Preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency.
Protecting and promoting natural and cultural resources
The main objectives were (1) to increase collaboration among stakeholders in preparing common agri-tourism facilities that guarantee the protection and sustainable use of the natural heritage, (2) to decrease the environmental impact of the traditional production processes, and (3) to improve product quality by reinforcing the shared promotion of Terrano DOC and "Kraski Prsut" wine. The aim is also to boost the development of sustainable tourism and the protection of biodiversity.
The Classical Karst region is a unique geographical area with a rich natural and cultural heritage. The combination of the cultural landscape and the natural conservation areas renders the territory unique on a worldwide scale, thus offering the agri-tourism sector a whole range of new opportunities to be explored. The Karst region’s image has changed considerably over the past few decades. The areas once cultivated and traditionally used for agriculture have been replaced by an overgrown landscape covered in forests. The preservation of the population, the traditional use of the land, and the protection of the Karst region’s heritage can be encouraged through the development of tourism and agriculture. One reason why the land is being abandoned and becoming overgrown with vegetation lies in the poor cross-border connections between the local stakeholders, and the inability to quickly adapt to the market.
The aim of the Agrotur II project was to improve the quality and raise the competitiveness and visibility of two traditional Karst products - Teran wine and Karst prosciutto - while reducing the impact on the environment and reducing the cost of their production. As part of the project, we helped with the protection and promotion of Teran wine through regional and international cooperation, introduced five new itineraries and recorded a video for the promotion of the cross-border area Karst, renovated and arranged a cross-border centre for the promotion of local products visibility of the site and the project and improvement of cross-border cooperation. We also introduced modern approaches to grape production, namely, the e-Karst application for monitoring the situation in vineyards, which will contribute to better grape quality and water consumption in viticulture, and optimized and standardized processes in wine and prosciutto production. Cross-border cooperation in the project also resulted in the content upgrade of the existing accommodation platform "Hotel dobrega terana" and in its better market recognition. We can conclude that the Agrotur II project has significantly contributed to the preservation, protection, restoration and development of the natural and cultural heritage of the karst area. The project addressed viticulture as an agricultural industry with a broader economic significance, which provides a cultural landscape and supports cultural heritage and tourism in the Karst. Teran wine and Karst prosciutto, which are inextricably linked, are an important part of the cultural heritage of the Karst and at the same time a common point and challenge for cross-border cooperation with many opportunities in the future.
With the investment in registered cultural heritage, we renovated part of Štanjel Castle and set up a Center for the Promotion of Regional Products with a local wine shop, which allows us to uniformly present regional products and wines from the cross-border Karst. We have introduced new tools and guidelines or. instructions for optimizing and standardizing the production of cross-border wines (Teran) and Karst prosciutto. This includes optimizing water consumption in the irrigation of vineyards, reducing plant protection products and promoting the grazing of pigs of local breeds for better quality Karst prosciutto. In order to improve and promote tourism in the cross-border Karst, we upgraded and improved the web portal https://www.hoteldobregaterana.si and designed 5 new tourist itineraries and conducted several promotional events.
We have developed an on-line application e-Karst, which provides a comprehensive overview of agro-meteorological parameters for the cross-border Karst, the results of water stress monitoring and the development of diseases and pests in karst vineyards. The project also upgraded and improved the web portal https://www.hoteldobregaterana.si/ with the aim of improving and promoting tourism in the cross-border Karst.
Achievements and results are also used after the end of the project. Experiences and results of water stress measurements and irrigation experiments are used in the Acquavitis project (Interreg Italy-Slovenia Program), we also use the e-Karst application, where we monitor agrometeorological parameters. The results of the new standards in the processing of Karst products (Teran and Karst prosciutto) are used by winegrowers and pig breeders in the Karst in order to improve the quality and preserve the environment. The Ministry of Agriculture used the results of the analyzes to change the rules on the protection of Teran PTP wine, which will also be the basis for cross-border joint protection of Teran wine in the Karst. With the aim of joint development of green agrotourism in the Karst and preservation of cross-border cultural heritage, the new wine shop in Štanjel Castle and the new itineraries set up within the project are used for tourist purposes.
The project also created the film "Karst - Carso - Karst", which shows the cross-border Karst, unspoiled karst nature, production and processing of indigenous wines Teran and Vitovska, habitat ('terroir) Karst, jerino and beauties of the Karst in different seasons with motifs Karst specifics (eg burja, stone, architecture, nature…) and motifs on the theme of Karst prosciutto and the new wine shop, which was created in Štanjel Castle. You can watch it HERE.
Lead Partner
Project partner 1
Project partner 2
Project partner 3
Project partner 4
Project partner 5
 | Poster evento annuale 30/05/2018 AGROTUR2_ITA.pdf ( 781 bytes, published on 11 June, 2018 - 17:40 ) |
| Akademija o teranu - Preliminarni rezultati študije mlečnokislinskih bakterij, povezanih z vinom teran Butinar_Topic_Bozic-compressed.pdf ( 371 bytes, published on 30 January, 2020 - 15:45 ) |
| Akademija o teranu - Lo scouting delle malattie e dei parassiti nei vigneti del Carso nel 2018 Finale_Presentazione_Agrotur_II_8-11_Bigot_Nunin_compressed2.pdf ( 737 bytes, published on 30 January, 2020 - 15:45 ) |
| Akademija o teranu - Stato dell'acqua dei vigneti del Carso nel 2018 Petruzzellis_WaterStatus_compressed.pdf ( 846 bytes, published on 30 January, 2020 - 15:45 ) |
| Akademija o teranu - Il consumo moderato di vino ha un effetto benefico sulla salute Predavanje_Akademija_o_Teranu-Passamonti_compressed.pdf ( 861 bytes, published on 30 January, 2020 - 15:45 ) |
| Proceedings - Development of Karst Razvoj krasa_4.12P_zbornik_prispevkov_zakljucne_konference.pdf ( 2 bytes, published on 4 April, 2022 - 13:28 ) |
| Progect brochure AGROTURII_brochure_SI_EN.pdf ( 7 bytes, published on 4 April, 2022 - 13:17 ) |
The objective of the AGROTUR II project was to improve quality and increase competitiveness by reducing the negative impact on the environment and reducing costs. As part of the promotion of the Karst we have created new itineraries and a cross-border center for the promotion of local products with a regional wine shop in Štanjel. We have updated the previously established accommodation platform "Hotel dobrega terana" and have taken care of its better visibility. With the project we have helped the local population to improve the quality, competitiveness and visibility of local products. The project ended on March 30, 2020, but we continue to use the results and results obtained after its completion. The experience gained and the results of water stress measurements and irrigation experiments are used in the Acquavitis project (Interreg Italy-Slovenia Program), we also use the e-Karst application, where we monitor the agrometeorological parameters. The results of the new standards in the processing of Karst products (Terrano and Karst ham) are used by Karst wine growers and pig breeders to improve quality and preserve the environment. The Ministry of Agriculture used the results of the analyzes to modify the rules on the protection of Terrano PTP wine, which will also be the basis for the joint cross-border protection of Terrano wine in the Karst. With the aim of jointly developing green agritourism in the Karst and preserving the cross-border cultural heritage, the new wine shop in the Štanjel castle and the new routes set up as part of the project are used for tourism purposes.
Results
E-Karst APPLICATION
e-Karst is an online application intended for winegrowers in the cross-border Karst, which offers a complete overview of the situation of the vineyards. It shows the development of diseases and parasites, the state of water stress, climatic factors and provides a detailed view of the technological parameters of the individual vineyards. Users enter data into the system directly in the field, via a connection on a mobile phone or tablet or. laptop computer. At the same time, the e-Karst application allows the connection with the cellar laboratory or with the institute where the physico-chemical analyzes of the grapes are carried out. The aim of the activity is to encourage winemakers to improve the quality of their vineyards, following the example of good practices. Visit the e-Carso app
CENTER FOR THE PROMOTION OF REGIONAL PRODUCTS
With the investment in the registered cultural heritage, we have renovated part of the Štanjel Castle and created a Center for the Promotion of Regional Products with a local wine shop, which allows for a uniform presentation of regional products and wines from the cross-border Karst.
WEB PORTAL OF HOTEL DOBREGA TERANA
With the development of the World Wide Web, the tourism industry has undergone radical changes. If a tourist once visited a travel agency for the first time before traveling, today the destination is informed in advance on the Internet. As part of the Agrotur II project, we have also dedicated part of our activities to improving the functioning and promotion of the Hotel Good Teran platform.
TURISTIC ITINERARIES
We have prepared 5 new tourist itineraries, which present the Karst and the agritourism linked to the natural and cultural heritage.
MAGGIORE QUALITÀ DEI PRODOTTI CARSICI
Polyphenols bioactive compounds of Teran wine. Teran the king of the red color
Teran is a protected wine with a recognized traditional name, produced from Refošk grapes in the Karst wine region. The wine is recognizable for its pronounced purplish red color (due to the high content of red colorants - anthocyanins) and for its moderately rich tannic composition. As part of the study of the phenolic potential of grapes, we analyzed the content and structural characteristics of extractable polyphenols in Refošk grapes of 2018 and 2019 in the cross-border Karst. For better traceability and study of agro-meteorological parameters, we have prepared a digital tool or. platform (e-karst: https://e-karst.eu), aimed at monitoring vineyards, agro-meteorological variables, water stress, the physiology of the vine and diseases and parasites in the vineyards. The platform works on the principle of automatic data acquisition and data entry and analysis from the field and the laboratory. The vintages studied 2018 and 2019 represent two completely different years in terms of agrometeorological parameters, which have been reflected in the phenology of the vine. The subsequent flowering and the beginning of ripening of the Refoška in 2019 meant that the grapes ripened less in 2019. The latter was reflected in the basic physico-chemical parameters and in the contents and structural characteristics of the extractable proanthocyanidins (tannins) of the 'grape. POSTER
Water stress in Karst vineyards: results from 2018 and 2019 monitoring campaigns
Grapes are one of the most important fruits in the world, but unfortunately their distribution and production is threatened by climate change. Due to less and less frequent rainfall and higher temperatures, winemakers were forced to introduce irrigation systems that allowed them to maintain the amount of wine produced. Faced with these problems, and taking into account the response of the vine to water stress, strategies have been developed in recent years to optimize the use of water without compromising the excellence of wine. Most of the research on this topic, however, has only covered a handful of international wine varieties. There is also little information available on some specific areas ("terroir") on how vines respond to water stress. Terrano is a wine produced from grapes of the 'Refošk' variety (Vitis vinifera L), which grows in the vineyards of the Karst, in the border area between Slovenia and Italy. This wine is an ideal research object to spread our knowledge on the link between the water status of the vine and the quality of wine in a unique and diversified territory such as the Karst. In the growing seasons 2018 and 2019, we monitored the water status and biochemical composition of the grapes in ten vineyards in Refošk. The objectives of the research were (i) to study the different levels of water stress in karst vineyards and (ii) to describe the impact of water stress in vines on the quality and composition of grapes and wine. Although Karst vineyards experienced moderate water stress in 2018 and 2019, we observed different responses to dry and hot periods between locations, which is reflected in the biochemical composition of the grapes. Based on the analyzes, it can be concluded that moderate water stress improves teran, in particular the content of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins (tannins) and the characteristics of their structure. POSTER.
Optimize plant defence by monitoring the vineyards and using a decision support system (DSS)
The management of protection in the vineyards requires the use of observation tools and epidemiological models to predict the development of infections in the field by correctly determining phytosanitary interventions. The use of the 4Grapes® app and DSS Vite.net® made it possible to reduce the application in the vineyard in integrated production to 14 and to 17 in organic. The amount of copper used in both crops was lower than the maximum amount required by Regulation (EC) 2018/1981. POSTER
Characterisation of the role of dietary anthocyanins in regulating the cellular metabolism of bilirubin
Could food anthocyanins increase blood bilirubin levels? In this case, a diet rich in red fruit and some wine can protect us from age-related risks, including neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive decline. Red pigments and bilirubin can work synergistically. POSTER
A simple method to analyse bilirubin in animal serum
A simple method that allows direct analysis of bilirubin in small amounts of blood with universal laboratory equipment. POSTER
Standards of Teran oenology: control of malolactic fermentation
Monitoring of biogenic amines, genotypic characterization of lactic bacteria. POSTER
Managing irrigation in Karst vineyards could improve quality and profitability in Refošk grapes
In two experiments carried out in the cross-border karst area, we compared different irrigation strategies with which we recovered a certain amount of water losses due to evapotranspiration in the vineyard. With the data obtained we were able to establish that irrigation is necessary for a better quality of the grapes, while maintaining a moderate lack of water in the vineyard if we want to obtain the maximum concentration of polyphenolic compounds in the grapes. POSTER
Year 2019 and maturation of Refošk in 2019
Agrometeorological characteristics of the year 2019 in the Karst. POSTER
More guidelines and instructions for the optimization and standardization of the production of cross-border wines and Karst prosciutto have been published on https://e-karst.eu.
Operation co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund
