2026-06-02
Burgundy is testing whether trees can help vineyards withstand a warming climate, as researchers and growers in the region turn to agroforestry in an effort to better protect vines from drought, frost and other extreme weather.
The project, called VITAF, began in 2020 and now includes three experimental plots across Burgundy. One was recently inaugurated in Davayé, in Saône-et-Loire, on land belonging to an agricultural high school and within the Saint-Véran appellation area. Another plot was installed in Lugny in 2024, and a third is planned in the Yonne department.
The goal is straightforward: measure what happens when trees are planted among rows of vines. Scientists and technicians want to track changes in temperature, soil moisture and the vineyard’s ability to cope with climate shocks. They also plan to study whether the trees affect frost resistance, drought tolerance and soil biodiversity, including the amount of organic matter in the ground.
The work is designed to produce local data for Burgundy rather than rely on findings from other wine regions in Europe or around the Mediterranean. Researchers involved in the project say that conditions vary too much from one place to another for outside results to be applied directly to Burgundy’s vineyards.
By 2027, the team expects to have enough information from the test plots and from observations gathered with about 40 partner winegrowers to assess whether agroforestry can make a meaningful difference. The project brings together agricultural chambers, environmental organizations and academic institutions, including the University of Burgundy-Europe. It is supported by public European and regional funding totaling more than €400,000.
The experiment also serves an educational purpose. Students in viticulture and environmental studies are helping monitor the plantings and observe ecological changes on site, making the project both a research effort and a training ground for future vineyard management.