“We are thinking about the grapes of tomorrow”: how the Languedoc-Roussillon wine industry is facing the climate challenge

Jean-Benoît Cavalier ne veut pas opposer défense de l’environnement et production. Midi Libre – JEAN MICHEL MART

Les trois interprofessions régionales ont uni leurs ressources pour lancer un Pôle technique. À sa tête Jean-Benoît Cavalier qui en explique les contours.

It went a little unnoticed but a strong act was signed on May 17: the creation of the first regional technical center “Vine and Wine” InterSouth. Its objective: to manage and implement research and development actions and projects in the regional wine industry.

At its head, for a three-year mandate, Jean-Benoît Cavalier, winemaker and president of the AOP Languedoc, accompanied by vice-president Richard Planas (director of the Gérard Bertrand estates). This center is supported by the regional inter-professional associations CIVL (Languedoc wines), CIVR (Roussillon wines) and Inter Oc (Pays d’Oc IGP wines). They decided to pool their resources and means to launch this common technical center within InterSud, the federation that brings them together.

Research work on plant material

And this is not another structure in a universe which has so many acronyms that are often impossible for ordinary mortals to decipher: "It’s about thinking about the grapes of tomorrow", summarizes Jean-Benoît Cavalier. Those who will be able to adapt to climate change and repeated periods of drought. A center that will reflect with regional institutions on issues relating to irrigation, carbon management…

"We will respond to the problem of adapting the vineyard to the challenges facing us. But we also want to obtain products that comply with changes in consumption. We are going to do important work on plant material, grape varieties, rootstocks with the creation of disease-tolerant grape varieties", explains Jean-Benoît Cavalier, aware of the urgency to act in a context of wine crisis.

With an important focus around water consumption "with moderation and efficiency" which will also be at the heart of the cluster's work in order to optimize "a rare or, for some, non-existent resource".

A roadmap delivered at the end of July

For this, the winegrowers of Languedoc-Roussillon are placing their hopes in research and innovation. "The ambition is to succeed in pooling this service on a regional scale in order to gain efficiency and be as close as possible to the reality on the ground", underlines Christophe Bousquet, president of the CIVL and the’ rsquo;AOP La Clape. Jacques Gravegeal, boss of the IGP Pays d’Oc sees it"a magnificent step forward to give future prospects to the largest wine-growing basin in France". A wine-growing area which produces more than 10 million hectoliters of wine per year, or 21% of national production, on a vineyard which represents an area of ​​186,000 hectares.

To deal with technical challenges, management of the regional technical center has been entrusted to Marie Corbel, holder of a DEA in plant genetics and graduate of Montpellier Sup’Agro.< /p>

Jean-Benoît Cavalier should be able to propose a roadmap for the next five years at the end of July. "A real strategy with strong axes", which will be submitted to the authorities. With the aim of refusing to oppose " 

environmental protection and production capacity. This is not incompatible". Since research provides valuable solutions…

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