methods like for example genomic selection are used to improve and accelerate the breeding process. In addition, the project will provide farmers, winegrowers and advisers with best practices and guidelines for integrated pest management adapted to disease-resistant varieties. These instructions are critical for the professional cultivation of PIWIs and their widest possible distribution, leading to a long-awaited more environmentally friendly and sustainable viticulture in Europe.

Previous experience in viticulture has shown that improving sustainability can only be successful if as many actors as possible are involved, from research to wine production. This is why 21 partners (7 countries) from research, grapevine breeding, grapevine nurseries and various stakeholders along the value chain are working together in a multi-actor and co-design approach to produce the best insights for maximum impact.

Funding

GrapeBreed4IPM is a 4-year project funded by the EU in the frame of Horizon Europe with a total of EUR 5 million, runs from 2024-2028 and is coordinated by INRAE in Colmar.