Competitiveness of the wine sector: considerations on future scenarios

For a critical assessment of the issues relating to the future viticulture nursery system in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses is essential to examine the relationship between factors of the supply chain and the extrinsic factors able of modulating the interactions between the whole wine system. The uncertainty of the evolution over time of the forecasts suggests examining these aspects for hypothetical scenarios which involves the following interfaces: Consumer (market)/ Producer, Grower/Nursery, Research/Nursery/Grower/Consumer. Other aspects might modulate the above relations: social ethics, energy cost, globalization, economic situation, climate change, Pathogens emergencies. It is clear that a fundamental part of research will be carried out to clarify whether GMOs can pose risks to health or the environment. On this basis a possible clarification it might also change the current hostile attitude of some countries or part of the population. The strategy choice to cultivate or not genetically modified vines could also result in disruption in the spread of viticulture in different countries, but this could not occur before ten years. Moreover another field of research is the intensification of the studies to understand the mechanisms that regulate the plants functioning and the role of symbiotic microorganisms which could facilitate the cultivation and the development of environmentally friendly techniques (biodynamic method?). Beneficial microorganisms, genetically modified or not, will be useful for finding biotechnological solutions, especially to control biotic and abiotic stress and for a biofertilization in balance with the aimed productions. In presence of a high critical situation of funding we need to wisely manage the ethical aspects of research and ensure adequate and rational fund investment. It would be desirable for local projects carry out a “Shared Research”, involving the various components of the “Wine chain”.