In viticulture, every small decision has an impact — on the soil, on the health of the plants, and on the quality of the grapes that form the basis of the wine that ends up on our tables. And the future of viticulture could depend on a single biosolution. Or on a hundred. In the VINNY, an ambitious European project in which InnovPlantProtect (InPP) participates, researchers from ten countries are searching for bioactives capable of halting vine diseases — while, at the same time, reducing reliance on synthetic agrochemicals. The stakes are not just scientific: this is about the sustainability of this entire sector.
The goal of VINNY is simple, yet transformative: to develop and implement effective, sustainable, and adaptable solutions tailored to the needs of winegrowers across different European countries. This involves creating environment-friendly biopesticides and biofertilizers, combined with advanced nanoencapsulation technologies — with the aim of reducing dependence on conventional chemicals, promoting a healthier ecosystem, and supporting a circular viticulture model.
At the core of this mission is the daily work of researchers seeking responses invisible to the naked eye — among them, Tiago Amaro, a researcher at InPP.
Image credits: VINNY Project
Searching for the Vine’s Guardians
The journey toward these new biosolutions begins in the field — with the vine itself. Since September 2024, Tiago Amaro’s work has focused on identifying and isolating microorganisms naturally present in the vines. Samples are collected from vine material (grapes, canes, woody fragments) supplied by partners in Portugal, Spain, Austria, and Denmark.
Inside the lab, what looks like a simple fragment of vine can hide a microscopic world that holds the natural weapons needed to combat major threats to vineyards — threats that directly affect the profitability of farms:
• Post-harvest diseases such as grey mold (Botrytis cinerea) and blue mold (Penicillium expansum), which affect table grapes and can make them unfit for consumption.
• Vine tumors caused by the bacterium Allorhizobium vitis, a disease that attacks the plant in the field — damaging leaves and reducing grape yield.
Tiago Amaro, investigador do InnovPlantProtect, a identificar e isolar bactérias, no âmbito do projeto VINNY. Créditos das imagens: InnovPlantProtect – Inês Ferreira
After isolating the microorganisms, Tiago dedicates his work to creating bacterial libraries. But what is a ‘Bacterial Library’? In the context of research, a bacterial library is an organized and catalogued collection of bacteria isolated from different sources. It allows scientists to test each bacterial strain against specific pathogens, forming a vast catalogue of potential biological ‘super-heroes’ for plant protection.
This rigorous screening, which has already led to the analysis of more than 190 bacteria from this library, is the first line of defense. The team selects the best candidates with the potential to be used as biological control agents against the diseases under study.
European Collaboration at Its Best
What if the solution to protect Portuguese vineyards lies hidden in a Danish grape? Or in a bacterium isolated in Spain? One of the most exciting aspects of VINNY is its truly collaborative dimension: researchers across ten countries — from different climates and ecosystems — work in parallel, sharing findings, challenges and microbial strains in the quest for biosolutions effective across Europe.
“All the solutions found will be shared, all solutions tested by all partners, and it will be possible to build a ‘library of solutions’ against the various vine diseases,” emphasizes Tiago Amaro.
The sharing of bacteria and extracts from different ecosystems (Portugal, Spain, Denmark and Austria) is crucial. A bacterium effective in Denmark may hold the key to protecting Portuguese vineyards — and vice versa. This exchange of biological solutions, one of the core innovations of the project, allows the exploitation of
The breadth of this testing effort is a bet on the future: microorganisms that may prove ineffective against vine diseases could still become a solution for pathologies in other crops.
Left photo: Tiago Amaro, a researcher at InPP, observing a vine leaf, the target crop of the VINNY project. Right photo: Potted vine plants in the InPP greenhouse, prepared to test the solutions developed by the various VINNY partners. Image credits: InnovPlantProtect – Inês Ferreira
From the Lab to the Field — Real-World Testing
After selecting the most promising strains in the lab, the next step is formulation. That process — which involves turning a bacterium into a stable, applicable, farmer-friendly product — will be carried out in Portugal and Spain, at the institutions leading the project.
As Tiago Amaro points out, there are multiple challenges:
- Field uncertainty: Even very promising lab or greenhouse results may not translate into effectiveness in vineyards due to environmental variables.
- Time factor: Some diseases (like those caused by Allorhizobium vitis) may take years to develop — or may only present mild symptoms in certain years — making robust conclusions difficult.
- Agricultural cycle: Given that there is typically one harvest per year, testing a formulation in the field over three to five consecutive years — while carefully logging all variations — is essential. Patience and persistence are required.
In fact, going from the discovery of a promising bacterium to a fully formulated, market-ready, proven product can take about a decade — a true test of any scientist’s resilience.
Customised Solutions: The Demand of Modern Agriculture
The final challenge is to ensure that the trials are relevant to the farmers’ reality. The current trend in agriculture leans toward customised solutions, adapted to the specific conditions of each farm. As the researcher projects: “For each field and for each farmer, there must be a solution.”
This more tailored approach requires more science, more rigor and deeper local knowledge — exactly what VINNY aims to build.
Europe United by Vine and Science
InPP consortium comprises 19 partners across ten countries, led by Universidade do Minho and financed by the European programme Horizon Europe.
Together, they are trying to answer a question that could shape the future of European viticulture: Is it possible to find effective biosolutions for all partner countries?
The answer is still being written — in labs, in experimental vineyards, across fields with different climates and geographies.
And it is built on small discoveries, many frustrations, and a deep commitment to science.
Because protecting the vineyard of the future is not just a technical ambition. It is a cultural, economic and environmental commitment. And VINNY is helping sketch that future — one microorganism at a time.