Solutions for the viticulture of today and tomorrow were at the core of the 23rd international GiESCO conference, which took place at Hochschule Geisenheim University this week. Under the theme ‘Above and Below – Towards the Future’, 350 experts of viticulture from across 23 countries gathered to discuss climate-related challenges facing the industry, as well as the topics of soil management and biodiversity.
A Warm Welcome
Laurent Torregrosa, professor of grapevine biology and genetics at L’Institute Agro Montpellier and GiESCO’s president, kicked off proceedings with a welcome address. In his speech he emphasized the importance of pooling scientific knowledge and experience and thanked Hochschule Geisenheim University for its hospitality and for organizing the conference. Dr. John Barker, director general of the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV), also welcomed guests, commenting that cooperation and networking within the scientific community and with practitioners is more important than ever before in these challenging times for viticulture.
On behalf of the university, participants were welcomed by Prof. Dr. Hans Reiner Schultz, President of the University, and Prof. Dr. Manfred Stoll, Head of the Institute for General and Ecological Viticulture. Prof. Dr. Schultz said: "Over the decades, GiESCO has established as one of the most renowned international conferences in viticulture. We are delighted to be hosting GiESCO again after 2005 and to welcome the international viticulture community to Geisenheim.“ Prof. Dr. Manfred Stoll added: ”The broad-based conference program makes a holistic contribution to overcoming the complex challenges facing viticulture today. We are absolutely thrilled by the multitude of interesting presentations and guests from all over the world and thank them for visiting."
Keynote Speech and the Rudolf Hermanns Foundation Award
The conference’s keynote speech was held by Kees van Leeuwen, professor of viticulture and head of the Department of Viticulture and Enology at Bordeaux Sciences Agro. During his talk, van Leeuwen explained how a reduction in viticulture’s carbon footprint, water use, and use of pesticides and fertilizers can only be achieved if viticulture increasingly relies on local concepts while simultaneously considering the acceptance of customers and marketers. ‘Only when customers prefer wines that are produced under such conditions will winemakers actually produce them,’ said van Leeuwen.
During the conference, Professor Hans Reiner Schultz awarded both Van Leeuwen and Nathalie Ollat, a research engineer at the Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE) in Bordeaux, with the Rudolf Hermanns Foundation prize in recognition of their contributions to the field.
A Packed Program, Industry Tours, and an Integrated Praxis Day
The conference program comprised a total of 10 keynotes and 100 additional short presentations held across seven sessions, as well as the presentation of 170 scientific posters. Topics covered included handling aridity, frost damage, rising carbon levels and other abiotic and biotic stress factors; new approaches to sustainable, organic viticulture; water and soil management; digitalization and the use of robotics in vineyards; and data management and modelling to predict upcoming climate events.
In order to ensure knowledge transfer into real-world praxis and to identify future topics in viticulture, the lectures were complemented by integrated excursions held on the Tuesday, which included seven tours of nearby wine-growing regions. The opportunity to swap ideas and experiences was enhanced by the gala dinner on the Wednesday evening, held as part of a boat trip on the river Rhine. Thursday featured a practical day, which local winegrowers were invited to attend. Three young researchers were also awarded for their poster presentations during the conference.
More Information
GiESCO 2025 conference website
Detailed program with all presentations
Images/source: Geisenheim University/Woody T. Herner and Philipp Stieffenhofer
