On October 18th, 2024, in Dijon, France, a significant milestone was achieved for the global viticulture and wine sectors. The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through its International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Signed by John Barker, Director General of the OIV, and Kent Nnadozie, Secretary of the FAO’s ITPGRFA, this MoU solidifies a year of exchanges and collaboration between these bodies to conserve and promote grapevine genetic diversity worldwide.
The partnership aims to address pressing environmental challenges and implement strategies to safeguard the grapevine genetic pool, essential for the long-term resilience of the vine and wine industry. This move is timely as viticulture faces numerous threats from climate change, including biodiversity loss, extreme weather, and shifting ecosystems. By collaborating, the OIV and ITPGRFA are pooling their scientific expertise, resources, and databases to foster a more sustainable and adaptable future for the viticulture industry.
Key Areas of Cooperation
This MoU provides a structured framework for cooperation and highlights several critical areas where the OIV and ITPGRFA will collaborate. These include:
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Climate Change Adaptation and Biodiversity Conservation
As climate change continues to affect grape-growing regions worldwide, maintaining genetic diversity within grapevines is paramount. The OIV and ITPGRFA will work together on adopting and promoting strategies to conserve grapevine genetic resources, focusing on ensuring resilience against changing climates, pests, and diseases. These efforts are essential in protecting traditional grape varieties while allowing for innovation and adaptability within the industry. -
Policy Formulation and Knowledge Sharing
Central to the MoU is the goal of building policies that leverage scientific and technical knowledge to promote sustainable practices in viticulture. By drawing on research and expertise, the OIV and ITPGRFA aim to foster a scientifically backed framework for the sector, which can lead to sustainable viticulture policies worldwide. -
Best Practices and Technical Guidelines
The MoU aims to develop a set of best practices and technical guidelines to address the complex needs of the grapevine and wine sectors. This will cover a broad spectrum, including sustainable cultivation practices, the conservation of genetic material, and effective adaptation to climate-related impacts.
Tools and Resources for Success
To advance these objectives, the OIV and ITPGRFA will facilitate scientific exchanges and technical collaborations. They will integrate their unique databases and technical tools, such as:
- Global Information System and Digital Object Identifiers from ITPGRFA, crucial for tracking and managing plant genetic resources.
- OIV Databases on Vine Varieties and their Synonyms, Ampelographic Descriptors, and Collections, which catalog grapevine diversity, aiding in the preservation and study of grape varieties worldwide.
Through these resources, they aim to build an interconnected system that aids in monitoring, conserving, and facilitating access to valuable grapevine genetic information.
Capacity Building and Knowledge Dissemination
The MoU also emphasizes the importance of capacity-building initiatives to promote knowledge exchange and professional development within the viticulture community. Both organizations are set to hold scientific and technical seminars and workshops that will help local and global stakeholders better understand and apply best practices in grapevine conservation and climate resilience. These events will serve as platforms for knowledge transfer, promoting a collaborative approach to addressing the industry's most urgent challenges.
Statements from Key Figures
Expressing the importance of this partnership, John Barker of the OIV stated, “Within the OIV, we strongly welcome this relationship with the FAO ITPGRFA.” Secretary Kent Nnadozie of the FAO’s ITPGRFA reinforced this sentiment, emphasizing the urgent need to “ensure genetic diversity in the face of climate change, diseases, pests, and biodiversity loss.” Nnadozie also noted that by joining forces with the OIV, the two organizations are “opening doors to new opportunities for innovation,” which will be crucial for the future of the industry.
Source: OIV