As part of the Grapebreed4IPM project, four new resistant varieties, descendants of Glera, were presented on January 29 during the event “The Glera of the Future,” organized by VCR – Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo at the VCR Research Center in Rauscedo (PN).
The four varieties are the result of an independent genetic improvement program conducted by VCR and are currently in an advanced stage of registration in the national variety register, with availability expected between February 2026 and the end of 2027. These selections represent a concrete example of how varietal research can contribute to the development of more resilient vineyard systems, better adapted to local environmental and soil-climate conditions.
The new selections belong to the Piwi group of varieties and are characterized by high resistance to the main fungal diseases of the vine, in downy mildew and powdery mildew. This resistance allows for a significant reduction in the need for chemical pesticides, promoting the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies specifically designed for resistant varieties. The use of these varieties thus makes it possible to decrease pesticide use, with direct benefits for the environment, the health of workers, and vineyards located near urban areas. At the same time, integrating resistant varieties within IPM systems helps improve the overall efficiency of vineyard management, making it more sustainable. Taken together, these new Glera selections contribute to strengthening the wine sector’s ability to evolve towards more sustainable production models, promoting a wider spread of resistant varieties and greater awareness of their benefits. Their application fits fully within the project’s objectives Grapebreed4IPM, focused on the development of innovative solutions for integrated and sustainable management of European viticulture.
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.
