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The German Winegrowers' Association and the Geisenheim University of Applied Sciences have started the joint project "Ambito" to bring more biodiversity into the vine landscape. To this end, the Association for Sustainable Viticulture, Fair and Green e.V., and the Geisenheim University of Applied Sciences have joined forces, supported by the German Winegrowers' Association. The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation is funding the project with funds from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety with 4.4 million euros over six years.
"With this project, German viticulture is taking a big step forward in terms of promoting biodiversity and is facing up to its responsibility to preserve biodiversity," emphasizes Klaus Schneider, President of the German Winegrowers' Association. At present, "the biological diversity in many wine-growing regions is low and in no way corresponds to their potential".
With the project "Ambito - development and application of a modular biodiversity toolkit for viticulture in Germany", Fair and Green is in the first step advising 30 model farms nationwide to promote biodiversity in their work. In addition, a digital handbook with suggestions will be developed, with the help of which further farms will be reached. The Geisenheim University of Applied Sciences is advising and researching how biodiversity can be promoted in and around the vineyard and what framework conditions must be created to strengthen it. "Besides climate change, the constant loss of species is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Research and practice must work hand in hand to slow down and, in the long term, reverse this trend. We expect to gain many new insights from this large-scale and long-term project," said the President of the Geisenheim University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr. Hans Reiner Schultz.
The project is aimed at winegrowers, cooperatives and wineries in all winegrowing regions in Germany. Through "lighthouse farms" in each region as well as through regional biodiversity forums, the project aims to invite other interested farms to participate.
(uka Photo: German Wine Institute)