The Italian Wine sector is under pressure due to the effects of climate change and the need to make production processes more sustainable.
Global warming is altering cultivation times and methods and, in the most extreme cases, compromising entire harvests. On the one hand, global warming is changing production times and methods and, in more extreme cases, damaging the harvest. On the other hand, prolonged periods of drought are reducing the availability of water for vines: in Abruzzo, Campania, and Marche, production losses have exceeded 40%2. Finally, extreme off-season events, such as frosts, hailstorms, and storms, are making it increasingly difficult to plan agricultural management, compromising the quality of grapes and affecting the competitiveness of the sector.
According to recent estimates, the Italian wine sector has suffered losses of more than €1 billion in the last year alone. In an increasingly complex context, research and innovation remain essential tools for ensuring the resilience and sustainability of the entire supply chain.
Faced with global challenges, the answer comes from two Italian startups selected by FoodSeed, the AgriFoodtech acceleration program of the National Network of CDP Venture Capital SGR, created with the support of Fondazione Cariverona, UniCredit, and Eatable Adventures—one of the leading global FoodTech accelerators, as well as co-investor and operational manager of the program. FoodSeed has, in fact, placed its bets on BeadRoots and Agreen Biosolutions, two Italian companies committed to revolutionizing viticulture with sustainable and innovative technologies to combat the climate crisis and support one of the most iconic sectors of Made in Italy.
BeadRoots: optimizing water use in vineyards
BeadRoots, a biotech startup based in Lecce, has developed super-absorbent polymers of natural origin that improve soil water retention and gradually release water to the roots of vines, limiting evaporation. This solution reduces water consumption by up to 40%, helping winegrowers cope with increasingly frequent droughts. In addition to being 100% biodegradable, the polymers also contribute to improving soil fertility without leaving harmful residues and stimulate the presence of beneficial bacteria, with positive effects on vine productivity. Early tests on wine crops are demonstrating how hydrogels can be a strategically in areas most affected by drought.
Agreen Biosolutions: ozonated oils for sustainable viticulture
Agreen Biosolutions, based in Udine, has developed OZ.ON, an innovative ozonated oil that increases plants’ resistance to climatic stress by 30% and boosts their natural defenses against pests and diseases. This technology reduces the use of chemical pesticides by up to 50%, offering a more sustainable alternative for winegrowers and improving the quality of grapes without negatively impacting the environment. A biostimulant product that acts both preventively and curatively, offering a concrete response to European demands in terms of reducing environmental impact. Thanks to OZ.ON, winegrowers can now protect their crops in an effective, sustainable, and economically competitive way.
