Within the framework of the EVECSA project, on Monday, July 15, 2024, we visited Abadal winery, to begin to see the relationship between the forestry sector and the agricultural sector, and later develop it within the educational framework of the project on climate change.
The EVECSA project
When we talk about the EVECSA project, it is about Smart Agriculture for Climate, it aims to empower current and future workers in the European agricultural sector to adopt climate-smart measures.
Download and read the full article
also available in ES
The project aims to build solid ecosystems of skills through the creation of Communities of Practice (CoP), for this reason six Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE’s) have been established.
From the CoVE formed in our territory, the participants will cooperate to strengthen the quality, relevance and attractiveness of the professional learning offer oriented to intelligent agriculture for the climate. In this CoVE we are part of the Agricultural School of Manresa, the BETA center of the University of Vic and BOSCAT.
The visit to Abadal winery
Nowadays, the winery stands out for its sustainable management, using plant cover and livestock to maintain the landscape. They incorporate advanced technology to control soil humidity and temperature, optimizing the use of water in a context of climate change.
With 400 hectares of forest, 40 hectares of vineyards, 6 hectares of olives and 70 hectares of cereal, it combines tradition and innovation to produce quality wines and preserve the landscape.
Even so, the reason for our visit was the use of biomass covers in the vineyards.
These have the function of improving soil management, preventing erosion, helping water filtration and acting as a thermal blanket. These covers can regulate the temperature of the soil and maintain humidity, promoting a microbiologically active and healthy soil.
Furthermore, biomass covers have other advantages, such as for example:
• Improved water filtration: The roofs help to filter water into the soil, which is especially beneficial in wet areas.
• Erosion prevention: The presence of roofs reduces soil erosion, maintaining its integrity.
• Thermal blanket: They act as a thermal blanket, helping to maintain a more stable soil temperature.
• Promotion of competition between fungi: This helps to maintain beneficial fungi and reduce pathogens.
• Possibility of working immediately after rain: With roofs, you can access the ground to work without compacting the floor.
In summary, biomass covers in vineyards have significant benefits for soil health and water management, but they require careful management to prevent increased fire risk. Unlike the plant cover, the biomass cover incorporated in the vineyards does not generate problems of competition for water.
We would like to thank Miquel Palau and Abadal wines for welcoming us and making us enjoy this enriching experience in their vineyards.
