The ViWaTec project brings the wine sector solutions to improve the use of water in the sector

The difficult situation resulting from the unprecedented drought episode that Catalonia is suffering has led to highly relevant collaboration projects with the wine and water sector. This is the case of the ViWaTec project, funded by ACCIÓ’s call for Competitiveness Reinforcement Initiatives, which aims to promote technological solutions and other innovative strategies that improve the efficiency of water use in the wine sector.

The project, coordinated by the CWP, has the participation of wine sector representatives, with the wine employers’ association (AVC) and the INNOVI Cluster. Also with the representation of 4 expert companies in the water sector (ABM Consulting, CIM Aigua, GeoServei and Dr. Canicio Consulting Chemist) with experience in the sector, which will contribute their know-how in proposing technological solutions and good practices to reduce water consumption in the sector. On the part of the wine sector, there is also the representation of 3 SMEs that will act as end-users (Sumarroca, Unió fruits (Els Guiamets) and La Vinyeta).

In addition to the 3 participating wineries, a specific day was organized last February 13 to encourage participation in the project to 9 more wineries, representative of the wine sector in Catalonia, encompassing the denomination of origin of Prioritat and Montsant, Penedès and Empordà Their participation offers them an opportunity to learn and save through diagnostic studies which will include the personalized identification of weak points and lines of improvement in water management, all accompanied by technical visits by external water sector experts of the project.

Just last April 25, they started the technical visits to the selected wineries, of which, in the La Vinyeta, Els Guiamets and Sumarroca wineries, they will become more detailed reports with technical and economic evaluations of the improvement proposals. In addition, the results of these tasks and the know-how of the companies will be the basis for the construction, on the one hand, of a Guide to good practices for saving water in the wine sector, which will include good practices of use, recommendations for innovative and disruptive technologies, as well as industry success stories. On the other hand, an online catalog of technologies available for saving water. This last input is key to facilitating the implementation of the same by the wineries, as it makes up for the lack of access to new technological proposals and suppliers.

In addition, the project has created Territorial Working Groups (GTTS) to work and disseminate the results obtained and create collaboration synergies between both sectors, These GTTs created by each of the 3 participating DOs, will be the seed to set up as permanent elements of discussion of sustainable solutions beyond water.

It is therefore expected that the ViWaTec project will allow the reduction of water consumption, the application of good usage practices and innovative technology in the wine sector, promoting its resilience and competitiveness in the face of the water crisis.