ECO-UVA, whose full title is “Integrated strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of winemaking practices”, is an innovation project that aims to reduce the use of plant protection products and fossil fuels by applying clean, digital and automated technologies.

The project will develop and validate its own prototype for applying UV-C radiation treatments against powdery mildew and downy mildew. It will also study ozone as an alternative or complement to conventional treatments. The trials will analyse its effectiveness, application rates and frequency, as well as its potential effects on the vine, beneficial organisms and grape harvest quality.

ECO-UVA will also test electric tractors in different types of vineyards and working conditions. The assessment will cover factors such as range, power, operational capacity, charging times, manoeuvrability and compatibility with different implements. The results will be compared with those for combustion-powered machinery to quantify energy savings, costs and avoided emissions.

The third area of work will focus on digitising and automating treatments using an electrically powered autonomous vehicle equipped with UV-C technology. The commercial autonomous system will be compared with the project’s own UV-C application prototype, taking into account plant protection effectiveness, coverage, energy efficiency, level of automation, ease of operation and operating costs.

The technologies will be validated under real-world conditions and in different wine-growing regions to develop practical recommendations that will support their future adoption by winegrowers and wineries.

The Operational Group is coordinated by INNOVI, the Catalan Wine Cluster, and brings together Codorníu, Viñas del Vero, Explotaciones Agrícolas San Miguel, Legaris and Bodegas Beronia. Subcontracted partners also include AGROTECNIO-UdL, responsible for technical and scientific coordination and analysis of the results; the Wine Technology Platform, for knowledge transfer and outreach; GALA Media, providing communications support; and ZABALA Innovation, supporting administrative management.

Project results and updates will be shared through its website and social media, as well as through technical and audiovisual materials, articles, demonstration events and workshops for the wine sector.

ECO-UVA has a total budget of €590,618.84 and is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027. The project will run from January 2026 to April 2029.