• The NEIKER technology centre is developing a strategy aimed at providing tools to facilitate decision-making in the field and strengthen the adaptability of the production system
• NEIKER has recently signed a collaboration agreement with EDA Drinks & Wine Campus to promote research, innovation and technology transfer in the field of viticulture, joining forces on training, research and technological development activities for the sector

The wine sector in Rioja Alavesa is facing a situation characterised by climate change, new regulatory requirements and structural challenges such as the adoption of technology and generational succession. To address this situation, NEIKER is developing an R&D&I plan for viticulture aimed at providing tools to facilitate decision-making in the field and strengthen the sustainability of the production system.

To this end, the plan is based on generating applied knowledge through trials and sampling under real-world conditions. The aim is thus to produce high-quality grapes using environmentally responsible practices, whilst building a technical narrative underpinned by verifiable data. This evidence-based approach addresses the need to strengthen the sector’s competitiveness in the market.

Characterisation of the territory

Based on this approach, one of the key elements of the strategy is the detailed characterisation of the territory. The diversity of soils, climatic conditions and management systems in Rioja Alavesa makes it necessary to adopt an approach tailored to each plot.

“Through this plan, we aim to offer the sector solutions tailored to specific situations, designed to characterise the territory and realise the full potential of each site. In this way, the research respects and enhances the great variation in soil, climate and management practices that defines the vineyard plots in the Basque Country,” explains Ana Aizpurua, a researcher in NEIKER’s Department of Plant Production and Protection.

Building on this foundation, adaptation to climate change is addressed by evaluating agronomic solutions in different production contexts. The information generated enables agronomic, oenological and market factors to be integrated into decision-making, promoting management strategies tailored to each specific situation.

This approach is complemented by the development of data-driven support tools. Among these, the Agrometeo platform stands out; it integrates real-time meteorological information, historical data and plot-scale forecasts, facilitating agricultural management planning.

Added to this are precision irrigation technologies – such as soil moisture sensors, plant water status indicators and water balance models – which provide information to adjust irrigation and help address the questions of when, how much and how to apply water.

Soil, biodiversity and vineyard resilience

Soil plays a key role in this strategy due to its direct link to the vineyard’s resilience. In this regard, the centre is investigating the use of plant cover as an alternative to traditional tillage, as it helps, on the one hand, to reduce erosion – particularly during periods of heavy rain – and, on the other, to increase the organic matter content.

“This increase is essential for sustaining a diverse soil microbiota, which plays a key role in the functioning of the agricultural ecosystem,” notes the researcher.

Soil improvement is, in turn, linked to surface-level measures aimed at enhancing biodiversity. The planting of hedgerows and vegetation strips encourages the presence of beneficial fauna and contributes to the biological balance of the system, supporting natural pest control.

Within this same framework of diversification, the plan incorporates the conservation of existing genetic diversity. Work is therefore being carried out to identify and recover biotypes of traditional varieties and other potentially interesting varieties found in old vineyards. This line of work enables the preservation of plant material and broadens the crop’s options for adapting to climate change.

These initiatives are being developed in collaboration with the wine sector, whose needs and priorities are incorporated into the plan’s design from the outset. This strategy is reinforced by the recent strategic partnership with EDA Drinks & Wine Campus, an organisation with which NEIKER shares the objective of improving the sector’s competitiveness through the transfer of applied knowledge. This cooperation enables scientific activity to be linked to real-world production, facilitating the validation of technological solutions under real-world conditions and helping to build an evidence-based narrative that showcases the sector’s value.

This line of work is underpinned by the experience NEIKER has accumulated over the last decade. Specifically, the centre has carried out 51 research projects in viticulture, with an investment of over five million euros, consolidating a strategy that integrates scientific knowledge, agronomic practice and regional distinctiveness.