• This week, the technology centre is hosting the VitiTransfer technical conferences in Laguardia and Getaria to provide a comprehensive overview of innovation applied to vineyards 

• The sessions will cover practices such as the use of plant cover, late pruning, the role of arthropods in pest control and the early detection of diseases 

• During today’s session in Laguardia, an initiative will be presented that aims to create a network of demonstration plots to align research with the real needs of wineries and winegrowers

 

From the use of late pruning to protect vineyards from climate change to the promotion of arthropod biodiversity as allies against pests, Basque viticulture is seeking tailored solutions to secure its future. With the aim of addressing these challenges, NEIKER is hosting the VitiTransfer conference this week, a forum for professionals in the sector showcasing NEIKER’s latest advances in viticulture.

Divided into two regional sessions, this forum offers a comprehensive overview of innovation in viticulture, ranging from natural resource management to the digitalisation of vineyards, taking into account the specific characteristics of each crop. The first day is taking place this morning in Laguardia (Rioja Alavesa), whilst tomorrow, Wednesday, the event will move to the Zarautz Jauregia in Getaria (Gipuzkoa).

“Through these meetings, we aim to ensure that the knowledge gained from the trials reaches the sector in a useful and direct way, offering tangible solutions that help wineries and winegrowers make more informed and sustainable decisions in their day-to-day operations,” explains Roberto Pérez-Parmo, a researcher in Plant Production and Protection at NEIKER.

 

Network of experimental plots

One of the key new developments being presented today in Laguardia is the initiative aimed at creating a Network of Experimental Vineyards. Through this project, NEIKER seeks to strengthen its collaboration with the sector by actively listening to stakeholders, thereby ensuring that research is aligned with the real needs of the Basque Country’s wineries and winegrowers.

This network is designed as a forum for participation where the wineries themselves set up demonstration plots to evaluate solutions under real-world conditions. “The aim is for these vineyards to become places where results can be shared, knowledge exchanged, and new areas of work of mutual interest explored, addressing the sector’s current concerns and priorities,” says Pérez-Parmo.

 

Results transfer

Those attending each session will also be able to see first-hand the results achieved in various projects aimed at improving vineyard management. With regard to soil, the conclusions of a six-year study in Elvillar on the behaviour of plant cover in relation to tillage will be presented, as well as the impact of agricultural practices on the multifunctionality of the land and the measurement of the carbon footprint through the GENiAGROALAVES project.

With regard to the vine’s response to the climate, data are shared on late pruning trials conducted in Samaniego to delay budbreak, and on the effect of split irrigation trials carried out in Lanciego to optimise water supply. Alongside crop management, the meetings address the role of arthropod biodiversity in biological pest control and present the campaign to recover interesting plant material selected by winegrowers and wineries.

Health is also a central focus of the programme, with an emphasis on the early detection of diseases. The technology deployed for analysis enables an assessment of the past, present and future of disease management, allowing for the optimisation of input use and providing scientific evidence to support decision-making in vineyard management throughout the entire growing cycle.

In addition, the AGA S. Coop. management centre will present a talk entitled “Drone mapping for smart viticulture”.

 

Strategic partner for the sector

This exchange of knowledge builds on NEIKER’s track record as a specialist R&D&I centre for the wine sector. The centre brings together a multidisciplinary team specialising in areas such as plant pathology, fertilisation, biodiversity and soil health in commercial vineyards. This enables research to be tested under real-world conditions through collaboration with wineries of varying profiles and sizes, ensuring that the results are transferable to the wine sector.

In addition to its research activities, the centre offers laboratory services that support the technical management of vineyards, ranging from the precise diagnosis of viruses and bacteria and varietal identification to leaf and soil analyses. In this way, NEIKER acts as a strategic partner, providing the tools and technical support necessary for professionals in the sector to tackle current production and environmental challenges with scientific rigour.