The Germoplasma Project looks to the future of Sicilian viticulture with strong roots in the thousand-year history of the island. An ambitious and strategic project, which the Consortium for the Protection of Sicilian DOC Wines is carrying forward with determination together with the Regional Department of Agriculture of the Sicilian Region, the University of Palermo and the Regional Center for the Conservation of Viticultural and Agricultural Biodiversity "F. Paulsen". The objective is clear: to create a vineyard, healthier and more connected to the territory through the production of certified clonal material, intended for the construction of new vineyards available to the island's wine companies.
“ We are talking – explains Filippo Paladino, vice president of the Consortium for the Protection of Sicilian Doc Wines – about certified “healthy” material, that is, vines of native Sicilian varieties whose varietal identity and health integrity are certain. The aim is to protect and reveal the Sicilian ampelographic richness, combining tradition and high quality in a constantly changing scenario ”.
Among the most significant milestones of 2024, the start of the duplication of the Biesina field, in the municipality of Marsala, stands out, where the collection of varieties and biotypes from all areas of Sicily, including the most internal and marginal ones, originally began. These territories, characterized by residual and traditional agriculture, have allowed the recovery and valorization of even native varieties of lesser diffusion, but of high agronomic and oenological interest.
It is also reported an increase in the use of certified material by nurserymen. This growth demonstrates an increasingly widespread awareness of the importance of adopting certified rootstocks, capable of guaranteeing high phytosanitary and quality standards in new vineyard installations.
“ Native vines represent a great opportunity to qualify the wine sector, and Sicily has all the characteristics necessary to achieve this goal, thanks to a rich and unique germplasm ,” said Rosario Di Lorenzo, professor at the University of Palermo . “ The commitment is to further deepen the knowledge on the agronomic and oenological behavior of these varieties, to then transfer them to the operational world. A synergy has been created within the supply chain and with the Universities, which will also be essential in the future to face new challenges that will arise. The varieties once abandoned, perhaps because they were not suited to the conditions or oenological objectives of the time, often oriented exclusively towards productivity and alcohol yield, are now arousing new interest. With the climate crisis and the many changes that have occurred, a new awareness of the importance of biodiversity has in fact developed .”
The Germoplasma Enhancement Project is therefore confirmed as a pillar in the enhancement of the island's viticultural biodiversity, with the aim of preserving native varieties and promoting the production of more resilient vineyards. The joint commitment of institutions, nurserymen, producers and researchers continues with a long-term vision, capable of responding proactively to the challenges posed by the climate crisis and market demands. A synergy that looks to the future, with the aim of strengthening the Sicilian winemaking supply chain and its prospects for qualitative and sustainable growth.
