The opening of the event will take place on 3 December, at the Catholic University in Porto, at 9:00 am, and will be attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, José Manuel Fernandes, the U.S. Ambassador to Portugal, Randi Charno Levine, the Pro-Rector of the Catholic University of Portugal, Isabel Braga da Cruz, and the Director of the International Climate Hub of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Barbara Bennett.

This event will bring together more than 70 researchers, producers, government representatives and associations from Portugal, France, Spain and the United States to discuss the common climate challenges faced by the viticulture industry, particularly in Mediterranean climates.

The goal of the symposium is to learn, from a diverse group of industry experts, about the techniques that are successful in increasingly dry and hot conditions, and in more severe conditions such as droughts and wildfires. The experts present will identify gaps in knowledge where international collaboration and information sharing can produce better and faster results for producers.

The idea for this symposium arose from conversations between the Director of the USDA's International Climate Centre and her counterpart at the California Climate Centre. Existing research at the California Climate Centre, focused on the impacts of changing weather and climate conditions on California's wine industry, has sparked interest in developing greater dialogue with international counterparts facing similar conditions. The intention is to give producers effective tools to manage these risks.

In California, viticulture contributes more than 400,000 jobs and adds $70 billion to the state's economy.

For two days, the invited experts will hold a series of panel presentations, focus groups and visits to local producers. They will discuss the tactics employed in various Mediterranean climates to make their vineyards more resilient, learning from each other and identifying areas that need further research. This work is expected to spread to other climatic zones and growing conditions in the future.

As U.S. Ambassador to Portugal Randi Charno Levine said, "I am proud to be part of an international effort that is working to maintain the long-term viability of a sector that is important to so many. From my adopted home in Portugal to our neighbours in Europe and my own home state of New York, wine production represents a unique intersection of agriculture, science and culture, and we want it to remain productive for many years to come."

"The holding of this event at the Catholic University of Portugal is in line with the contribution to the development and sharing of knowledge in this area of Viticulture and Climate that is so relevant and where our academic community has developed significant work, namely through the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry and the School of Biotechnology, " said Isabel Braga da Cruz, pro-rector of the Catholic University of Portugal.

For the full programme please see below:

Tuesday, 3 December

Location: Catholic University of Portugal

Rua de Diogo Botelho 1327 Porto 4150-09

9:00-9:10 am Welcoming Remarks

Barbara Bennett - Director, International Climate Hub, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Isabel Braga de Cruz - Pro-Rector, Universidade Católica Portuguesa

9:15-9:25 am Opening remarks

U.S. Ambassador to Portugal, Randi Charno Levine

9:25-9:40 am Opening remarks

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries José Manuel Fernandes

9:40-10:00 am Keynote Address: The economic and environmental impacts of climate change on

global wine grape production

António Graça, Director of R&D, Sogrape Vinhos

10:00-11:15 am Panel 1 - Wine Grape Grower & Industry Perspectives

What Industry is Experiencing and How They’re Adjusting to a Changing Climate

Mini Keynote/Moderator – Karissa Kruse, Sonoma County Winegrowers

Spain - Eva Navascués, Alma Carraovejas

France – Tatiana Svinartchuk, Moet-Hennessy

Portugal – Rita Nabeiro, Adega Mayor winery

United States - Chris Carpenter - Jackson Family Farms

11:15 - 11:30 am Coffee break / Press Opportunity

11:30 - 12:45 pm Panel 2 - Research and Academic Perspectives

How Researchers are Responding with Solutions for Viticulture in their Regions

Mini Keynote/Moderator - Steve Ostoja, Director, California Climate Hub, Agricultural Research Service, USDA

France - Nathalie Ollat, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRAE)

Spain - Mario de la Fuente, University Politecnica de Madrid and Plataforma Technologica Del Vino

Portugal – Elsa Gonçalves, the Head of Research for Associação Portuguesa para a Diversidade da Videira (PORVID)

United States - Arran Rumbaugh, Agricultural Research Service, USDA

12:45 - 1:45 pm Lunch - provided

1:45 - 3:00 pm Panel 3 - Association and Supporting Network Perspectives

How Regions and Groups are Coming Together to Solve Climate Challenges

Mini Keynote/Moderator – Allison Jordan, California Wine Institute

Spain – Trinidad Márquez, Subdirector General and Technical Director at Spanish Wine Federation (FEV)

Spain – Mar Vilanova de la Torre, Director, Instituto de Ciencias de la Vid y del Vino (ICVV)

Portugal – Luis Marcos, Cluster da Vinha e do Vinho (ADVID)

International - Becky Sikes - Regenerative Viticulture Foundation

3:00 - 3:15 pm Description of Breakout Session Goals and Transition to Breakout Rooms

3:15 - 4:45 pm Breakout Sessions

Identification of Common Challenges, Areas for International Collaboration, Next Steps

Participants choose their topic of interest (below) when they RSVP. Led by facilitators, each group identifies common challenges that span the regions represented, identifying 1-2 areas that could benefit from continued international coordination and some practical next steps.

Plants Breakout #1 - Plants (in the vineyard, pathogens/disease/pests)

Plants Breakout #2 - Plants (development of materials: breeding, cultivars, genetics)

Soil Breakout #1 - Soil & water

Soil Breakout #2 - Soil health outside of water (e.g. vineyard floor management)