OIV Definition and recommendations about functional biodiversity in the vineyards

Status: In force

OIV Definition and recommendations about functional biodiversity in the vineyards

RESOLUTION OIV-VITI 677-2022

OIV DEFINITION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT FUNCTIONAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE VINEYARDS

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

AT THE PROPOSAL of Commission I « Viticulture » and the group of experts “Sustainable development and Climate Change”,

IN VIEW of article 2, paragraph 2 iv of the Agreement of 3 April 2001, establishing the International Organisation of Vine and Wine, and under the axe 1 of the OIV Strategic Plan 2020-2024, which foresees to “Promote an environmentally-friendly vitiviniculture”,

CONSIDERING Resolution VITI 1/2002 on preservation of the diversity,

CONSIDERING Resolution OIV/VITI 333/2010 establishing the concept of terroir,

CONSIDERING the FAO definition of Regenerative Agriculture and its 10 elements of agroecology,

Considering the OIV resolution OIV CST 518-2016 on general principles of sustainable vitiviniculture, and especially the principle 2: Sustainable vitiviniculture respects the environment and the parts concerning to preserve the biodiversity,

CONSIDERING the OIV resolution OIV-VITI 641-2020 guide for the implementation of principles of sustainable vitiviniculture,

CONSIDERING the OIV collective expertise document «Functional biodiversity in the vineyard» published by the OIV in 2018,

CONSIDERING the OIV Resolution OIV-VITI 655-2021 on OIV recommendations about valuation and importance of microbial biodiversity in a sustainable vitiviniculture context.

Considering the works of the International Organisation for Biological and Integrated Control (IOBC) on integrated control, integrated protection and pest management, and landscape management for functional biodiversity,

Considering the adoption of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD; 2010) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations (UN) through which the international community  committed to a set of 17 ambitious goals on ‘living in harmony with nature’ and ‘leaving no one behind’, which requires immediate and ambitious action to protect life both below water and on land, by reducing pressures on biodiversity and ecosystems. In particular the goal 15 meant to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Recognized that:

  • Biodiversity across trophic levels is necessary for the balance of ecosystems and life on our planet; vitiviniculture and its production systems can contribute to preserving and strengthening it.
  • Biodiversity is an important regulator of agroecosystem functions, not only in the strictly sense of its impact on production, but also in satisfying a variety of needs of the farmer and society at large.
  • Agroecosystem managers, including farmers, can build upon, enhance, manage, steer and maintain multitrophic biodiversity, thus contributing to support the essential ecosystem services that are needed to work towards sustainable and regenerative viticultural production.
  • Development of innovative, sustainable and regenerative viticultural practices, including the use of ancient and/or traditional viticultural practices is essential for resilience of viticultural systems. These agroecological approaches and guidelines must emphasize the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity, soil, water, and other resources thereby improving efficiency waste management to meet the growing array of socioeconomic and environmental challenges.
  • Biodiversity can provide multiple benefits through application of better farming practices following ecosystem-based approaches designed to improve the sustainability and resilience of production systems. These approaches meet consumer expectations for products produced in an environmentally and socially responsible way.
  • Reaping benefits from biodiversity in agroecosystems is a key ecological strategy to bring sustainability to production.
  • A wide array of complementary ecological infrastructures fostering multitrophic biodiversity should be integrated and managed in and around vineyards and respected by management.

DECIDE to adopt the following definition of “functional biodiversity” in the vineyards

“Functional Biodiversity (FB) is defined as a set of organisms, microorganisms and their species that contribute to ecosystem functions in an agroecosystem which promotes sustainability and resilience of production systems. It refers to the utilitarian part of biodiversity that can be of direct or indirect use to the farmer (e.g., conservation biological control of pests).

Functional Biodiversity seeks to integrate ecological infrastructures (hedgerows, woodlands, dry-stone walls, ground covers, insect hotels, etc.) and management practices (e.g. cover crops, livestock, microbial inoculation, etc.), in order to support and enhance ecosystem services and biodiversity in and around the vineyard and to facilitate their management by increasing the quality of the production, while recovering and maintaining the quality and functionality of landscapes.”

Recommends

A.         To the Member States:

  • To promote the FB approach which takes into account the benefits that can be derived from its establishment in the management of the vineyard,
  • To support the development and promotion of the FB approach and its application in vineyards agroecosystems, as an important tool to support sustainability in the vitivinicultural sector.
  • To promote the establishment of public policy measures to promote FB in vineyards agroecosystems and evaluate its outcomes.

B.         To the Scientific Community