WatEnerWine

Funded by

SMP-COSME-2023-AGRICLUSTER (GA 101165779)

Duration

36 months (16/05/2024 – 15/05/2027)

Background

The European wine industry is a significant contributor to the European economy. The weight of viticulture plays a more important role in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, as it is grown in nearly all regions of southern Europe. Wine production is an example of an activity where processing occurs on-site, thereby maintaining the added value in the production region.

Wine production is vital for rural areas as it contributes to:
Quality tourism
Landscape preservation
Retention of permanent population

Continuing with the work of the European EPAWI project (COSME Project) and the Wine Innovation Collaboration Alliance (WICA), the global survey produced with the participation of over 600 producers and viticulturists defines the main challenges of the wine sector worldwide as follows:

• Reduce energy use and improve energy efficiency for production by using less energy-intensive technologies with low carbon emissions
• Increase the use of renewable energy sources (e.g., solar, wind, sustainable biomass, coproducts)
• Improve water efficiency

General and specific objectives

The project pursues the following main objective: to support actions for the establishment of the “European Agri-food Sustainability Cluster Partnerships” focused on promoting (advancing and implementing) the adoption of resource efficiency technologies in the areas of energy and water by SMEs, specifically in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water management and efficiency.

This general objective is structured into several specific objectives:

• Create a network of clusters, business support organizations (BSOs), technological centers, and SMEs to promote the project’s goal
• Improve the structures and capacities of EU clusters and BSOs to support SMEs in their transition towards sustainability
• Enhance the energy efficiency and water management of wineries to adopt actions and technologies
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and resource use
• Reduce operational costs
• Involve organizations in European sustainability initiatives

Consortium

The consortium of the project reflects different actors from the sustainable agri-food sector and includes: three agri-food clusters (INNOVI, INNO’VIN, CLUST-ER), two support organizations (CWP and VINIDEA), and two technological centers (EURECAT and IFV).

In particular:

• • Catalan Wine Cluster – INNOVI (Capofila)
  • EURECAT
  • Catalan Water Partnership – CWP
  • Wine Cluster of Nouvelle Aquitaine – INNO’VIN
  • Institut Français de la Vigne et du Vin – IFV
  • Agri-food Cluster of Emilia-Romagna – CLUST-ER
  • VINIDEA

For more information: gianni.trioli@vinidea.it e chiara.pezzi@vinidea.it

WatEnerWine is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.