The INFRAVINI project created a thematic Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) to support the management of climate change in vineyards, currently one of the biggest challenges in the sector. This tool integrates data from sensors in the Douro Region and is publicly available for use by local winegrowers, resulting from a collaboration between INESC TEC, GEODOURO, the Association for the Development of Viticulture in the Douro Region (ADVID) and the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD).
The solution was implemented in the Douro Region, the area selected for the pilot, and is currently operating towards “minimising production costs and risks through better management and monitoring of vineyards”, said Lino Oliveira, researcher at INESC TEC. This technological solution resorts to data from six weather stations and it presents several current indicators, while providing weather forecasts.
Vines are significantly sensitive to weather conditions, and the final quality of the grapes is affected by elements like temperature and humidity. The adaptation of the wine sector to climate change was the main reason for the development of the project, focusing on both temporal and spatial dimensions. “According to a temporal approach, the adaptation strategies and policies ought to deal with potential impact in the short and long-term. Regarding the spatial aspect, it is crucial to decide on the specific adaptations based on each location”, stated Lino Oliveira, revealing that, in a post-project phase, the main goal is to extend the solution to other regions.
The final webinar of the project took place in January, under the motto “Management of the Impact of Climate Change in Vineyards”, featuring some of the main entities dedicated to wine-growing in the Douro Region – including the Port and Douro Wines Institute (IVDP), the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), and SOGRAPE.
The video of the session is available here.
The INESC TEC researcher mentioned in this news piece is associated with INESC TEC.
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