The world’s largest platform for sharing information on fungus-resistant grape varieties (PIWI), was held at the Kühlhaus in Berlin. The event brought together researchers, producers, and wine industry professionals to discuss the latest advances and challenges in sustainable grape cultivation and winemaking.
During this international event, the GrapeBreed4IPM project participated in a flash talk presenting its objectives, work plan, and progress undertaken by PTV Plataforma Tecnológica del Vino, as the leader of the dissemination and communication actions of the project, showing its aim to drive innovation in the genetic improvement of fungus-resistant grape varieties, supporting more sustainable and environmentally friendly viticulture practices.
As part of the program, a Design Thinking workshop was hosted by the Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft Ludwigshafen, exploring the challenges and opportunities faced by European countries regarding the future of PIWI varieties. This interactive session allowed participants to share experiences, identify needs, and generate innovative ideas to promote the adoption of these resilient grape varieties across Europe.
The summit also featured a wine tasting of PIWI grape varieties from the Julius Kühn-Institut, giving attendees the chance to experience the potential of these disease-resistant grapes in producing high-quality wines.
More about GrapeBreed4IPM
GrapeBreed4IPM “Development of sustainable solutions for viticulture through multi-actor innovation oriented to genetic improvement for integrated pest management” started in April 2024 and will last 4 years, ending in March 2028.
The National Institute for Agronomic, Food and Environmental Research (INRAE) is leading the project in collaboration with 18 international partners and 2 associated partners: Julius Kühn-Institut – German Federal Research Center for Cultivated Plants; Istituto di Genomica Applicata; Edmund Mach Foundation; French Institute of Vine and Wine; Fribourg State Institute of Viticulture; 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, pépiniériste viticole; Association of German Grapevine Plant Producers e. V.; Working Group for the promotion of fungus-resistant grape varieties; Moët Hennessy; Institute of Primeneutics of Polopriverdi; the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture and Foncalieu Vineyards.
For its implementation, GrapeBreed4IPM has a budget of €5.000.000 , received from the European Union under the Horizon Europe funding program (grant number 101132223), plus €600,000 from an associated partner received from the Swiss government.
