The VITIREM Operational Group, led by L’Olivera, promotes a new model for dryland viticulture using plant cover

May 19, 2025

Faced with increasing drought and a lack of clear references for managing plant cover in dryland vineyards, the VITIREM Operational Group, driven by L’Olivera, aims to provide technicians and winegrowers with a useful tool to guide both strategic and operational decision-making.

The group is developing a decision-making model to implement plant cover in dryland viticulture. The goal is to preserve and increase soil organic matter while adapting to climate change.

This model integrates agronomic knowledge, environmental data, and sustainability indicators. It combines the principles of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), the biological growth cycle of the vine, and the development of new sustainability indicators tailored to the environmental context of drought and water stress affecting dryland vineyards.

Pilot testing at L’Olivera vineyards

The project includes pilot tests in L’Olivera’s vineyards, located in Vallbona de les Monges, Nalec, and Barcelona, which represent different climate conditions and soil types. The study plots feature grape varieties such as Macabeu, Garnatxa Negra, and Xarel·lo, and test different types of plant cover—sown, spontaneous, and inert—to evaluate their effects on soil quality, water availability, crop yield, and grape quality.

Innovation and a future rooted in the territory

The GO-VITIREM project is a step forward in adapting viticulture to climate change. With on-site experimentation and a strong commitment to knowledge sharing, the project brings together 12 partner organizations and businesses to equip Catalan winegrowers with the tools they need to tackle new challenges in the sector.

As a result of this research project, L’Olivera has welcomed visits from both local and international research groups to exchange knowledge—contributing significantly to the advancement of dryland viticulture. The GO-VITIREM project is funded by the Department of Agriculture of the Government of Catalonia and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).