Research Gaps Hamper Regenerative Agriculture Practice Adoption on Vineyards
Wine grapes are sensitive crops. They are particularly susceptible to subtle changes in temperature and precipitation, making them vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Regenerative agriculture, which uses holistic farming and grazing practices to strengthen soil health and crop productivity, may help grape vines weather changing climate conditions. While regenerative agriculture could yield more productive wine grapes, farmers need research proving the benefits to adopting these practices. To better support farmers, this grant supports University of California, Davis researchers and Jackson Family Wines with U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service scientists to assess the effects of regenerative practices on vineyard soil health. This research aims to provide farmers with an in-depth understanding of how soil management practices drive soil carbon sequestration while connecting the dots between changes in soil carbon, soil health and grape quality.
Why This Research is Important
Grapes are the highest-value fruit crop in the U.S., valued at over $5.93 billion. In 2021, 6.05 million tons of grapes were grown commercially in the U.S., with over 70% of the fruit used in wine. California produces more than 99% of those grapes. To produce optimal fruit quality, wine grapes require narrow climate ranges. This requirement has forced growers on the U.S. West Coast to rapidly adapt to climate change challenges like droughts and other severe weather conditions to remain viable.
The wine industry is aware that adopting regenerative agriculture practices can benefit grape crops, and farmers are experimenting with them to increase soil health and crop resiliency. Yet, large uncertainty exists on the efficacy of these practices across different conditions and the impacts on grape quality. Farmers need applied research that assesses the efficacy of regenerative agriculture in supporting soil health and production goals.