Significant wineries for Climate Protection Conference, Barcelona

The Barcelona Declaration about wineries protecting the climate was signed last Thursday night June 10 in Barcelona Town Hall by leading Spanish wineries including, Torres, Codorniu, Freycinet, and Vega Sicilia. The declaration was made in the presence of the UN and OIV.

An all day conference on the topic was held the following day, and Spanish and other wineries presented their activities to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Torres from Spain and Fetzer from California made outstanding contributions about widespread activities, including for Torres using prunings and removed vines for biomass energy production, and also pyrolysis for biochar production. International viticulture consultant Dr Richard Smart in his address urged the Spanish Federation of Wineries to make the movement international. He also raised the need for OIV to gather a group of international experts to breed new varieties suitable for hot regions. The Director General of OIV Mr Federico Castellucci agreed to receive a submission from Smart on the idea.

Dr Richard Smart, called by some "the flying vine doctor" Shares local summer time between Newlyn, Cornwall, UK and Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.

In Launceston he is with RuralSmart, at 444 Westbury Road, Prospect, phone +61 3 6340 2630 mobile Australia +61 418 656 480. Mail PO Box 350, Newstead, Tasmania 7250, Australia,

In UK he is at 31 North Corner, Newlyn near Penzance TR1825J,UK, mobile +44 776 590 3620, phone +44 1736 448 512
Email vinedoctor@smartvit.com.au, Skype vinedoctor,web www.smartvit.com.au