The VinAE project will adopt a participatory and co-creation strategy to leverage expertise from regions with longer-term implementation of AE practices, and the information from literature review, to improve and design solutions for issues identified in other viticulture regions. This project also proposes the use of already tested biotechnological tools (e.g. hydrogels, bioinoculants) and alternative ones (e.g. biofumigants), to maximise the performance of implemented AE solutions. The comprehensive evaluation of AE practices will encompass analysis of grapevine performance, must quality, water relations, soil carbon storage and stabilisation, and soil microbial and faunal diversity (with a special focus on pathogenic guilds). The impact of AE practices on soil fertility will include chemical and biochemical determinations, the use of automated systems and modelling. The proposal aims to assess the benefits of the AE practices on vineyard biodiversity and the balanced nutritional status of grapevines, important factors for enhancing pest and disease management. Finally, the project will also explore the feasibility and identify barriers to the widespread adoption of the most effective AE practices. This will enable the formulation of knowledge-based policy solutions for promoting their upscaling and wider implementation.

The multi-actor consortium will ensure an effective dissemination of the key results obtained. The project also proposes establishing the base for the development of a cross-border Living Lab on AE practices in vineyards, using recommended and publicly available tools and methodologies to expand the group of key actors from the participating partners to other stakeholders identified within the project's framework.