The National Observatory for the Deployment of Resistant Grape Varieties (OSCAR) is a participatory initiative established in 2017 by INRAE and IFV. It consists of a network of production plots planted with varieties resistant to downy and powdery mildew across the main French wine-growing regions.
The main goal?
To co-develop, for the first time, viticultural systems combining varietal resistance and integrated pest management methods for the principal vine diseases.
To learn more about the OSCAR initiative:
At its establishment in 2017, the OSCAR Observatory consisted of 34 plots spread across 14 sites. In 2024, the network counted 185 plots.
The range of resistant grapevine varieties and their deployment are experiencing growing momentum. This strong development is expected to accelerate in the coming years due to the completion of several grapevine breeding programs in France and Europe.
The OSCAR observatory is an innovative tool with multiple purposes, serving producers and the viticulture-wine sector.
It enables, among other things:
The OSCAR observatory also relies on a close collaboration between winegrowers, viticultural authorities, the OSCAR coordination team, and a multidisciplinary steering committee. It is a large-scale field experiment across our territory where everyone contributes to the collective dynamic by sharing knowledge, skills, and perspectives.
In the vineyards, up to five assessments of epidemic dynamics of diseases and pests are conducted annually.
In the laboratory, collected downy mildew strains are monitored through phenotyping and genotyping to track changes in aggressiveness and virulence.
For more information on vineyard observations, network entry requirements, and key dates, please consult our protocols below.
