Wine Industry Unites Across 10 Countries to Set Global Standard for Soil Carbon Sequestration

International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) has announced the launch of a new global initiative to establish a science-based benchmark for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in the wine industry. The project, called the IWCA SOC Sequestration Compilation, is being developed in partnership with the Association of Regenerative Viticulture, Porto Protocol, and the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation. The goal is to create a comprehensive, data-driven reference that quantifies the potential for carbon sequestration across different vineyard environments.

The wine sector has seen a growing interest in regenerative viticulture and carbon farming practices. Scientific research has shown that these methods can increase the amount of organic carbon stored in vineyard soils, which helps mitigate climate change. However, until now, there has not been a unified resource that brings together data from various regions and contexts to provide clear benchmarks for wineries.

Josep Ribas, a founding board member of IWCA, said that this initiative marks an important step for the industry. He emphasized that it is not only about measuring carbon but also about giving wineries the tools to take meaningful climate action based on reliable data. By working with partners and gathering evidence from around the world, IWCA aims to promote transparency and scientific rigor in regenerative viticulture.

The compilation will collect real-world data from scientific studies and winery-led projects in more than ten winemaking countries. Many of these projects are conducted in collaboration with research institutions. The resulting repository will serve as a resource for wineries looking to implement carbon in-setting strategies and move toward more sustainable practices.

Key objectives of the initiative include establishing a robust scientific benchmark for SOC sequestration within the wine sector, facilitating international knowledge sharing among wineries, harmonizing methodologies used to calculate SOC sequestration, and supporting climate-resilient viticulture by promoting strategies that enhance soil carbon.

The first findings from the IWCA SOC Sequestration Compilation are expected to be released in the first quarter of 2026. The project is designed to help wineries understand the tangible benefits of improving soil health and capturing carbon, ultimately accelerating the transition to climate-positive practices across the global wine industry.