Eco2Wine Project Meeting 2024

Events

The second project meeting of the Eco2Wine consortium took place in Stellenbosch, South Africa, on 4 & 5 October 2024. Most supervisors and doctoral candidates attended the meeting in person, with a few joining online.

Almost one year after the project was launched on 1 December 2023, beneficiaries were able to report on progress to date and plan future activities and collaborations. The meeting agenda kicked off with detailed administrative and financial planning, which allowed team members to discuss the milestones and deliverables of each of the project’s work packages and the shared platforms that would be used to ensure that the project stays on track. Planning for effective communication, dissemination, and exploitation was included in line with the requirements of Horizon Europe funding.

The involvement of the ten doctoral candidates was a vital feature of the meeting. Each candidate had an opportunity to present a research plan and their secondments in partner countries, and all supervisors had a chance to respond. It provided an excellent opportunity for students to explore possibilities for collaboration and sharing regarding their methodologies, research tools and the data they plan to collect. While the supervisors were impressed by the quality of the research plans, Prof Florian Bauer cautioned the young researchers to be realistic about what could be achieved in three years and scale down some ambitious projects. Prof Ileana Vigentini, Eco2Wine coordinator and project leader, emphasized the importance of meaningfully integrating all the doctoral candidates’ activities across all the project work packages.


Eco2Wine to feature at ICY2024 in Cape Town

Events

Several members of the Eco2Wine project will participate in the 16th International Congress on Yeasts (ICY2024) scheduled to take place from 29 September to 3 October at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in South Africa. Eco2Wine Project Leader Professor Ileana Vigentini is one of the keynote speakers, while project beneficiary Prof Florian Bauer is the congress chair. Several more project members will participate in the conference programme, and the whole team will stay on after the conference for a project meeting in Cape Town.

ICY2024 promises to be a milestone event, driving forward the frontiers of yeast research and innovation, and advancing partnerships between research and industry, as well as between Africa and global partners.

For more information, including registration details and the event program, please visit the official website at https://easternsun.eventsair.com/2024-16th-international-congress-on-yeasts/


Eco2Wine Training Workshop on July 15

Events

Eco2Wine Project launches High-Throughput Sequencing training in viticulture and oenology.

Logroño, La Rioja, Spain – June 24, 2024 – As part of the innovative Eco2Wine project, the first training event dedicated to “Natural microbial interactions in winemaking-associated ecosystems as a tool to foster wine innovation” will take place from July 15 to July 19, 2024, in the vibrant city of Logroño, La Rioja. This specialised course, designed for doctoral students involved in the project, will be hosted at the prestigious Biomedical Research Center of La Rioja (CIBIR).

The course will delve into the advanced use of high-throughput sequencing techniques in viticulture and winemaking research. The agenda is structured to cover four comprehensive blocks, including an introduction to next-generation sequencing (NGS) systems and Linux, genomics, transcriptomics, and meta-taxonomy & metagenomics. Esteemed experts from the field, such as Pablo Carbonell-Bejerano, Miguel Mejías-Ortiz, Álvaro Pérez-Sala, and María de Toro, will share their insights and expertise with the participants.

 

A blend of education and experience

The event kicks off on July 15 with an introduction to Linux and sequencing systems. This foundational day will equip attendees with essential skills in managing NGS data. The subsequent days are packed with intensive sessions on genomics and transcriptomics, leading to an exploration of meta-taxonomy and metagenomics by the end of the week.

A highlight of the training is the technical visit to a local winery on July 17. This visit offers participants a practical perspective on the application of microbial interactions in winemaking. It underscores the region’s rich viticultural heritage and provides field experience that complements the theoretical knowledge gained during the course.

Logroño: A welcoming host

Participants will be welcomed to Logroño, a small, tourist-friendly city known for its charm and hospitality. With a population around 150000, Logroño offers an inviting atmosphere, especially in July, when temperatures range from 20-40°C. Attendees are advised to pack lightweight clothing to stay comfortable in the summer heat. Additional information about the city and instructions on how to reach Logroño and CIBIR are available in the “Venue” section of the course materials.

Technical details and registration

The course will be conducted in a well-equipped classroom at CIBIR, featuring laptops with a Linux environment facilitated through a virtual machine (VBox). While participants can use the provided laptops, they are welcome to bring their own devices. All necessary documentation and the virtual machine will be accessible post-course for continued learning and application.

The program encourages active participation, culminating in a project presentation session on July 19, where students will share their research projects in brief presentations.

Doctoral students interested in attending can register via the “Sign up for the course!” section and direct any queries to mdtorohernando@gmail.com. This event promises to be a significant step forward in integrating cutting-edge sequencing techniques in viticulture and winemaking research, fostering innovation and excellence in the field.

For more information, visit the Eco2Wine project page or contact the course coordinators directly.


Eco2Wine Kick-Off Meeting

Events

The Kick off meeting of Eco2Wine took place in Perugia on the 12th of December 2023. The meeting was hosted by Università Degli Studi Perugia (UNIPG) at the San Pietro Abbey, Borgo XX Giugno.

Eco2Wine coordinator, Prof. Ileana Vigentini, provides an overview of the project methodology.