LIFE SARMIENTO is based on the valorization of vineyard pruning waste through its composting with microorganisms to produce organic compost with biostimulant and biofertilizing properties, reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere and thus contributing to climate change mitigation.
The addition of compost has allowed not only to improve the vigor of the plant but the fertility and productivity of the soil, its water retention capacity and biodiversity, as well as contribute to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Therefore, the project contributes as well to the adaptation of viticulture to climate change.
After each annual pruning, vineshoots have been crushed at collection points and subsequently transferred to the composting site, located in the Cooperative, where their composting has been carried out for 6 months in each management cycle.
Results and impacts
During the 4 cycles developed, more than 1,150 tons of pruning waste have been managed to prevent their burning on more than 400 hectares corresponding to the Bullas PDO. In total, more than 2,900 tonnes of CO2 emissions have been avoided, demonstrating a cooperative waste management system that reduces CO2 emissions by more than 95%.
The compost produced has been used as fertilizer and biopesticide both in vineyard plots, urban orchards, plant nurseries and in experimental plots of the University of Murcia.
In terms of replication and transfer, technical training actions aimed at training farmers and technicians have been developed to make them independent users and managers of the system. The objective pursued has been to ensure that other wine-growing areas can implement the management system developed in the project, through the tools and support materials developed and the technical advice that the project offers.
Thanks to the training activities, the vineyard pruning waste management system has been integrated among the usual management practices of the Cooperative, thus contributing to the sustainability of project practices. Upon completion, the project will continue to monitor the results in the vineyard plots where compost has been applied in order to assess their long-term impacts and results. In addition, the project will continue offering its expertise and technical advice to other wineries interested in the implementation of the system through the signing of replication agreements, in order to ensure its sustainability.
In the following link you can access the final video of project results.