Partners

	Geisenheim University has a long-standing history in research on viticulture and horticulture as well as in landscape ecology. Research is often conducted in close cooperation with local growers, resulting in a stimulating interaction between aspects both relevant for crop cultivation as well as for understanding agro-environmental and ecological processes. Geisenheim University functions as the coordinator of the project as well as the leader of the work package "Assessment of ecosystem functions and associated services". Research within the project will be conducted on 27 different vineyard plots located in the grapevine growing region "Rheinhessen". Contacts: Prof. Dr. Ilona Leyer E-mail: Ilona.Leyer@hs-gm.de Phone: +496722502463 Fax: +496722502460 Prof. Dr. Annette Reineke Martin Pingel Deniz Uzman
Hochschule GEISENHEIM University, Von-Lade-Str. 1, D-65366 Geisenheim, Germany
	Bordeaux Sciences Agro is an Agricultural university with three different objectives: higher education of future agronomic engineers, research and dissemination activities. Scientists from Bordeaux Sciences Agro are involved in multiple research projects working on precision agriculture, sustainable management of landscape, the influence of human activities on environment, and more generally agroecology. Bordeaux Sciences Agro functions as the coordinator of WP1 focusing on the set up of experimental sites, the development of appropriate techniques to quantify biodiversity and soil based ecosystem services. Research within the project will be conducted on 9 vineyard plots located in the Bordeaux area, located in in and near the famous Saint Emilion region of grapevine growing. Contacts: Dr. Brice Giffard E-mail: brice.giffard@agro-bordeaux.fr Phone: +33557350762
Bordeaux Sciences Agro, 1, cours du Général de Gaulle CS 40201 - 33175 Gradignan Cedex, France
	The group of Applied Ecology has a strong interest in biological control, agroecology, landscape ecology, invasion biology and nature conservation. We use a wide array of systems and methods to answer these questions. The majority of our work is done on herbivorous insects and the organisms they interact with. The University of Fribourg leads the work package “Analyses and Synthesis”. The Swiss vineyard study sites are situated in the wine growing region of the canton Vallais and the project is conducted in close cooperation with local wine growers, agricultural research station Changins, and other stakeholders such as nature conservation groups. Contact: Sven Bacher E-mail: sven.bacher@unifr.ch Phone: +41263008822 Magdalena Steiner Anne-Laure Fragniere
University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
	In cooperation with producers we follow the aim to preserve and enhance a sustainable high quality grape and fruit production. Optimal conditions concerning vineyard and orchard management as well as environmental conditions are crucial. Our research therefore focuses on plant diversity, plant stress physiology, fruit quality and agronomic management systems. To conduct field experiments, there will be 14 vineyards in two different Austrian wine growing regions. Besides vineyard flora and fauna as well as soil parameters we will analyze aspects of grape physiology and quality. Later on there will be socio-economic research on the acceptance of soil management strategies and the recognition of ESS by grapevine growers. Contact: Dr. Michaela Griesser E-mail: michaela.griesser@boku.ac.at Phone: +431476543430
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
	Our research group has a keen interest in various aspects related to conservation, biodiversity inventory and monitoring as well as biological invasions. We use different groups as model organisms, but most often our studies are focused on terrestrial invertebrates and plants. Ovidius University of Constanta leads the work package "Biodiversity assessment", with a particular interest in investigating edaphic macrofauna and plants. The research will be carried out in several study sites in Dobrogea, in cooperation with the Research Centre for Viticulture and Enology Murfatlar, local wine growers and other stakeholders. Contacts: Marius Skolka E-mail: mskolka@gmail.com Cristina Preda E-mail: cristina.preda@univ-ovidius.ro
Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, Romania