Case-study /

E-VitiClimate, an e-learning platform for viticulture and climate change: Bulgaria

Summary

The Lifelong learning project E-VitiClimate aims to address the challenges that climate change poses for European wine producers.Changes in temperature and rainfall are already transforming European vineyards rhythm and state. The impact of climate change on wine production in Europe is extremely important when considering the economic, political, social, and cultural role of wine and the production industry. Wine producers need to be fully aware of the impacts of these changes on the whole viticulture sector and to adapt their techniques accordingly.

Thus, the projectE-VitiClimate aims to train teachers and trainers on issues related to climate change and on different viticultural techniques to help producers adapt to climate change.E-VitiClimate delivers an innovative platform to help maintain the best European vineyard conditions.

Two modules are available byE-VitiClimate to inform technicians about climate change and its effects on viticulture:

  • Module 1 presents the climate change process globally, its effects on European vineyard and adaptation techniques (irrigation techniques, genetic adaptation, …)
  • Module 2 details the required adaptation to local ecology, examples and guidelines.

Introduction

The EU funded Lifelong learning project E-VitiClimate aims to address the challenges that climate change poses for European wine producers.

Changes in temperature and rainfall are already transforming European vineyards. The impact of climate change on wine production in Europe is extremely important when considering the economic, political, social, and cultural role of wine and the production industry. Wine producers need to be fully aware of the impacts of these changes on the whole viticulture sector and to adapt their techniques accordingly.

Main goals of the project

  • To provide a different way of learning in the viticulture sector;
  • To propose comprehensive and innovative training on viticulture and climate change that will integrate the cultural and territorial diversity of the European vineyard, through high international cooperation;
  • To inform all European viticulture mentors and trainers on climate change about the effects on viticulture and potential adaptation techniques.

How will these goals be achieved?

  • Development of training material on climate change, its effects on vineyards and the different techniques and processes to adapt the European vineyard to these changes, in the four languages of the project.
  • Creation of an interactive information platform;
  • Testing, evaluation and adaptation of the training platform in the four project countries (Italy, France, UK, Bulgaria);
  • Organisation of a pilot training and information day in each project country, with viticulture technicians and representatives of professional training centres from various institutions;
  • Dissemination of the training in the European educational system.

The high level of dissemination of the interactive platform will allow a greater understanding of climate change stakes for viticulture, and initiate a deep reappraisal of viticulture techniques. In the long term, through the monitoring of wine producers by technicians that participate in the E-VitiClimate training, this project will permit the establishment of sustainable practices in the European vineyard.

Thus, the E-VitiClimate project aims to train teachers and trainers on issues related to climate change and on different viticultural techniques to help producers adapt to climate change.

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