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The first chair for the vine disease Esca has been created at the French University of Pau. Called "WinEsca", the research branch aims to find agro-ecological solutions to protect vines from Esca. The disease is also spreading in France and poses a growing threat to vineyards. According to the National Research Institute (ANR), 12 per cent of French vineyards and 18 per cent of Cognac vineyards have become unproductive over the past 20 years. This means a loss of one billion euros for the industry.
The chair is supported by the ANR with 1.2 million euros. The rest is financed by the University of Pau and the Adour region, the leading cognac producer Hennessy (800,000 euros), the company GreenCell, which specialises in biological pest control, and a number of other partners. A total of 3.83 million euros is available for research.
"WinEsca follows on from the first 'GTDfree' chair, which was launched in 2016 and whose scientific advances are now paving the way for practical methods to combat the disease," said an ANR spokesperson. The organisation is fully aware of the urgent need for action, as Esca "has been on the rise since sodium arsenite was banned in 2001".
The consortium, coordinated by Patrice Rey and Eléonore Attard, will focus on preventive methods to control Esca until 2026, including research into beneficial pruning techniques and the use of biological control agents at planting.
(ru / Source: Vitisphere)