Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM) – Italy

Consortium & Partners

The consortium brings together 5 universities, 3 research centers, and 11 industry leaders spanning 6 European countries, alongside global partners.

Beneficiaries (Partners):

1. Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM) – Italy (Coordinator)
2. Hochschule Geisenheim University – Germany
3. Université de Bordeaux – France
4. Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD) – Portugal
5. Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (INRAE) – France
6. Biolaffort – France
7. Hiphen – France

Associated Partners:

• The Australian Wine Research Institute Limited (Australia)
• C.I.VIT. S. Cons. a r.l. Consorzio Innovazione Vite (Italy)
• Fertiprado - Sementes e Nutrientes LDA (Portugal)
• Hudson River Biotechnology BV (Netherlands)
• FAIR and GREEN e.V. (Germany)
• Mercier Frères S.a.r.L. (France)
• Companhia Geral da Agricoltura das Vinhas do Alto Douro (Portugal)
• Bosque de Matasnos SA (Spain)
• ST Microelectronics SrL (Italy)
• Università degli Studi di Trento (Italy)
• The University of Adelaide (Australia)
• Traces and Dreams AB (Sweden)
• Ruppertsberger Weinkeller eG (Germany)

(EU MSCA) Sustain Vitis is an international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral European Doctoral Network aimed at driving the ecological and economic transition of the European viticulture and winemaking value chain. Aligned with the EU Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy, the project will train 15 Doctoral Candidates (DCs), equipping them with cutting-edge expertise to bridge the gap between basic scientific research and practical industrial applications across the entire wine production chain.

Context & Strategic Challenges

The wine sector represents the largest agricultural export for the European Union and plays a vital role in regional economies, rural communities, and cultural landscapes. However, the industry faces mounting threats, including climate change (prolonged drought, extreme temperature shifts), natural resource depletion, heightened pest and disease pressure, and the imperative to reduce its overall carbon footprint and pesticide usage.

Core Scientific & Technological Pillars

Sustain Vitis acts as a catalyst for sustainable approaches through three main research work packages:

1. Genetic Resources & Grapevine Improvement (WP1): Applying advanced breeding techniques and gene editing to develop resilient grapevine varieties capable of withstanding environmental stresses and diseases.
2. Vineyard Management, Agroecology & Precision Viticulture (WP2): Implementing innovative agronomic strategies to boost climate resilience, decrease pesticide reliance, preserve soil fertility, and protect vineyard biodiversity.
3. Wine Production & Process Sustainability (WP3): Developing low/zero-sulfite and alcohol-free winemaking techniques, reducing carbon emissions through alternative packaging, and valorizing winemaking by-products and waste.

Training & Network Structure

Beyond high-level research, Sustain Vitis delivers a world-class training curriculum for 15 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) that combines:

• Individual research projects complemented by intersectoral secondments at industrial and academic partner sites.
• Specialized courses in scientific methodology and transferable professional skills.
• Direct collaboration across academic research centers and market-leading enterprises to translate scientific innovations into commercial applications.