More biodiversity in the vineyard - project results receive great attention!

In view of increasingly frequent extreme weather events in the course of climate change, such as heavy rainfall and periods of drought, Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt, state winery Kloster Pforta, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences and JenaGeos have tested different methods to increase biodiversity in the vineyard and reduce the risk of erosion. The results of the past 4 years were presented today in Schulpforta.

The activities of the EU funded project LIFE VinEcoS were carried out especially in the Saalhäuser and Pfortenser Köppelberg vineyards of the state winery Kloster Pforta. These historic vineyards now provide important insights that need to be considered for future viticulture in the region and beyond. For example, native wild plants in the vineyard have particularly positive effects in terms of biodiversity and adaptation to climatic extremes, and they also help to reduce soil erosion. The decision to keep robust breeds of sheep is also positive. They can greatly reduce the amount of manual labor required in viticulture.

A pleasingly large number of young winegrowers took advantage of today's project presentation in Schulpforta to discuss the tested climate-adapted cultivation methods in the vineyard. Some of them already signalled their willingness to participate in the follow-up project, which is being implemented together with partners from France, Hungary and Austria.

The Minister of Environment of Saxony-Anhalt, Prof. Dr. Claudia Dalbert, was also present at the project presentation. She praised the commitment of the project partners and called on the other winegrowers in the Saale-Unstrut region to also practice climate-adapted cultivation methods.