As part of the Grapebreed4IPM project, work continues on identifying strategies to promote a better perception of wines made from PIWI varieties in Europe, highlighting their strong impact on the sustainability of vineyards by drastically reducing the use of chemical plant protection products.
Specifically, on 20 January 2026, the Design Thinking Workshop was held in Madrid (Spain), where more than 15 experts from the Spanish wine sector gathered to explore the challenges and opportunities facing countries in relation to the future of PIWI varieties, with a focus on Spain.
This interactive session, attended by wineries, nurseries, cooperatives and researchers, allowed participants to share experiences, identify needs, barriers and challenges to be addressed, and generate strategic ideas to promote the adoption of these varieties at the national level and the acceptance of the resulting wines through the collaborative innovation perspective provided by the Design Thinking format.
This workshop was organised by the Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft Ludwigshafen (HWG) with national support from the Wine Technology Platform (PTV).
More information about GrapeBreed4IPM
GrapeBreed4IPM Developing sustainable solutions for viticulture through multi-stakeholder innovation aimed at genetic improvement for integrated pest management” began in April 2024 and will run for four years, ending in March 2028.
The project is led by the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE), in collaboration with 18 international partners and 2 associated partners: Julius Kühn-Institut – German Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants; Istituto di Genomica Applicata; Edmund Mach Foundation; French Institute of Vine and Wine; Freiburg State Viticultural Institute; INRAE Transfert; Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society; Rauscedo Cooperative Nurseries; Horta; Ministry of Economy, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture; Wine Technology Platform; National Interprofessional Committee for Wines with Designation of Origin and Geographical Indication; NEIKER; Mercier, vine nursery; Association of German Vine Plant Producers e. V.; Working Group for the Promotion of Fungus-Resistant Vine Varieties; Moët Hennessy; Primeneutica Institute of Polopriverdi; Foncalieu Institute for Research in Organic Agriculture and Wines.
GrapeBreed4IPM has a budget of €5,000,000 for its implementation, funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme (grant number 101132223), plus €600,000 from an associated partner and funded by the Swiss Government.
