The international NOVATERRA project faces its last year of implementation with our support.
The NOVATERRA innovation project, which has our support in the technical and administrative management, is progressing according to its work plan with relevant results from the Spanish partners, in the reduction of pesticide use in vineyards and olive groves in the Mediterranean area.
In addition, we tell you how our International Project Finance team can help you in the presentation of international R&D&I initiatives and in the management of large international consortia such as NOVATERRA.
The partners of the international NOVATERRA project met in Bologna (Italy) at the third consortium meeting to assess the progress of this initiative that started at the end of 2020, with the aim of significantly reducing the use and negative impact of pesticides in Mediterranean vineyards and olive groves.
This research and innovation initiative, led by the Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), had our support during the process of conception of the idea and design of the project. Currently, our International Project Finance team continues to provide support in the technical and administrative management of the project.
From artica+i, we help to manage R&D&I projects in international cooperation.
During the meeting, the NOVATERRA partners highlighted the most relevant advances achieved so far in the framework of the 6 technical work packages that make up this project.
The international NOVATERRA project is made up of a large consortium composed of 23 entities from 6 European countries: Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Greece and Belgium, which articulates its work plan with a budget of more than 5.5 million euros co-financed in more than 58% by the European Commission, through the Horizon 2020 program.
Relevant technical advances made by Spanish partners
Focusing on the Spanish partners, IRTA is working in Catalonia, as project coordinator, together with the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) and the Center for Research in Agrifood Economics and Development (CREDA).
In addition, the University of Burgos is conducting technical trials in the Ribera de Duero DO, while Bodegas Terras Gauda is doing so in its vineyards in the Rías Baixas DO.
For its part, the Wine Technology Platform is leading the communication and dissemination of the project nationwide, publicizing the progress and achievements of NOVATERRA.
Finally, acting as third parties in the project, the Galician Business-University Foundation (FEUGA) and the Wine Technology Center (VITEC) are participating.
Less nitrogen in fertilization
Both the University of Burgos (UBU) and Bodegas Terras Gauda are carrying out different trials in the D.O Ribera de Duero and D.O Rías Baixas respectively, for the optimization of fertilization with less use of nitrogen, the use of plant covers and flower margins to improve the biological control of the main pests that affect the vine, as well as the search for the best combination of both managements.
The reduction of nitrogen fertilization is being carried out through the application of OptinyteTM technology to stabilize nitrogen loss, which has been developed by CORTEVA, also a partner in the NOVATERRA project. As the most relevant result to date, although still very preliminary, Emilio Rodríguez Canas, R&D&I and Enology Director at Bodegas Terras Gauda, commented that “we have seen that it is possible to reduce nitrogen fertilization by up to 30% without negatively affecting the quantity and quality of the harvest when nitrogen is stabilized with OptinyteTM”.
Characterization of the vineyard, a key factor in the application of phytosanitary products
For its part, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia is focusing its studies on the importance of characterizing the vineyard in order to be able to regulate the necessary doses of phytosanitary products. Thus, based on the Dosaviña® technology, which allows determining the optimal volume of application in phytosanitary treatments in vineyards, the UPC has taken a step further in the framework of NOVATERRA to automate the process of measuring the vegetation, which until now was done manually. This is a breakthrough for the winegrower as it is a tedious and time-consuming task.
“We get much more accurate vegetation maps, thanks to the combination of satellite images and photographic information obtained by installing a camera on the tractor”, according to Francisco García, a member of the Agricultural Mechanization Unit of the UPC. With this characterization of the vineyard, very precise information about the plot is provided to the machinery for applying phytosanitary products, which regulates the amount of product applied to each area of the crop.
What do consumers think?
Finally, CREDA is at the forefront of market studies that allow NOVATERRA’s innovations to be transferred to the consumer. In this sense, CREDA has conducted a survey of more than 5,000 consumers in France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain, to detect whether the commitment of wineries to reduce pesticides is important for consumers and whether it can be a determining factor in their purchasing decision.
Particularly interesting was the study of the consumer’s predisposition to pay more if the reduction of pesticides used in the production of a wine is certified or not. CREDA has reached the conclusion that, in Spain, for every 1% reduction of pesticide without certification, the consumer is willing to pay 70% more on the market price of a particular wine. This figure increases to 1.35 if the pesticide reduction is certified by the European Commission or other bodies. In short, the survey carried out within the framework of NOVATERRA shows that the results vary depending on the country and the type of certification, although there is a potential market for conventional wine differentiated in terms of pesticide use in vineyards.
Our experience in large international consortia
There are many financial instruments to support R&D&I in international cooperation. To ensure the success of the proposal, it is important to detect the program that best fits the needs and characteristics of our initiative.
In this sense, our International Project Finance team has more than 10 years of experience in the management of European funds: from the European Financial Framework, endowed with more than 1 billion euros for the period 2021-2027, which includes Horizon Europe among others, to programs such as Interreg, PRIMA or CDTI Innovation bilateral calls.
Our expertise includes support in the conception of the technical idea of the project, design of the most appropriate consortium for its execution and identification of the best international financing tool, as well as support in the application phase and subsequent technical and economic management of the initiative.
