D1 Approached to grape growing

Question 1

Conventional Viticulture - Monoculture

Answer 1

The aim:
- Maximise yields, minimising labour costs.

How: by using
- clonal selection (same grape variety/clone)
- schematic use of chemicals
- irrigation
- mechanisation

ADV:
- Does not requires a lot of monitoring and skilled/knowledgeble labour, hence to minimising costs on time and labour.

DIS:
- Ecosystem is discourage, therefore increase the intervention of chemical and fertilisers, with consequent increase of cost and environmental damage.
- Diseases can easily spread

Question 2

Sustainable Viticulture

Answer 2

The aim:
- Promote the ecosystem and maintain biodiversity.

How:
- by understanding and monitoring the vine’s lifecycle, the weather, and the threats (pest and disease).

ADV:
- Promote the ecosystem, therefore minimise the intervention of chemicals and fertilisers, with consequent cost saving and reduced environmental damage

DIS:
- The term is not protected and standard for sustainability can be set too low.

IPM, Integrated pest management. Set which action needs to be taken, identifying and monitoring pests.

Question 3

Organic viticulture

Answer 3

The aim:
- Promote the ecosystem and maintain biodiversity.

How:
- by understanding and monitoring the vine’s lifecycle, the weather, and the threats (pest and disease).
- by improving the health of the soil, and increase the disease-resistance of the vine.

How:
- Use of compost instead of fertilisers (it improves structure, slow releases nutrients, and increases the biomass. it reduce costs but transport in bulk can be costly)
- Use sulfur and copper instead of fungicides (monitoring weather to minimise intervention)
- Use of Pheromones tags and natural predators instead of pesticides.
- Use of Bacillus subtilise to combat viruses.
- Reduced use of tractors.

ADV:
- the total elimination of chemicals and synthetic fertilisers, with consequent cost saving and reduced environmental damage
- Selling the wine at higher price.

DIS:
- small reduction in yield.
- Long period of rainfall may lead to a significant reduction in yield and in too much copper used (as fungicide) may lead to heavy metal in the soil.
- The certification requires times and costs.

IFOAM is the certification body. Certification adds an extra cost to the production of wine.

Question 4

Biodynamic viticulture

Answer 4

The aim:
- Promote the ecosystem and maintain biodiversity.

How:
- by understanding and monitoring the vine’s lifecycle, the weather, and the threats (pest and disease).
- by improving the health of the soil, and increase the disease-resistance of the vine.
- By considering the cycle of the planets and stars.

How:
- the ascending moon evokes a summer mood, and therefore this is the best time for cutting and adjust canopy.
The descending moon evokes a winter mood, favouring roots growth and therefore this is the best time for planting vines and for pruning.
- Use of Homeopatic preparations to fertilise the soil, ward off pests and treat diseases.
1. Preparation 500. Horn manure are buried throughout the winter then dynamised (stirred into water) and use as compost to help the formation of humus.
2. Preparation 501. Horn silica (ground quartz) are buried for 6 months, dynamised then sprayed to encourage plant growth.
Compost must be activated by a series of starters (chamomile, nettle, dandelion, oak bark) as they assist with the decomposition.

ADV:
- the total elimination of chemicals and synthetic fertilisers, with consequent cost saving and reduced environmental damage
- Selling the wine at higher price.

DIS:
- small reduction in yield.
- Long period of rainfall may lead to a significant reduction in yield and in too much copper used (as fungicide) may lead to heavy metal in the soil.
- The certification requires times and costs.
- Higher labour costs due to the preparations.

Demeter is the certification Body.

Question 5

Precision Viticulture

Answer 5

The aim:
- Maximise yields and quality. Minimise the intervention of chemicals and fertilisers, with consequent cost saving and reduced environmental damage.

How:
- Using high tech datas collected from the vineyard (soil, vigour, plant growth, topography) presented visually in the form of maps.

ADV:
- ability to tailor a wide range of interventions (choice of variety, clone of rootstock, canopy management, treatments, harvest date) to individual vine, maximising quality and quantity.

DIS:
- Considerable initial costs for the sensors and softwares.
- Cost of either consultancy or trained staff to understeand the data and decide interventions.