Cérience has launched the Vitiguard project, an innovative initiative that promises to accelerate the transition to agroecology in vineyards. The goal is to cultivate 400,000 hectares of vines without mildew and without the need for synthetic pesticides. Denis David, deputy general manager of Cérience, explained that the aim is "to enhance the immunity of the vines so that they can be successfully cultivated without synthetic plant protection products."
The project is in its first phase, which focuses on improving the efficacy of two plant resistance inducers (PRI) to combat powdery mildew and downy mildew. These products, called Messager and Belvine, are already marketed by Cérience. "Messager is based on Cos-Oga, and Belvine has ABE-IT 56 as its active ingredient. We plan to combine them with other biological control products and biological stimulants available on the market. At this time, we are selecting these products based on the complementarity of the effect mechanisms," David detailed.
Tests with the product combinations will begin in the 2026 growing season. The vineyards selected for these tests are located in the Loire Valley, Champagne, Bordeaux, Southwest, and Languedoc. In addition, the Vitiguard project will mark the first time that the genetic response of the vines to the PRI has been characterized.
In 2028 and 2029, the effectiveness of the combination of all these strategies under real conditions will be evaluated. For this, new vineyards that have been planted this year by three winegrowers will be used. This project represents a significant step towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly viticulture.