BayCEER Workshop 2024

A socio-ecological perspective to study agriculture under climate change: the case of winegrowing

Winegrowing is a paradigmatic case of how the interaction between ecosystems and human demand for agricultural goods can produce multiple ecological, cultural, and economic values. Over the centuries, European vintners have developed a deep knowledge of vine cultivars, the local environment, and techniques to produce the most distinguishable wines. In many regions, this knowledge is reflected in the system of wine geographical indications (GI), but climate change is challenging this historical union. In this poster, we present the application of a socio-ecological perspective to study GI viticultural systems in Europe and quantify their climate change vulnerability. To do this, we develop a multi-indicator characterization of European GI viticultural regions based on social, economic, environmental, and climatic characteristics. Results indicate that wine regions in Southern Europe are among the most vulnerable, with high levels also found in Eastern Europe. By analyzing the vulnerability of European viticulture, we demonstrate how interdisciplinary approaches can be used to weigh local characteristics (e.g., availability of ecological niches, financial assets) and suggest tailored adaptation strategies for strengthening the resilience of vineyard landscapes. We conclude that the rigidity of GI schemes, such as restricting the use of plant varieties, may affect the supply of values provided by vineyards in the future and will therefore need more flexibility to face climate challenges.