Modern viticulture in southern Europe: Vulnerabilities and strategies for adaptation to water scarcity

Water is now considered the most important but vulnerable resource in the Mediterranean region. Nev ertheless, irrigation expanded fast in the region (e.g. South Portugal and Spain) to mitigate environmental stress and to guarantee stable grape yield and quality. Sustainable wine production depends on sustain able water use in the wine’s supply chain, from the vine to the bottle. Better understanding of grapevine stress physiology (e.g. water relations, temperature regulation, water use efficiency), more robust crop monitoring/phenotyping and implementation of best water management practices will help to mitigate climate effects and will enable significant water savings in the vineyard and winery. In this paper, we focused on the major vulnerabilities and opportunities of South European Mediterranean viticulture (e.g. in Portugal and Spain) and present a multi-level strategy (from plant to the consumer) to overcome region’s weaknesses and support strategies for adaptation to water scarcity, promote sustainable water use and minimize the environmental impact of the sector.

Modern viticulture in southern Europe: vulnerabilities and strategies for adaptation to water scarcity

Water is now considered the most important but vulnerable resource in the Mediterranean region. Nevertheless, irrigation expanded fast in the region (e.g. South Portugal and Spain) to mitigate environmental stress and to guarantee stable grape yield and quality. Sustainable wine production depends on sustainable water use in the wine’s supply chain, from the vine to the bottle. Better understanding of grapevine stress physiology (e.g. water relations, temperature regulation, water use efficiency), more robust crop monitoring/phenotyping and implementation of best water management practices will help to mitigate climate effects and will enable significant water savings in the vineyard and winery. In this paper, we focused on the major vulnerabilities and opportunities of South European Mediterranean viticulture (e.g. in Portugal and Spain) and present a multi-level strategy (from plant to the consumer) to overcome region’s weaknesses and support strategies for adaptation to water scarcity, promote sustainable water use and minimize the environmental impact of the sector.

Métodos tradicionais de sondagem e construção de captação de água subterrânea em países em vias de desenvolvimento

Neste trabalho avaliam-se e comparam-se metodologias tradicionais de prospeção e construção de captações de água subterrânea em países em vias de desenvolvimento, neste caso do Sul da Ásia (Butão, Bangladeche, Índia, Nepal e Paquistão). Faz-se uma análise às metodologias do ponto de vista geológico (diversos tipos de aquífero, litologias, graus de fracturação e alteração), mecânico (técnica das metodologias de perfuração e construção das captações), e económico (comparação dos tempos de avanço das sondagens, dos tempos de construção das captações, da produtividade das mesmas e seus custos). Conclui-se que as metodologias de prospeção low cost e tradicionais são semelhantes em âmbito e em cenário de aplicação, e que, ainda que as segundas sejam mais caras, têm custos muito menores em comparação com as convencionais. Conclui-se ainda que as metodologias convencionais de construção de captações estão pensadas para metodologias convencionais de prospeção, e que as low cost são muito semelhantes entre si; Abstract: The present work evaluates and compares traditional methods of borehole drilling and construction for water abstraction in developing countries, particularly South Asia (Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan). The methods are analyzed in regards to geology (types of aquifers, lithologies, massif fractures and weathering), mechanic (borehole drilling and abstraction technologies), and economic (comparing the progression in drilling and construction of boreholes, productivity and its costs) factors. It is concluded that the traditional drilling methods are similar in scope and application set, and that, though the latter are more expensive, they cost less than conventional methods. It is also concluded that conventional borehole construction is based in conventional drilling methods, and that the diverse low cost methodologies are very similar between them.