Shield4Grape project partners organised field training and demonstration activities across Europe throughout the 2026 growing season, as part of Work Package 5 (WP5) – Support and training to adopt tolerant grapevine genotypes and IPM practices.

The aim of WP5? To strengthen the skills of winegrowers and agricultural advisors through practical training and knowledge exchange, building on experimental trials. These activities support the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices and disease-tolerant and resistant grapevine varieties, helping to reduce reliance on pesticides.

🇵🇹 Portugal

🔹 Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, IP (INIAV, IP)
• 29 May – Canopy management and vineyard microclimate
At the experimental vineyard in Dois Portos, participants examined how varietal characteristics and canopy management influence vineyard microclimate and the development of downy and powdery mildew.

🔹 AVIPE – Associação de Viticultores do Concelho de Palmela
• 23 April – Comparing IPM strategies: Four vineyard protection strategies were compared, including conventional practices, biological elicitors and microbial biocontrol approaches. The use of UV for disease control was also demonstrated.
• 7 May – Disease-resistant grape varieties (PIWI): The session focused on the field performance of these varieties and their integration into IPM strategies, followed by a guided tasting exploring the sensory characteristics of wines made from resistant varieties.
• 12 October – Disease monitoring and varietal responses: Participants compared four grape varieties with different levels of disease susceptibility, learning to distinguish early infection symptoms from localised resistance reactions.