12 maggio 2026 si è svolto online il kick-off meeting di IDEOLOGIST, il nuovo progetto Interreg che coinvolge alcuni dei partner del progetto CEDRIC e che mira a migliorare la gestione sostenibile dei vigneti attraverso l’integrazione dell’intelligenza artificiale con dati agronomici, climatici, microbiologici e fisiologici. L’obiettivo è affrontare una sfida comune dell’area transfrontaliera: aumentare la resilienza dei vigneti ai cambiamenti climatici e al degrado del suolo valorizzando la biodiversità microbica.
Il progetto è coordinato dall’ICGEB di Trieste sotto la guida del Prof. Vittorio Venturi, Group Leader del Gruppo di Batteriologia.
“Combinando dati climatici, microbiologici, genetici e fisiologici, svilupperemo modelli predittivi in grado di supportare una gestione più sostenibile e resiliente dei vigneti.”, spiega il Prof. Venturi.
Al kick-off meeting hanno partecipato online i rappresentanti di tutti i partner del progetto, tra cui l’Università di Innsbruck, la Libera Università di Bolzano, la Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS), Primo Principio S.c.a.r.l., il CREA e la Camera di Commercio di Pordenone Udine. Erano inoltre presenti i partner associati ERSA e il Consorzio Tutela Vini Collio.
IDEOLOGIST will develop machine learning models capable of identifying targeted and sustainable interventions to restore the microbiological balance of vineyards and increase their resilience. Beneficial microbial communities, isolated from naturally more resistant plants, will be used in vineyards affected by dysbiosis, while artificial intelligence will guide the selection of the most effective treatments based on the various biotic and abiotic stresses.
During the meeting, representatives of the seven project partners and the two associated partners defined the main operational aspects and discussed the activities planned for the next two years. Running from 2026 to 2028 and with a budget exceeding €1.1 million, IDEOLOGIST is co-financed by the European Union, which will cover approximately 80% of the project’s total costs.
Among the main expected outcomes is the creation of a digital platform, based on the experience of the CEDRIC platform, which will collect and manage project data, promote knowledge exchange, and support collaboration between researchers, winemakers, businesses, and public administrations. The platform will also serve as a stakeholder engagement tool, facilitating information sharing and promoting the adoption of the solutions developed by the project.
Engaging stakeholders in the winemaking supply chain will be a central aspect of IDEOLOGIST. Through communication activities, dedicated events, and initiatives for engaging with local communities, the project will foster dialogue between research, businesses, and institutions, helping to maximize the impact of the innovations developed.
IDEOLOGIST will also pay particular attention to the transfer of knowledge to new generations, promoting educational and awareness-raising activities in schools at various levels with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability, biodiversity protection, and innovation applied to agriculture.