GM Crops & Food

Integrated Strategies for Sustainable Viticulture: From New Genomic Techniques and Precision Farming Innovation to Socio-Economic and Policy Frameworks

Modern viticulture is at a critical crossroads, facing the dual pressures of increasing climate change impacts and the urgent need to reduce chemical inputs. This Article Collection explores the transition to a sustainable and resilient viticultural model through a multidisciplinary lens. The focus extends from the "field to the bifurcation," integrating biological innovations, such as microbiome-based solutions and biocontrol agents, with revolutionary genetic advances such as novel genomic techniques (NGTs) and resistant strains (PIWIs). In addition to organic solutions, the Article Collection delves into the vineyard's digital transformation, where AI-based diagnostics and precision agriculture tools enable more efficient resource management. Bridging the gap between technical breakthrough and practical application, this topic spans the entire value chain, considering how environmental stressors and innovative plant protection strategies redefine the ecological and operational landscape of global grape production.

The importance of this Article Collection lies in its holistic approach to the systemic challenges currently threatening the wine industry. As the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy impose stringent targets for pesticide reduction, industry must find viable alternatives that do not compromise economic stability or yield quality. However, scientific innovation alone is not enough: the success of these new strategies depends largely on regulatory alignment and stakeholder acceptance. Understanding socioeconomic factors, particularly producers' willingness to adopt new technologies and consumers' willingness to embrace products derived from NGT or PIWI grapes, is crucial to a successful transition. Furthermore, it is essential for policymakers and industry leaders to navigate the complex legislative framework surrounding genome editing and environmental compliance. This Article Collection provides the necessary evidence-based information to ensure that viticulture remains resilient, profitable, and environmentally responsible in an increasingly volatile global market.

This Article Collection aims to provide a holistic overview of the transition towards a resilient and sustainable viticulture, as promoted by the SHIELD4GRAPE project. The Article Collection will not only focus on cutting-edge technical and biological solutions for grapevine protection, such as biodiversity enhancement, genetic resistance, and precision farming, but will also emphasize the socio-economic drivers and regulatory challenges shaping the industry. We seek to include contributions that analyze the impact of EU policies (e.g., the Green Deal and Farm to Fork strategy), the economic feasibility of sustainable innovations, and the role of evidence-based Policy Briefs in translating scientific data into actionable governance.

Keywords:

1. Sustainable Viticulture & Biocontrol (Include: microbiome, plant protection)
2. New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) (Include: Genome editing, PIWI varieties)
3. Precision & Digital Farming (Include: AI diagnostics, vineyard monitoring)
4. Socio-Economic Acceptance (Include: consumer/producer behavior, willingness to pay/adopt)
5. Agri-food Policy & Regulation (Include: EU Green Deal, pesticide legislation, governance)

Guest Advisors: 

Dr. Federica Demaria Ph.D. is a Researcher at CREA with a Ph.D. in Applied Economics, specializing in international agri-food trade and EU policy analysis. Dr. Demaria's current research focuses extensively on the socio-economic impact of New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), specifically investigating the drivers of acceptance among both producers and consumers. By applying advanced econometric methods to farm-level and market data, she evaluates how food innovation and trade measures address global agricultural challenges. This work provides critical evidence-based support for institutional policy-making and strategic interventions. Here is the link to her ORCID page: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1718-1894

Prof. Lara Agnoli Ph.D. is the lead of the Department of Wine & Spirits Business at the Burgundy School of Business in France. She serves as a work package leader in three Horizon EU-funded projects: SHIELD4GRAPE, GOOD and VALERECO. She holds a Ph.D. in Wine Economics and Rural Development from the University of Florence, Italy. Her research focuses on analyzing wine and food demand, consumption behavior, and farmers' decision-making processes in adopting sustainable practices. Here is the link to her ORCID page: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1136-8014

Disclosure statement: Both Guest Advisors declare no conflict of interest.

All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo desk assessment and peer-review as part of our standard editorial process; the Guest Advisor for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member).

Please review the journal scope  and author submission instructions  prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is February 28th, 2027.

Please contact Ruby Ru at [email protected]  with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

To submit your papers to this Article Collection, please:

1. Check "yes" for the question, "Are you submitting your paper for a specific special issue or article collection?"
2. Select the relevant Article Collection from the drop-down menu under the question, "Special Issue or Article Collection Name."