Marta Rodríguez: «Innovation in precision viticulture is the key for vineyards to adapt to climate change»
It is well known that vine cultivation and winemaking are based on a long tradition that goes back thousands of years, playing a central role in cultures such as the Greeks and Romans in which there was a cult around a divinity, Dionysus and Bacchus, respectively, and what it represented: a true passion for wine.
A passion that relies on an infinite universe of flavors, properties and nuances that vary in each bottle. But in places like Galicia, it is also based on respect for a productive sector that generates 1.4% of the country's GDP, occupying 3.5% of our territory and involving more than 200,000 winegrowers.
A passion, too, shared by Marta Rodríguez Fernández for as long as she can remember, and which led her to build her professional career around this particular microcosm in search of a future capable of responding to such pressing challenges as climate change.
Senior research support technician at Campus Terra and PhD in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Santiago de Compostela, Marta Rodriguez, defended earlier this year her doctoral thesis, ' Precision viticulture for the characterization and management of vineyards in a context of climate change,' a perfect summary of her scientific concerns on which a very promising research career is based.
Today we interviewed her to open the doors to the fascinating world of precision viticulture, discover which technologies will be the protagonists in a few years, and tell us about the challenges that threaten wine production in Galicia.
-What is precision viticulture and what technologies are currently being used to carry it out?
-Precision viticulture is an advanced agricultural practice that uses technologies and data to manage vineyards, precisely optimizing production and wine quality.
Its main objective is to adapt vineyard management to the particular characteristics of each area of land, seeking to maximize yields and minimize environmental impact, adjusting inputs such as water and fertilizers...
Currently, the most used technologies in precision viticulture are Geographic Information Systems (GIS), sensors in the vineyard, drones, satellites, multispectral and hyperspectral images, predictive models, Big Data, robotics, and automated machinery...
-And in the future, which technologies do you foresee will play a leading role in precision agriculture?
-In precision viticulture, the future will be marked by the use of artificial intelligence (AI), sensors, data technology and other innovations that will optimize every stage of the grape and wine growing process.
The advances that are expected to play a leading role are field sensors and real-time monitoring, the use of drones for vineyard management, diseases, water stress... artificial intelligence, predictive analysis, autonomous vehicles and robotics in the vineyard, land zoning studies, climate models, adaptation to climate change...
-Can these new techniques be applied equally to all varieties? How does orography affect precision viticulture?
-Precision viticulture techniques can be applied to practically all grape varieties. Still, their implementation and effectiveness may vary according to the specific characteristics of each variety and the type of wine to be produced.
In addition, the orography of the terrain plays a crucial role in applying these techniques. The orography or configuration of the terrain is an essential factor in precision viticulture, as it directly affects the microclimate, solar exposure and drainage in each part of the vineyard. For example, mountainous terrain and steep slopes often present variations in microclimate and conditions that require even more detailed management.
-In his doctoral thesis, defended this year, he delves into the importance of this type of strategy and how it will impact the climate change we are experiencing. What are the most immediate climatic consequences facing wine production? And in the long term?
-Wine production faces a series of immediate and long-term climatic consequences that affect the quality, yield and characteristics of grapes and wine. These consequences are mainly driven by climate change, which alters environmental conditions and generates both short- and long-term challenges.
The immediate climatic consequences are related to rising temperatures, which affect grape ripening, extreme heat episodes, heat waves, plant water stress... drought and variability in rainfall throughout the season, as well as external climatic phenomena, hail, intense storms or off-season frosts that affect vineyards immediately.
In the long term, the consequences of climate change on wine production are more closely linked to the displacement of growing areas as average temperatures rise, changes in the sensory profile of wines, increased risk of diseases and pests, cumulative water stress and resource depletion, loss of biodiversity and changes in the ecosystem.
To address these consequences, winemakers are exploring new grape varieties more resistant to heat and drought, adapting sustainable management practices, and using precision viticulture technologies to optimize irrigation, pruning, and other factors.
Canopy and canopy management techniques are also being studied to reduce the impact of solar radiation and preserve soil moisture. Innovation in precision viticulture, together with the use of sustainable techniques, is the key for vineyards to adapt to the changing climate and continue to produce high-quality wines in the context of increasing climatic variability.
-You have been working for some time on a project to agronomically and oenologically evaluate ozone treatment in Ribeira Sacra varieties. What are the findings of this research so far?
-Ozone treatment on grape varieties is an innovative practice that offers multiple benefits in viticulture, mainly in the protection against diseases and in the reduction of the use of pesticides and other chemicals, which helps to maintain more sustainable production. Ozone, a powerful oxidizing agent, can effectively eliminate pathogens and pests without leaving toxic residues on the grapes or in the environment.
-As we can see, the core of your research work is closely related to the world of wine. What led you to dedicate yourself to this particular field?
-Growing up in a region so rich in winemaking history, surrounded by vineyards and the tradition of Galician wines, is something that instilled in me a deep respect for the art of viticulture and the value of the work of generations, a passion that I carry in my veins thanks to my roots.
I grew up watching my family tend the vineyard, following a tradition passed down from generation to generation: that love for the vineyard and the process of turning grapes into wine inspired me to want to understand every detail that makes each bottle of wine so special.
I am fascinated to discover how soil, climate and viticultural practices affect the grape, and how each small adjustment can result in a completely different aromatic profile or flavor. In addition, research in this field provides the opportunity to bring a future to viticulture, helping grape growers adapt to new challenges such as climate change and sustainability. Every advance in the knowledge of native varieties and sustainable practices is a way to protect and enhance our heritage, and that, in every glass, centuries of history, effort and passion can be tasted.
-And finally, what advice would you give to the new generations who want to start their career in the world of scientific research?
-For new generations interested in scientific research, delving into this world is both a challenge and an opportunity for transformation. Science requires passion, perseverance and a constant willingness to learn and adapt. Scientific research is a demanding path but full of satisfaction. Not only do you contribute to knowledge, but you also become a problem solver, think critically and contribute to the world.
It is a fascinating journey and will make you grow in many dimensions.