PENVITIS Operational Group: Smart and sustainable viticulture for climate adaptation and improved vineyard quality on steep slopes (heroic viticulture)

The PENVITIS+ project will validate agronomic practices adapted to vineyards on steep slopes to reduce the effects of heat stress and optimize grape ripening in the context of climate change. Through trials in pilot plots and georeferenced agronomic monitoring, vegetation and vineyard management strategies will be evaluated to improve grape cluster protection against high temperatures and intense radiation. Simultaneously, the project will seek to synchronize the technological and phenolic ripening of the grapes to avoid over-ripening and imbalances resulting from heat stress. It is expected to significantly reduce heat stress damage and improve the balance between alcohol content, acidity, and freshness. For winegrowers, these practices will allow them to maintain grape quality, stabilize yields, and reduce economic risks associated with adverse weather conditions.

The PENVITIS+ project will develop and validate an agroecological prediction model based on artificial intelligence and algorithms adapted to vineyards on steep slopes. Using climatic, agronomic, and field data, the system will allow for more accurate anticipation of disease outbreaks and risk situations. It is expected to achieve a high predictive capacity that will facilitate a significant reduction in the use of plant protection products, optimizing the number and timing of treatments. For winegrowers, this tool will mean improved decision-making, less dependence on widespread preventative applications, and reduced input and labor costs. Furthermore, it will contribute to meeting regulatory requirements regarding sustainability and the responsible use of plant protection products, improving the competitiveness and resilience of vineyards.

The PENVITIS+ project will validate technological solutions aimed at reducing manual labor time in vineyards on steep slopes, where tasks require greater physical effort and present greater challenges for mechanization. Through the integration of digital tools, monitoring systems, and the use of technologies such as drones for treatments and monitoring, a significant reduction in the time spent on control and application tasks is expected. This optimization will lower labor costs and improve the operational efficiency of vineyards. For winegrowers, adopting these solutions will mean greater safety when working on slopes, better organization of tasks, and more profitable vineyard management, especially in environments where conventional mechanization is limited.

The PENVITIS+ project will develop knowledge transfer activities aimed at facilitating access for the wine sector to the results obtained during the project. These activities include organizing technical workshops for winegrowers, wineries, and other professionals in the sector, as well as preparing a final technical report that will compile, in a structured manner, the results, lessons learned, and practical recommendations derived from the project. These activities will allow for the presentation of real-world field experiences, foster knowledge exchange between regions, and facilitate the practical application of the solutions developed in vineyards on steep slopes. Dissemination of the report and participation in the workshops will help a greater number of professionals in the sector to learn about and apply the validated strategies, thus promoting the adoption of more resilient and sustainable practices.

The PENVITIS+ project will develop a communication strategy aimed at clearly and accessibly disseminating validated solutions for viticulture on steep slopes. Through in-person and digital channels, the project's progress and results will be presented to wineries, winegrowers, technicians, and other industry organizations. This outreach will allow professionals to learn firsthand about climate change-adapted practices, digital tools, and management strategies already proven in pilot plots. For winegrowers, early access to this information will facilitate the gradual adoption of technical improvements, reducing the uncertainty associated with innovation and fostering more informed and confident decisions.

The PENVITIS+ project will promote the replicability of solutions developed in other heroic viticulture areas and regions with similar agroclimatic conditions. Through the structured dissemination of methodologies, comparative data, and validated results, wineries, cooperatives, and technical entities will be able to adapt these strategies to their own production contexts. This transfer will facilitate the adoption of digital tools, predictive models, and adapted agronomic practices without the need to conduct trials from scratch. For professionals in the sector, the ability to replicate proven experiences will reduce experimentation costs, accelerate innovation, and increase competitiveness in environments affected by climate change.

The PENVITIS+ project will disseminate its results through specialized media, digital platforms, professional networks, and European knowledge-sharing tools. The publication of technical content, demonstration videos, and practical materials will broaden the reach of the developed solutions beyond the pilot regions. This multi-channel strategy will facilitate access for winegrowers, consultants, and companies in the sector to structured information on practices adapted to vineyards on slopes, predictive models, and digital tools. For the end user, this open availability of knowledge will reduce barriers to innovation and promote faster and more reliable adoption of sustainable techniques.

The PENVITIS+ project will implement an internal coordination and communication system among the members of the Operational Group to ensure technical consistency and the correct application of the solutions developed in the different participating regions. Through regular meetings, data exchange, and cross-validation of results, it will be guaranteed that agronomic practices and digital tools are adapted to the specific conditions of each territory. This coordination will allow for the integration of interregional learning and the progressive improvement of the strategies applied. For the sector, this methodology will ensure that the recommendations disseminated are tested in different production contexts, increasing the reliability and practical utility of the results.