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The German Winegrowers' Association (DWV), together with the German Federation of Organic Food Producers (BÖLW), has presented a possible solution for plant protection in organic viticulture. They are calling for the approval of potassium phosphonate in order to minimise the use of copper in organic viticulture as far as possible. This is the result of years of intensive research. Phosphonates are found in nature and have proven to be effective and safe in plant protection.
"We see this as a correct and necessary step," emphasises DWV Vice President and organic winegrower Thomas Walz. Plant protection must be constantly developed further in order to protect the environment, maintain high wine quality and increase production safety for winegrowers.
According to DWV, organic viticulture cannot do without pesticides. However, the currently authorised products are not effective enough to safeguard the harvest during prolonged periods of rain. In the rainy years of 2016 and 2021, the climate led to disastrous crop failures in organic viticulture. Until other sustainable, practical solutions and strategies are found, potassium phosphonate is needed as a "bridge" to secure yields.
"The natural substance potassium phosphonate is an important building block in the efforts of organic associations to minimise the use of copper in organic viticulture as far as possible - especially in light of the expected climate changes," explains Hanneke Schönhals, spokesperson for the BÖLW Wine Expert Committee. "Together with our colleagues from other wine-growing countries, the framework conditions must now be created at EU level for a corresponding authorisation," Schönhals continues.
(ru / press release)