Viticulture – in search of an alternative to copper
One of the major problems in modern winegrowing is the fungal infestation of vines. As a result of the harmful effect of fungi, such as downy mildew, not just the harvest but also the quality of the wine produced is severely impaired. Currently, to prevent fungal infestation, most organic winegrowers treat their vines with products that contain the heavy metal copper as an active substance. Copper accumulates in the soil and harms or kills, among others, valuable soil microorganisms.
Currently, the EU-Eco Regulation limits the use of copper to six kilograms per hectare and year and the German organic associations limit its use, on a voluntary basis, to three kilograms per hectare and year. However, the EU is pushing for copper fungicides to be replaced as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, at the moment there are no efficient alternatives to replace copper as a fungicide in organic or conventional viticulture. Therefore, an economical solution is required to support the development and growth of the organic viticulture market. The aim of the EU-funded ProEcoWine project was therefore to develop an environmentally compatible plant protection product made from microalgae which is suitable for organic winegrowing.