Know more

The SALSA project aims to explore little-documented cultural combinations, designed with an agroecological approach. The tried-out systems mobilise, in a coordinated way, genetic control, attenuation, biological regulation and, as a last resort, direct treatment. 

The common goal is to decrease by 80% to 100% the total IFT (phytosanitary treatment frequency indicator) compared to the regional references, to limit as much as possible tillage, to improve the efficiency of other inputs, and to obtain a product that is, quality-wise and quantity-wise, in compliance to the systems’ production goals. 

SALSA relies on three devices installed on experimental domains in Bordeaux, Alsace and Languedoc, characterised by various agro-climatic contexts, parasites and production situations. On every site, one or two DEPHY systems as well as a reference system are tried out. The global strategy of combinations is common to all sites and fixed for the whole duration of the project. 

To manage pest problems, the levers primarily rely on the use of disease-resistant vine varieties and maintenance work on the vines. The systems also use cover crops to improve the soil’s physical and biological quality and to stimulate biodiversity and the natural regulation of pests. 

These systems don’t entirely rule the use of pesticides out (either chemical or from the biocontrol products list), but only as a last resort, based on formalised decision rules. 

The observations and measurements focus on all aspects of the agroecosystem: climate, grapevines, soil, cover crops, organism communities and cultural practices. They aim to characterise the functioning of the agroecosystem and to provide indicators that allow these systems’ evaluation.

Project presentation website (in French)

SALSA Agroecological winegrowing systems

• Ecophyto DEPHY
• Duration: 2018 - 2023
• Coordination: INRAE UMR SAVE (Laurent Delière)
• Partners: INRAE UMR AbSys, UE Vigne Bordeaux, UEAV, LAE