After the first official mapping by the Agricultural University of Athens, scientists estimate that the future of vineyards in our country may lie further north and at higher altitudes. Which areas are already under pressure
The first official scientific record of the vineyards of Greece was mapped by the Agricultural University of Athens. The research shows that a very large percentage of the country’s surface is suitable for viticulture, something that Greek farmers have known for centuries anyway. However, scientists point out that the change in weather conditions resulting from climate change reduces the suitability and may make it difficult in the future for the viability of vineyards in emblematic areas for Greece, such as Santorini and Attica. On the other hand, the future of Greek vineyards may lie in further north and at higher altitudes.
Tool
The head of the research, bioclimatologist and member of the teaching staff of the AUA, Yiannis Charalambopoulos, tells “K” that the research, like the university’s corresponding one on the olive tree that was completed a few months ago, is a tool that, with the understandable way of evaluating each area, with a score from 0 for unsuitable areas to 5 for ideal ones, is addressed to everyone involved in the agricultural production chain, from growers to state services and insurance companies, and answers clearly how suitable an area is for grape cultivation. “Village growers will know in which areas they will be able to invest. Also, cartographic material is useful both to those who ensure the agricultural product and to the state when planning agricultural policy,” he emphasizes.
The final suitability map for viticulture in Greece. Areas with at least one score of 0 have not been taken into account and are not colored in their place, as they are considered unsuitable for viticulture. Low scores appear in the Pindus and Rhodope mountain ranges, the foothills of Mount Olympus and the central Peloponnese. Conversely, high scores are recorded in the western part of the country, in Central Macedonia, in Crete, in central mainland Greece and in some Aegean islands.
Resilience
The researchers evaluated parameters such as the slope and morphology of the soil, the altitude and the orientation of the crop. They scored each parameter and concluded that the most suitable soils are found in western Greece, Central Macedonia, Thessaly, Eastern Sterea, Crete and some Aegean islands. On the contrary, the lowest scores were recorded in the Pindos and Rhodope mountain ranges, Central Crete, Skala Lakonia and the Northeastern Peloponnese. In short, most of the country is more or less suitable for the establishment of vineyards. This is a finding that is not surprising: “The vine is tough. It loves the most barren and arid areas, uneven and sloping soils. So, we expected that larger areas would have a higher score,” explains Mr. Charalambopoulos.
Uncertain future
This is the situation today. In the future, according to Mr. Charalambopoulos, climate change will most likely reverse the situation. As he says, winegrowers are already describing problems in some areas. “There is already strong pressure in the Cyclades where the score is relatively low. If someone asks in Santorini, they will learn that last year the harvest was not as desired. If this phenomenon continues, in the coming years there may be a real problem,” he emphasizes and adds: “The score we recorded in Attica is also low and is expected to become lower. Regions such as Argolida, Heraklion and Rhodes also seem to be affected by climate change.”
The average final suitability for viticulture by regional unit provides a useful illustration for policy makers and stakeholders (farmers, agro-companies, etc.). The high scores are found in the Ionian Islands, the western Peloponnese, Crete and Halkidiki. It is noted that this is the average score per regional unit, excluding the unsuitable areas within each of them. The AUA professor notes that the better ratings are found in more northern areas of Greece and at higher altitudes. “We think that the production of grapevine products should go further north and higher if we want to adapt to climate change,” he says and explains: “The vine can withstand without water, but it wants to cool down at night, so the increase in night temperatures will create a problem. When this happens due to climate change, crops should be grown at higher altitudes and areas should be chosen that are oriented towards the cooler side, that is, towards the North. Today, we consider lands that are oriented towards the South to be more suitable, but this will change”.
Source: kathimerini.gr