From Navarra to Australia: Johann Martinez-Lüscher brings wine science to the forefront of climate adaptation

Johann Martinez-Lüscher, researcher of the Plant Stress Physiologygroup of the Biodiversity and Environment Institute BIOMA, was invited to the Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference, the country's main forum for innovation in the wine industry, to present the advances that the BIOMA Institute is developing in subject of adaptation to climate change. During his speech, Martínez-Lüscher explained the effects of the climate crisis on the grapevine and detailed the strategies being studied to mitigate its impact and ensure the stability of this core topic sector.

The BIOMA Institute's lines of work include the analysis of the genotypic diversity of the grapevine to improve its adaptation, as well as the use of rootstocks of lower vigor. These rootstocks -the subway part on which the grape variety is grafted- allow the vine to adapt to different soils and climatic conditions, protect the plant against root diseases such as phylloxera and control its vegetative growth. We can also find other similar projects such as CarViTrans, which studies the factors affecting stomatal closure and vigor control under high CO2 levels, or Rhizoclimavid, which analyzes the contribution of beneficial edaphic microorganisms to the adaptation of commercial grapevine varieties to climate change.

The wine industry, one of the world's oldest and most deeply rooted traditions, is today facing a core topic: climate change. Although this phenomenon affects the entire planet, its impacts are not homogeneous. In wine-growing regions, variations in temperature, rainfall and seasons draw an uneven map that forces the reinvention of centuries-old practices to preserve the essence of each glass.

Australia has established itself as one of the world's major wine producers and exporters and, consequently, as one of the regions most attentive to the challenges of climate change. Since 1970 it has hosted this forum where the industry analyzes not only trends and advances in the sector, but also climate threats and strategies to adapt to them.

During his visit, Johann was also able to tour the facilities of the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI), a leading wine research center recognized for its ability to integrate science and technology to serve the industry. This exchange not only strengthened ties between institutions, but also opened the door to future international collaborations to build a more resilient, innovative and sustainable wine sector.