Supporting biodiversity in European vineyards: Possibilities for winegrowers and economic implications

by Rebekka Schütte
Doctoral thesis
Date of Examination:2019-06-28
Date of issue:2019-10-01
Advisor:Prof. Dr. Stephan von Cramon-Taubadel
Referee:Prof. Dr. Stephan von Cramon-Taubadel
Referee:Prof. Dr. Tobias Plieninger
Persistent Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.53846/goediss-7637

 

 

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Abstract

English

Viniculture is economically important for the agricultural sector in the European Union (EU). Beyond the economic importance, viniculture also affects the environment. Based on its nature as a permanent crop and its capability of relative high profits per hectare, growing vines is a much more intensive cultivation system than commonly assumed. In many winegrowing regions it is routine to remove competing vegetation with the help of herbicides, especially glyphosate to improve the quality and quantity of the grape harvest. Nevertheless, according to BOLLER et al. (1997, p. 299) “Vineyards have a special capacity to establish and maintain a high degree of biodiversity”. Biodiversity is nowadays a frequently used term and describes the variety of species, genes and ecosystems. It is widely accepted that there is a need to protect this variety since it has many values for mankind (MACE, 2014: 45). This dissertation aims to gain insight about the trade-offs between biodiversity and the competitiveness of vintners. The economic effects of management changes in vineyards were modelled with the Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) for three European wine regions. Focus groups were used to underpin the PAM with practical experience and primary data. Results from the field studies and economic analyses broaden the knowledge about winegrower’s acceptance of sustainable management methods and the entailed economic changes.
Keywords: Vineyards; Policy Analysis Matrix; Focus Group; Biodiversity; Winegrower; Content Analysis; Agricultural economics
 
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