Residual Biomass Recovery in the Wine Sector: Creation of Value Chains for Vine Pruning

Abstract

Waste management is a current and transversal problem in all production areas, including agriculture. Within this economic activity, wine production generates a large amount of waste, namely, that resulting from the winemaking activity itself, such as pomace and grape stalks, and waste resulting from the management of the vineyards, with operations such as vine pruning. The management of vine pruning residuals has traditionally been conducted by burning leftovers on-site, without any use for the energy produced. This research analyzed the potential for the valorization of residual biomass resulting from vine pruning by creating a business model based on value chains of local scale. For this analysis, several samples of residues resulting from the “Loureiro” vine variety planted in Ponte de Lima (northern Portugal) were collected and characterized. The objective of the small-scale business model created, in addition, to solving the environmental problems related to the disposal of waste from agricultural activities, a value chain can be established, contributing to increasing the income of the farmers while introducing a circular bioeconomy and sustainable rural development practices.