Grape Harvest at Vinhas do Tico: Where Science Meets Tradition in isUP-AgrO

The ISOPlexis team – from the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Technology at the University of Madeira – recently carried out the grape harvest at Vinhas do Tico, located in Porto Moniz, on the island's rugged and emblematic north coast. This activity is part of Work Package 6 (WP6) of the European project isUP-AgrO – Unlocking the Potential for Agricultural Research in an EU Outermost Region, funded by the HORIZON-WIDERA programme.

The harvested grape variety was Verdelho, one of Madeira’s most traditional and prestigious cultivars, well-known for its role in the production of high-quality wines.

Beyond its agricultural relevance, this harvest is a key milestone in the project's research, aimed at studying the effects of precision irrigation and sustainable agricultural practices on grape quality, vineyard resilience, productivity, and soil biodiversity.

This harvest, along with the one conducted at Quinta das Vinhas, in Estreito da Calheta, reinforces the isUP-AgrO project's commitment to innovation, circularity, and agricultural sustainability in EU outermost regions.

ISOPlexis extends its sincere thanks to the Vinhas do Tico and Quinta das Vinhas team for their collaboration, openness, and enthusiasm. These partnerships are essential to bringing science closer to the field and promoting sustainable development in the primary sector of Madeira.

Through projects like isUP-AgrO, ISOPlexis strengthens its role as a driving force in agricultural innovation, bridging tradition and science to shape the future of viticulture in Madeira.