New World producer countries have factored sustainability into their production strategies since the last century. Europe, meanwhile, chose to go down the organic route. But what exactly is sustainable farming? What is OIV’s vision and which countries blazed the trail for green endorsements? We take a closer look at how New Zealand and South Africa have tackled the issue.
Contents:
What is sustainable farming?
The viewpoint of Pau Roca, chief executive of OIV
20th-century pioneers – New Zealand and South Africa
What is sustainable farming?
Every wine producing country, or even region or State, has its own vision of sustainable farming. Depending on their natural, economic and social constraints, they all roll out their own green policies. Consequently, there are myriad schemes, all based on three core concepts – environmental, social and economic. A noteworthy definition is that of the UN’s World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987: “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”.
The viewpoint of Pau Roca, chief executive of OIV
In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, during an online conference, Pau Roca, chief executive of the OIV (International Organisation of Vine & Wine) announced: “The strategies developed to adapt to the environmental, economic and social impacts of climate change will dictate the future wellbeing of the sector. Grape producers, luckily, have never been in denial because they have been on the front line of the consequences of climate change for years. We are entering a new era, in which a new economic model needs to be deployed, with less emphasis on growth and more on managing the natural equilibrium. And the Covid-19 crisis has strengthened that need. If sustainability were a single measurement or a parameter, we would reach this new economic era where performance is measured based on conservation of a new limited capital and wealth: earth conservation. Sustainability as a new value for growth”.
20th-century pioneers – New Zealand and South Africa
The New Zealand wine industry created its endorsement ‘Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand’ (SWNZ) in 1994. As a pioneer, New Zealand was also one of the first countries to introduce a Zero Carbon programme – which is important when you are on an island around the other side of the world! SWNZ takes into consideration a number of factors, including crop biodiversity, soils, water and air standards, use of energy, use of chemicals, vine and wine waste and sustainable marketing techniques. The programme also recognises other environmental certifications such as ISO 14001 and production of organic and biodynamic wine. Subscription to all SWNZ schemes is done on a voluntary basis, but currently 96% of New Zealand’s area under vine is certified SWNZ, and 10% adheres to recognised organically certified programmes. Over 90% of wine produced in New Zealand is processed in SWNZ-certified facilities.
South Africa introduced its IPW programme – for Integrated Production of Wine – in 1998. IPW takes a holistic approach, through a strategy covering every stage of production, from grape growing through to winemaking. It includes health and safety requirements for workers, a reduction in chemicals and pesticides and lower water usage. The programme is linked to the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI). Together, BWI and IPW form Sustainable Wine South Africa (SWSA). In 2016, 95% of exporting producers representing 97% of harvested grapes belonged to the certification scheme. As Joël Rochard, former director of the French Vine & Wine Institute’s National Department for Sustainability, once said: “The system is viewed as a motivating challenge and not as a constraint because the extra costs incurred are offset by growth in sales”.
Anne Schoendoerffer
Sources: Anne Schoendoerffer, www.nzwine.com, www.ipw.co.za
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