A committee has been created in the Canary Islands to combat phylloxera in vineyards.
A committee has been created in the Canary Islands to combat phylloxera, which affects vineyards, and a plan is being developed to support local winemaking.
A committee has been created in the Canary Islands to combat phylloxera, a vineyard pest.
It will advise on how best to control the pest and prevent its spread. The committee will also investigate the origin of phylloxera in Tenerife, propose ways to preserve local winemaking, and collaborate with scientists around the world who are studying this insect.
The committee will include representatives from the government, farmers, scientists from the University of La Laguna, and the Ministry of Agriculture.
The committee's first meeting will take place on Monday in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Agriculture Councillor Narvay Quintero assured that the fight against the pest would be intensified. Currently, phylloxera is localized in Tenerife. The soil and roots of vineyards will be checked, as phylloxera usually only affects the leaves on the islands.
Approximately 4,400 inspections have already been carried out, and 66 infected areas have been identified in the Tacoronte-Acentejo region. They have been treated, and more than half have already been cleared of the pest.
A plan for the development of viticulture is also being developed. The first grape varieties that arrived on the islands will be sanitized in greenhouses to avoid pest infestation in the future.
Valentin Gonzalez, Agriculture Councillor in Tenerife, reported that the phylloxera outbreak had been contained. In the Tacoronte-Acentejo-La Orotava area, 50 specialists are working to inspect fields and take measures to control the pest.
In addition, the authorities plan to support winemaking financially, technically, and informationally.