It was the subject of professional meetings of 27 January 2009 show held in Montpellier Bio Vintage at the Exhibition. Indeed, what future for organic viticulture?
First, in these times of gloom cultivated a broad smile lights all stakeholders. We are clearly on a growth industry that comes out of the game and enjoys strong growth. Organic viticulture is attracting more and more interest from consumers and buyers in France and worldwide. In France, in late 2007, 1,907 growers cultivating 22,507 hectares of vines respecting the specifications of organic farming with specific controls, an increase of 20% the number of farms.
This trend is confirmed year after year, progression of organic wine , finds himself subjected since January 1, 2009 to a new European regulation on organic farming, (discussed and detailed on this blog), with the establishment of Directive 834.2007. "With this new form", we assure Mrs. Marianne Monod, Bureau of Quality Signs in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, "there is a better structuring of the components of the law, which becomes clearer and better exploited. The background does not change him. It also includes a list of authorized products, the EU logo will be mandatory and in fact changed from 2010 and the introduction of new fields such as seeds, aquaculture, yeasts and methods of applications, including one that interests us: winemaking. Europe has commissioned a research program ORWINE to study and propose the implementation of an organic wine. The results are expected in 2009. "
In short (because I'll come back with more details later), ORWINE will propose modalities of application methods by extensive studies on various EU countries. It will make proposals to parliament in April 2009 by finding a compromise for example on the use of SO2 , the establishment of a list of authorized additives, a list of prohibited techniques and approve the addition of sugar. Extensive debate we ask to decide to move forward. The idea will of course retain quality organic grapes into wine, who must send his "truth" says the representative of the INAO. There are other thoughts on where you have added yeast "find wisdom and balance with such differences between the vineyards." Most will "keep the rich wine for organic wines."
Andrea Ferrante AIAB of Italy speaks of a shared history between his country and France, with its beautiful lilting accent (the photo above). They observed, too, a growing market as they are in a rather down on the food market. The organic farming is almost a response to the crisis of the values it conveys. Namely, it is consumers who are most demanding. Much more than the producers. There is, in this market, strong demand for quality. Hence the urgency of strong regulation and onto European winemaking. It will stand on guard says Mr. Ferrante as "there is a part of the wine industry which is not a regulation of the Organic Wine ", since, implied, they use chemical inputs. "The market for organic wine is open so we should not be afraid to work together in Europe "he concludes.
The conference ends with a note of the President of the Agence Bio (very effective), Didier Perréol, reaffirming that the Grenelle of the environment is a turning point for agriculture and organic viticulture. The plan of Organic Agriculture Minister, Mr Barnier, is very important and the motor industry, which should result in a tripling of the surfaces AB about 19 500 ha in Languedoc Roussillon and 67 500 ha in France. This plan is based on several actions, such as lifting the cap on aid, the redirection of resources for research and development and consolidation of industries through the creation of a fund of 15 million euros over five years.
