Project LIFE-FITOVID-Implementation of Demonstrative & Innovative Strategies to reduce the use of plant protection products in viticulture

Pesticides are used in viticulture to obtain quality grapes and high worthwhile productions. They are essential to maintain a good prophylaxis in vineyard. Among them, fungicides are the more applied chemical compounds to control fungal pathogens causing devastating diseases, as the case for grapevine downy and powdery mildews. These diseases are more difficult to control in endemic areas, as every growing season appear and are reiteratively treated along it. This fact generates resistance in pathogens, supposing a higher dose for future treatments and more aggressive fungicides; to more exposition of growers to these compounds, decreasing their quality of life because of the latent risks; to an increasing presence of toxic molecules in grape, must and wine, making possible the presence of them in humans by consumption of these products; to affect negatively the surrounding environment, by soil and water flows pollution.