Conclusions – Key points – Proposals
29 oral presentations and 7 poster presentations took place at the International Conference “Ampelos 2003” that was held on Santorini from 5th to 7th June 2003. A wide range of topics were covered in the area of vine and wine including the strength of variety of the Greek grapevine, methods of viticulture, viticultural environment, island, mountainous and semi-mountainous vineyards, new trends in the application of modern technology in viticulture, vine and wine products and alternative tourism.
200 delegates from Greece and abroad took part in the conference representing public services, university and research institutions, corporate and private viticultural, winery and consumer organisations. The past and future of the Greek, and more specifically island, grapevine was discussed in depth during the conference proceedings.
Key Points
It was underlined that there is a general insufficiency concerning the prompt information that should reach viticulturists and wine producers about important matters in the field of vine and wine, developments following the new KOA and the opportunities for the development of communal programmes.
It was concluded that the delay in the application of measures for the reinforcement and development of Greek viticulture (new plantation, selectable cultivation techniques, promotion of the individuality of island grapevines for example in cultivation systems of vine stock, different grapevine levels etc) the delay by the Greek vine and wine sector in pursuing new developments in precision viticulture.
The problems faced in the promotion of Greek wines in the international market were emphasised despite the great progress that has been made in the Greek wine industry culminating in the production of top quality wines.
Proposals
After general discussions of the topics raised during the proceedings, the Scientific Committee continued by laying out the following set of proposals with the aim of creating effective solutions to the problems facing the vine and wine sector, especially in island and mountain areas.
In this way, the following are considered necessary:
- The design and implementation of a vineyard policy on islands and in areas where the development of tourism threatens traditional grapevines with disappearance and spoils or downgrades the natural environment.
- The implementation of economic measures and technical support for island and mountain grapevines in order to reduce inequalities in production in comparison to other viticultural areas.
- The incorporation of the above areas in developmental support programmes of the historical and traditional European grapevine.
- The completion of an institutional framework including its effective implementation with regards to production, imports, distributions, trading of original healthy vine products.
- The implementation of programmes of identification and distinction of vine varieties that are cultivated in Greece and the implementation of branch selection programmes in order to promote desirable branches within the most significant vine varieties of Greece.
- The development and promotion of “forgotten” vine varieties of Greece that are often associated with our “culture of wine” and the well-balanced management of the strength of varieties in other viticultural countries so that their activities in Greek vineyards may aid improvement, rather than destroy or undermine the historical character of Greek viticulture.
- The immediate implementation of a policy to attract new viticultural farmers.
- The collaboration of relevant service, research and university institutes for the promotion and systematic development of new methods and cultivation techniques, and effective solutions to pests and grapevine diseases.
- The collaboration of related institutions (state, co-operatives, private) for the coordinated and effective promotion of Greek wines and the effective implementation of laws for the protection of Greek wine production from illegal imports of wines from other countries.
Scientific Committee
Mario FREGONI, Professor, University of Piacenza, Italy
Panagiotis LANARIDIS, Associate Researcher, General Manager of Institute of Wine & Grapes, N.AG.RE.F, Greece
Antonis MATHAIOU, Associate Researcher, N.AG.RE.F, Greece
Nikolaos NIKOLAOU, Associate Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Manolis N. STAVRAKAKIS, Professor, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
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