From the Roundtable: A collaborative approach to chemical reduction

One of the SWR’s key action areas is the Sustainable Viticulture Protocol (SVP), a principles-based framework to help with decision-making around chemical use, acknowledging that growing conditions vary considerably across regions. The SVP will be the centre of an on-going change management process away from intensive chemical use in the wine industry, towards a more sustainable, carbon-positive viticultural approach.

As part of this work, the SWR undertook a small research programme earlier this year to better understand producers’ priorities around chemical inputs and vineyard management. The aim was to explore whether an approach of collaboration and sharing of insights would be applicable to the sustainability of viticulture.

My colleague Dr Peter Stanbury, SWR’s head of research, joins me on the latest From the Roundtable podcast episode to share the findings and what they mean for the SVP.