INNOVI, the Catalan Wine Cluster, will coordinate three new supra-regional Operational Group projects designed to address some of the main challenges currently facing the wine sector: reducing its carbon footprint, adapting to climate change, preserving soils, reducing the use of plant protection products and introducing digital and automated technologies.
The three projects, ECO-UVA, PENVITIS+ and REGEVIT, are part of the 2023-2027 Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan and receive funding from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, EAFRD.
Together, these initiatives will mobilise a budget of more than €1.6 million and bring together wineries, agricultural holdings, designations of origin, research centres, technology companies and specialist organisations from several Spanish autonomous communities.
INNOVI will represent and coordinate all three Operational Groups, supporting activity monitoring, collaboration between partners, internal communication and the transfer of results to the wider wine sector.
The ECO-UVA: Integrated strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of winegrowing practices project has a planned overall budget of €590,618.83.
The project will develop and validate a range of technologies designed to reduce emissions, fossil fuel consumption and dependence on plant protection products. Its activities will focus on three main areas: residue-free treatments based on UV-C ultraviolet light and ozone, the electrification of agricultural machinery, and the introduction of autonomous vehicles and digital systems to apply treatments more precisely.
The trials will assess the effectiveness of UV-C light and ozone against diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew. They will also define the appropriate doses, application frequencies and safety protocols, as well as assess potential effects on the vines, beneficial fauna and grape quality.
Electric tractors will also be tested in different types of vineyards, including trellised vineyards, bush vines, sloping sites and vineyards with narrow planting layouts. The project will analyse their range, power, working capacity, charging times, manoeuvrability, operating costs and avoided emissions compared with conventional machinery.
The project will also validate an autonomous electric vehicle equipped with a UV-C treatment system and compare the project’s own prototype with a commercially available autonomous solution.
The consortium is made up of INNOVI, as representative and coordinator of the Operational Group; Codorníu, SA; Viñas del Vero, SA; Explotaciones Agrícolas San Miguel, SLU; Legaris, SL; and Bodegas Beronia, SA.
The project also involves several subcontracted organisations. AGROTECNIO, a research centre linked to the University of Lleida, will be responsible for scientific and technical coordination. The Spanish Wine Technology Platform will contribute to knowledge transfer and dissemination, GALA Media will support communication activities, and ZABALA Innovation will provide administrative, technical and project management support.
The PENVITIS+: Smart and sustainable viticulture for climate adaptation and improved vineyard quality on steep slopes project has a budget of €599,239.
The project will cover the 2026, 2027 and 2028 winegrowing seasons in areas representative of heroic viticulture, specifically Priorat, Ribeira Sacra and the Canary Islands.
These regions share particularly complex production conditions, including small plots, steep slopes, limited accessibility and very restricted possibilities for mechanisation. These challenges are compounded by the effects of climate change, such as rising temperatures, heatwaves, drought, erosion, torrential rainfall and increasing pressure from pests and diseases.
PENVITIS+ will combine regenerative practices, sensors, climate data, artificial intelligence, automation and drones to support decision-making and reduce the workload of winegrowers.
One of the project’s main areas of activity will be the introduction of cover crops and improved canopy management to reduce erosion, preserve soil moisture and protect grapes from sunburn and heat damage.
The project will also develop predictive models for pests and diseases using meteorological data, field sensors and agronomic information. Its objective is to anticipate at least 80% of pest and disease incidents and reduce the use of plant protection products by 30%.
Finally, drone-based treatments will be tested in vineyards in Catalonia, Galicia and the Canary Islands, with the aim of reducing the time spent on manual treatments by 30% and improving safety in difficult-to-access areas.
The consortium consists of INNOVI, as representative and coordinator; the Association of Winegrowers and Wineries of the Canary Islands, AVIBO; the DOQ Priorat Regulatory Council; Adegas Moure, SA; and Celler Mas Doix, SL.
The project also involves the DO Ribeira Sacra Regulatory Council and Bodegas Viñátigo, together with scientific validation provided by the Catalan Institute of Vine and Wine, INCAVI; the Galician Viticulture and Oenology Station, EVEGA-AGACAL; and the Canary Islands Institute for Agri-Food Quality, ICCA.
GALA Media will support communication and dissemination, while ZABALA Innovation will contribute to technical monitoring and administrative management. Specialist services will also be contracted for regenerative practices, artificial intelligence and drone-based treatments.
The third project is REGEVIT: Supra-regional network for the transition towards regenerative and resilient viticulture, with an overall budget of €422,717.74.
REGEVIT will establish a collaborative network of wineries, biotechnology companies, research centres and sector organisations to develop and validate regenerative practices adapted to different agroclimatic conditions in Catalonia, Aragon and Galicia.
The project will study the effects of sown and spontaneous cover crops on erosion, water infiltration, water retention, soil fertility, biodiversity and the soil microbiome.
Another area of work will focus on the recovery and reuse of sludge generated during winemaking and winery wastewater treatment. These by-products will be characterised and applied to pilot plots to assess whether they can be used as a safe organic soil amendment, reducing waste generation and dependence on external fertilisers.
The project will also select plant growth-promoting bacteria, fungi from the Trichoderma genus and other native microorganisms with biostimulant or biocontrol properties. The most promising strains will be multiplied and validated under controlled conditions before being tested in commercial vineyards.
This work will make it possible to establish links between soil and microbiome health, plant physiology, grape composition and the chemical and sensory quality of wine. A preliminary framework will also be developed to assess ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, soil conservation, biodiversity and improved water retention.
The consortium is made up of INNOVI, as representative of the Operational Group; Familia Torres; Viñas del Vero; Paco & Lola, Cooperativa Vitivinícola Arousana; IDForest; and Azolla Projects.
The subcontracted organisations include the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology, IRTA, which is responsible for scientific and technical implementation; the Fundación Premio Arce, in collaboration with the Technical University of Madrid; the Regenerative Viticulture Association; the Spanish Wine Technology Platform; and Artica Ingeniería e Innovación, which will provide technical, financial and administrative support.
The approval of these three projects strengthens INNOVI’s role as a connecting platform for companies, research centres, public authorities and sector organisations. It will also help accelerate the transfer of innovative solutions to vineyards and winegrowing businesses.
Although each project addresses specific needs, all three share the same vision: moving towards viticulture that is better prepared for climate change, less dependent on fossil fuels and plant protection products, capable of preserving biodiversity and soils, and open to the introduction of new technologies.
Over the coming years, INNOVI will coordinate the consortia, facilitate collaboration between their members and help transfer the results to the sector through technical events, publications, dissemination materials and demonstration activities.
These three new projects represent an opportunity to generate applicable knowledge, validate technologies under real operating conditions and provide winegrowers and wineries with practical tools to support decision-making and move towards more sustainable, efficient and competitive production models.
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