mixed Flashcards
- Glyphosate use is coming into increasing scrutinity in vineyards. Should it be banned in modern viticulture? What are the alternatives?
- Concerns About Glyphosate
Environmental Impact: Affects biodiversity and neighboring ecosystems.
Health Concerns: Potential risks to human health.
Soil Health: Damages soil organisms and overall soil condition.
Weed Resistance: Leads to stronger chemical use as effectiveness decreases.
Example: Jackson Family Wines and Jessica Villat/Spier in South Africa employ regenerative viticulture, which integrates agroforestry, cover cropping, animal integration, no tillage, and no chemicals for landscape redesign. - Reasons for Continued Use
Economic Viability: Cost-effective, supports large-scale vineyard sustainability.
Agronomic Benefits: Reduces soil compaction, fuel consumption, and is practical for large operations.
Effectiveness: Crucial for reducing vine competition.
Antonio Graca (Rd Sograe): Advocates for the sustainability of glyphosate in weeding, discussing a project with the University of Porto to develop a vineyard-friendly robot to avoid soil compaction. Criticizes organic certification for not ensuring continuous improvement. - Alternatives to Glyphosate
Physical Methods: Tilling and mowing.
Biological Methods: Use of cover crops for weed suppression and soil health.
Technological Innovations: Robotic weeders, precision spraying.
Other Methods: Mulching, water pearls.
Feasibility Concerns: Large producers like Penaflor find alternatives unfeasible compared to smaller, integrated operations like Wirra Wirra Bio or Litoraii. - Feasibility and Implementation Challenges
Transitioning Challenges: Lower productivity but higher profits correlating with soil organic matter, not yield.
Data Point: Transition saw a 29% decrease in production but a 78% increase in profits according to the Porto Protocol.
Economic Considerations: EU ban estimates yield reduction by 1-3%, with cost increases of EUR 125 per hectare for alternative chemicals, EUR 263 for mechanical management.
Long-Term Sustainability: Reducing chemical use benefits environmental sustainability and vineyard health.
Funding Sources: FarmTogether, Slow Money.
- Evaluate potential risks and rewards of choosing to plant ungrafted vines?
1.Main risk is pest and dissease succeptibility.
Phyloxera: Humberto Jardim Henriques Henriques S04 (riparia) no pied franc at all to prevent phyloxera. Vs Henschke: Hill of Grace. they are on their own rootstocks
Nematodes - Ramsey- Danisa sandy soil
2.Second risk is less predictibility and higher Economic risk.
inconsistency in yields and vigour
environmental sensitivity (drought, salinity, nutrient deficiency)
Santa Rita (maipo) -> ‘mega drought’ for seven years, replanted 350 hectare vineyard CS with 110R. Miguel Galet at ventisqueto believes with heat vigour can be excessive with 110R.
Jerez: pH-chlorosis 41B and vigour (see other examples)
3.Main rewards is historical and cultural value.
Often tight to quality associations.
Market oppotunity
Liber Pater’s- Loïc Pasquet
Francs de Pied association
4.Also, avoiding rootstocks reduces cost.
cost: $2 and $20 US
Legal compliance
- Is there and ideal terroir for the production of sparkling wine?
- Discuss which vine varieties are most suitable for the production of dessert wine. Explain your choice with specific reference to any climatic requirement.
