2023-07-14 17:30:51
MADRID, 14 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Some of the best vineyards in the world -examples of the “heroic viticulture” in Spain, Italy and Portugal and famous for their unique broths and tradition- are threatened by climate change.
in an article published in the magazine ‘iScience’the researchers argue that farmers and scientists must work together to protect some of the world’s most celebrated wines.
“The risk is not just losing an agricultural product or seeing the landscape change, which negatively impacts the local economy,” write the authors from the University of Padua, Italy. The risk is losing the history of entire communities and their cultural roots.”
Vineyards are considered places of “heroic viticulture” if they have a slope greater than 30%, are located on small islands or at an altitude greater than 500 meters above sea level, or if they incorporate vines grown on terraces.
The name “heroic” originates from the inherent difficulty of growing crops and harvesting in these landscapes. Some of the most famous and centuries-old examples of heroic viticulture in Spain are the Ribeira Sacra in Galicia, the Priorat in Catalonia, or the Malvasia vineyards in Lanzarote.
“The great effort required to manage these areas reinforces the specific connection between man and the environment,” the authors write. “That is why they are recognized as cultural singularities of paramount historical and social importance, where traditional knowledge remains the determining element”.
In the background, the authors list soil degradation and drought as the biggest climate change-related risks for heroic viticulture. They also argue that vineyards face several significant socioeconomic barriers.
“The last half century has been characterized by rural exodus and the gradual abandonment of mountain landscapes,” the researchers point out. “The new generation is not willing to continue working in extreme conditions if the economic benefits are negligible”.
To protect hero viticulture sites, the authors suggest several forms of potential solutions, from strategic communications designed to unite scientists, farmers, and consumers to on-site solutions such as small water storage systems. integrated into vineyard landscapes that prevent runoff and retain water for future uses.
They also stress the importance of education, including “educating the new generations about the benefits of rural reality, the need to preserve cultural heritage, live in balance with the environment and have a sustainable approach to agriculture”.
“The key to success lies in combining the traditional knowledge of winegrowers with innovation and scientific rigor,” they point out. “In this way, farms can collaborate closely with scientists to optimize investments for the sake of a more agricultural landscape. functional, sustainable and safe: a winning alliance to face these diverse natural and anthropogenic challenges”.
#Climate #change #threatens #heroic #viticulture