Vitifutur-Research and application for sustainable viticulture

Dialogue

Sustainable viticulture in our region needs to face the challenges of globalization and climate change. However, it is not enough to translate research into applications – our vision will only become reality if we manage to convey our research results into viticultural practice and society.

There is only one way forward to achieve this, namely by means of dialogue. We intend to pursue this dialogue on many different levels.

Forum research-practice

All project partners get together twice a year for exchange and discussion. The first meeting, the so called Rhine-wine-symposium, traditionally takes place in Karlsruhe and focusses on the latest findings in viticultural research. The second meeting is dedicated to the dialogue with practitioners and gives the young researchers the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of viticultural practice. For example, they learn about the structure of the wine industry as well as the demands of sustainable viticulture in line with EU guidelines.

In addition, the young researchers learn about the most important steps of crop management through the seasonal course. This is done through excursions to viticultural enterprises such as cooperatives, vine yards as well as vine propagators..

Representatives of the wine-making industry are given the opportunity to access the latest scientific findings in VITIFUTUR and to exchange ideas with the scientists on how to translate scientific findings into practical applications. Conversely, representatives of the industry can give the scientists a better understanding of trends and socio-economic developments in the viticultural industry and suggest research topics that they think need to be addresses.

Our overarching aim in VITIFUTUR is to facilitate a lively dialogue between scientists and practitioners at eye level that is beneficial to all partners.

Seminars and training

The key to sustainable viticulture is based on reaching production goals in a more targeted and effective manner through practical knowledge and thereby conserving natural resources. Therefore, the transfer and application of knowledge generated through research are of particular importance. As a consequence, further education is of central importance to VITIFUTUR.

Current research results of VITIFUTUR are made available to representatives of the wine-making industry through seminars. Additionally, training on sustainable production and its benefit to the viticultural industry in the region is offered. The seminars are complemented with demonstrations of field experiments and detailed explanation of the presented innovations. The various events that are organized within the framework of VITIFUTUR enable an intensive exchange between research and practice and the implementation of the needs of wine-making industry into the project.

These events are primarily intended for executives of viticulture as well as wine growers and operating managers and are offered in all three regions.

These seminars take place in Baden, Alsace and Palatinate and are coordinated with regard to their focus areas and content. This contributes to creating a common space with shared expertise that allows the representatives of viticulture to develop a shared identity. Regardless of where you are located in the Upper Rhine region, you are able to rely on a shared pool of expertise and values.

Young researchers

Research for sustainable viticulture requires a new generation of young researchers that is not only able to independently make use of the newest applications and scientific methods, but furthermore possess the ability to evaluate their own actions in a social context. We thus need personalities with a versatile profile who

understand resistance and immunity of grape vine,
integrate molecular and physiological mechanisms,
recognize the applied aspects of research,
explain their research to the public,
are able to profit from the transnational synergies of the region,
and are aware of their transnational identity.

At the annual Rhine-wine-symposium in Karlsruhe, young researchers take center stage. Key note presentations give the young researchers information on many different aspects of scientific research and elucidate the background of their own research. This allows the young scientists to put their own work into the bigger scientific picture and recognize the importance of their work. A Workshop for Young Scientists provides the chance to present their own research in an encouraging and supporting environment. The workshop is also a great opportunity to network and arrange exchange of knowledge, methods or material with the partner labs.

The young researchers can experience first-hand that cooperation is the best and most sustainable way to succeed, which furthermore fosters the development of a common transnational identity.

Internet forum

We live in a digital world. Even though the means of communication have changed, a personal conversation remains the best way to engage in a social dialogue. However, the hurdle to actually attend an event is real. To address this issue VITIFUTUR provides an internet forum as a new feature on the project website. In this forum, interested persons can pose their questions in respect to the project. In order to make the forum as accessible as possible, questions can be asked in three languages, German, French, and English. With the help of the experts of the VITIFUTUR network, we will try to answer all questions or at least give suggestions where to look for answers in case we are unable to answer a question ourselves.

The flow of information is not a one-way street. It is of great importance to VITIFUTUR to find out what kind of questions members of society and viticultural practitioners have to ask about sustainable viticulture in the region. This helps us to identify “blind spots” that may have been overlooked in previous research endeavors.

The questions of today may thus become the research topics of tomorrow.

Vitifutur in pictures

We live in a visual world. Research ultimately helps us to create a more accurate image of reality. Working models gained from research do not only help us to better understand a phenomenon, but also aid us to better structure and plan future scientific research. In the end, these models are nothing more than images.

In this section, we are providing you a visual insight into our research through pictures. This does not only bring complex matters across but sometimes also helps to view things more clearly.

The microbial world is full of fascinating, sometimes bizarre, images that reveal the driving force behind scientific research – the joy of unravelling nature’s secrets. A sporangia of Peronospora getting to the outside through the stoma, envelope proteins forming esthetically pleasing crystals, the vascular tissue of a vine being arranged in geometrical patterns – you have to see it for yourself to understand it.