AREA IV. Viticulture and the Environment
Project 13:

Dynamics of plaguicides

Plaguicides are chemical products which are highly useful for protecting vines from damage caused by weeds, insects, acarus (mites) and diseases.  However, the problem with the use of plaguicides is the water pollution potential of both surface and deep water sources and the ensuing remediation costs involved.  

Now, for quite some time, our business partners (importers) have been implementing intensive monitoring programs and cause-effect studies on the use of plaguicides, establishing limitations to their use, and in the most drastic cases, even prohibiting the use of some of them. 

Nevertheless, in our country, studies related to the environmental dynamics of plaguicides are scarce in all industries and not only in viticulture.  And studies that have actually traced the destination of some products at plantation level are even scarcer.

In the short term, importing markets and even national public opinion shall demand scientific evidence in our territory, proving that production is environmentally sustainable and that it is not provoking any negative effects on natural resources, which may even result in the use of this concept as a para-tariffary barrier measure. 

Given the above, this project intends to compile and produce scientific data for the zonification of plaguicide use in the different wine producing valleys. 

Project Length: 2 years