Wine and Sustainability: Policies and Technological Innovations for a Sustainable Transition of the Wine Supply Chain

Event powered by Federvini.

Thanks to the partnership with Federvini, the federation representing Italian companies in the wine, spirits, and vinegar sectors and promoting their development and competitiveness, the wine-growing and winemaking sector is widely represented at the trade fair, which features leading companies supplying technologies and solutions for the oenological sector.

On October 29, Cibus Tec will also host a workshop entirely dedicated to the wine sector inside the Seminar Theater in Hall 2. High-profile speakers from Italy and abroad will gather to discuss strategic issues for the supply chain's competitiveness—from international trade agreements to the evolution of the European regulatory framework and sustainability challenges.

The panel aims to shed light on some of the latest regulatory developments recently introduced by the so-called "wine package" regarding tools to support the sector's competitiveness.

Unlike other European agri-food sectors, the wine branch benefits from a support policy aimed at increasing its domestic and international competitiveness.

In particular, since 2008, the section of the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) dedicated to the sector has been characterized by measures supporting business investments:

• Vineyard restructuring and conversion measure: covers up to 50% of costs incurred for vineyard investments;
• Winery investment measure: covers up to 40% of costs incurred for investments in tangible and intangible assets for treatment facilities and wine infrastructure, as well as marketing facilities and tools;
• Promotion measure: covers up to 50% of costs incurred for wine promotional investments in third-country markets.

Financially, these resources—funded entirely by the EU budget—amount to approximately €1 billion per year, including €323 million per year allocated to Italy.

Of these, Italy allocates roughly €60 million annually to finance the winery investment measure.

This means the measure potentially unleashes investments of around €150 million per year.

During recent CAP reforms, measures supporting investments in wineries and vineyards have increasingly incorporated "greening" criteria—tying them in whole or in part to environmental goals while remaining firmly grounded in boosting competitiveness.

Focusing on the winery investment measure, a priority criterion targeting energy savings was initially introduced. However, it is through the wine package that the environmental dimension of these investments becomes more pronounced, as well as more appealing to businesses.

Indeed, with the adoption of EU Reg. No. 2026/471 in the spring of this year—also known as the wine package—the aid rate of 40% of eligible expenses can be increased up to 80% of eligible investment costs for projects linked to the objective of "contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as improving the sustainability of production systems and reducing the environmental impact of the Union's wine sector."

Italy has embraced this opportunity: the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, through Ministerial Decree No. 483563 of September 18, 2026, decided to apply the maximum rate of 80%.

The Panel offers an opportunity to discuss this with key stakeholders:

• The Ministry, providing a privileged perspective on how the wine package and last September's ministerial decree came to fruition;
• Emilia-Romagna Region, providing an authoritative regional viewpoint, given that investment measures are implemented at the regional level;
• Federvini, representing the viewpoint of industry companies;
• OMNIA, highlighting current trends in technologies serving Italian and European wine enterprises, given Italy's leadership in this manufacturing branch.

Speakers

• Piero AMORESE, PhD – Director of Office PIUE VIII, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests;
• Silvia LORENZINI, PhD – Director General of Agriculture, Hunting, and Fisheries, Emilia-Romagna Region;
• Gabriele CASTELLI, PhD – Director of Federvini;

The event will be held in Italian

English translation available (see below)