The wine sector is particularly sensitive to climate change. To mitigate it, it is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, that is, to reduce the carbon footprint of vineyard and winery activities. But knowing their origins and magnitudes is difficult, due to the large number and variety of emission sources. Moreover, making mitigation decisions is complex and requires not only technical but also economic expertise, and must take into account the idiosyncrasies of each organization.

In this context, the VID-EXPERT project has been launched within the framework of the “supra-regional operational groups” program of the Ministry of Agriculture. Its main objective is the development of an intelligent system for the diagnosis of the carbon footprint and the management of climate change mitigation in the wine sector. In other words, to develop a simple tool for decision-making and monitoring that can be used by all organizations, regardless of whether or not they have resources for environmental management.

To this end, VID-EXPERT is based on the calculation methodology recommended by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) for calculating the GHG balance. By identifying the relevant variables for the calculation, a data model is developed from which the intelligent tool is being developed. On the other hand, the mitigation measures available for each emission source have been analyzed, putting them in relation to their effectiveness and their cost-benefit ratio.

With this in mind, the VID-EXPERT tool will be able not only to provide numerical and graphical information on the calculation of the organization’s carbon footprint, but also to propose measures to reduce that footprint on a case-by-case basis. Furthermore, the innovation is that the tool will be able to prioritize those solutions and measures that are consistent with the company’s culture. Thus, any organization will be able to know and manage its carbon footprint and make improvements over time, without the need for an external audit or internal resources.

Program of the Vid Expert Session at Enoforum 2024:

Moderator: Nieves García Casarejos (UNIZAR); Speakers:
Xavier Bellón (UNE),
Julia Delgado (FEV),
Cristina Escriche (INTERGIA),
Miguel A. López Peña (SATEC);

Round table:
Pilar Baeza (UPM),
Javier Carroquino (INTERGIA),
Juan Sebastián Ochoa Zambrano (SATEC),
Julia Delgado (FEV) ESP