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Many German wine producers have greater reservations about organic and sustainable certifications. This is shown by a survey conducted by the Geisenheim University of Applied Sciences for the ProWein Business Report 2021. 1,333 wine producers and 1,547 traders and restaurateurs from more than 48 countries were interviewed for the report. According to the survey, 61 percent of wineries, cooperatives and bottling plants in Spain are already certified organic, 52 percent in Italy and 35 percent in France. In Germany, on the other hand, only 21 percent of the businesses are certified. According to the study, 57 percent of the owners in Germany reject organic conversion outright. This is the highest percentage, the lowest being in Spain with only 16 percent.
The differences reflect the climatic conditions, which are better suited to organic viticulture in Mediterranean countries. As reasons against conversion, 66 percent of respondents said it was too risky for them economically. 51 percent do not want to apply copper in their vineyards and 44 percent fear that consumers and the trade would not pay adequate prices for the wines. Therefore, only one third of the study participants expect that the European Union will be able to reach its target of 25 percent organic wine-growing area.
Half of the wineries also consider organic farming to be neither ecologically nor economically sustainable, with the question finding the most support in the countries with the highest organic share. German producers are the most sceptical on both questions, with 41 and 29 percent respectively. The figures for sustainability certification are similar. Many see it as "greenwashing" because the criteria are not defined precisely enough.
Producers and trade agree that the many different certification systems for organic and sustainable viticulture are unnecessary obstacles to communication with consumers. They would like to see uniform and practicable rules. For them, the wine sector nevertheless has great potential to become more sustainable. However, producers fear a competitive disadvantage from imported wine that has not been produced under the same strict sustainability standards. Every second producer calls for import barriers to protect them.
According to Prof. Simone Loose, head of the Institute of Wine and Beverage Management at Geisenheim University of Applied Sciences, "the industry faces the challenge of adapting to climate change, becoming more ecological and sustainable at the same time, and convincing customers of this in a credible way. This will only be possible if the industry joins forces and wine producers, wine trade and gastronomy can communicate sustainability credibly."
(al / Source: ProWein Business Report 2021; Photo: wikimedia commons)