TheĀ "IRRIGAVIT - Rational irrigation and soil management in cross-border viticulture" project, capitalization tender of the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia 2021-2027 program, will be held on Monday, December 11, 2023, at 3 p.m. in Corno di Rosazzo (UD), in Villa Nachini Cabassi that is the headquarters of the partner Consorzio Tutela Vini Friuli Colli Orientali and Ramandolo.
The project, which started on October 1 is coordinated by the University of Udine-Di4A and brings together the Ca' Foscari University from Venice, the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, and the Geodetic Institute of Slovenia, that have already participated in the "ACQUAVITIS - Innovative solutions for the efficient use of water in cross-border viticulture" project, and two new partners takers RRA SEVERNE PRIMORSKE d.o.o. Nova Gorica and Consorzio tutela vini Friuli Colli Orientali e Ramandolo.
"Viticulture in the cross-border area is facing increasing climatic challenges and drought, which can threaten the quality and quantity of grapes. In the previous ACQUAVITIS project, we used green technologies to optimize the water balance of vineyards and developed innovative irrigation and soil management protocols using an ecosystem approach in three important wine-growing areas: the Vipava Valley, the Karst, and Lower Friuli area," explains Prof. Paolo Sivilotti from the Department of Agro-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences of the University of Udine, who is also the project manager.
The new IRRIGAVIT project aims to optimize and transfer strategies to improve the resilience of vineyards to new strategic wine-growing areas such as Colli Orientali and Brda, and to provide expert support to key decision-makers and stakeholders in the agricultural sector for climate change adaptation. The final project goal is to create new guidelines that winegrowers will be able to use in the cross-border area and wider areas.
"Viticulture represents a key economic sector in the cross-border area and the climate crisis forces us to adopt good water management practices based on the sustainable principles of the European Green Deal and Mitigation Strategies", comments Mariano Paladin, Director of the Consortium for the Protection of Friuli Colli Orientali Wine and Ramandolo (Consorzio tutela vini Friuli Colli Orientali e Ramandolo) and communication manager of the project, who adds: "Scientific partners will pass on new knowledge to winegrowers through field trials, meetings, and video lessons. Over the next two years, we will organize international meetings, events, and conferences that will include winegrowers, operators, agricultural policymakers, researchers, and journalists from the wine and agricultural sector."
The project conference will start with greetings from the local authorities and managers/directors of the partners and continue with the presentation of the partners, the project, and the activities planned for the next two years. The conference is open to everyone and will end with wine tasting and moments of socializing and networking.
The agenda and invitation are attached: