Working together for sustainable viticulture: breeding robust grape varieties through innovative collaboration

This project is dedicated to developing grapevine varieties with strong resistance to major diseases, specifically adapted to local environmental and pedoclimatic conditions. The goal is to substantially reduce reliance on chemical pesticides. In addition to breeding efforts, the project will support farmers, winegrowers, and advisers by delivering tailored best practices and guidelines for the effective cultivation of disease-resistant varieties. 

These measures will encourage broad adoption and drive the transition toward sustainable viticulture across Europe. By promoting environmentally friendly approaches, the project will help the viticulture sector meet regulatory requirements and respond to shifting consumer expectations. The project’s outcomes will position the sector to thrive sustainably in a competitive global landscape.

This project has five distinct objectives:

1. Co-design a common vision from actors of the value chain and synchronize cross-regions.
2. Research effort to provide a better understanding into molecular basis of susceptibility and resistance to grapevine pathogens and grapevine´s interactions with the environment.
3. Breeding of new and diverse disease resistant varieties.
4. Research effort towards breeding for disease resistance varieties without changing the wine characteristics of wines.
5. Design and dissemination of tools and best practice guidelines.

• State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI)
• European Commission, Horizon Europe

• 20 project partners from 7 countries (listed in the CORDIS project entry)

• Riemann Michael (Department of Crop Sciences)

• Farny Michaël (Department Suisse Romande)
• Hauenstein Linnéa (Department of Crop Sciences)
• Lévite Dominique (Department of Crop Sciences)
• Löliger Thomas (Department of Finances & Infrastructure)
• Marchand David (Department Suisse Romande)
• Tuchschmid Andreas (Department of Finances & Infrastructure)

Project partner

• cordis.europa.eu: Project on the CORDIS website

• Department Suisse Romande (FiBL Switzerland)
• Viticulture & Oenology / On-Station (Department of Crop Sciences, FiBL Switzerland)
• Viticulture & Oenology / Production (Department of Finances & Infrastructure, FiBL Switzerland)