Charlotte JAVELOT

The University of Upper-Alsace is home to 13 research laboratories and centres spread across 5 campuses in Mulhouse and Colmar. One of its key research units, the LVBE (Vine Biotechnology and Environment Laboratory), is based in Colmar, the heart of Alsace’s wine-growing region. The LVBE is dedicated to the agro-environmental engineering of vineyards, with a strong focus on understanding and combating grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs). The laboratory investigates grapevine-pathogen interactions, particularly the mechanisms behind wood degradation caused by fungi associated with GTDs. In recent years, the LVBE has pioneered innovative approaches to disease management, including stimulating grapevine defences through beneficial microorganisms (bacteria or fungi) and developing antifungal compounds, both chemical and bio-based.The laboratory is developing the concept of Responsible Winegrowing, which will enable us to respond to the new challenges facing viticulture in the 21st century, such as vine decline and water stress caused by climate change.