(ANSA) - CORNO DI ROSAZZO, 26 NOV - Scientific evidence, operational tools, and a shared set of guidelines to improve water use and soil management in vineyards were presented today in Corno di Rosazzo (Udine) at the final conference of Irrigavit, the Italy-Slovenia cross-border project aimed at making viticulture more resilient to climate change. The project, coordinated by the University of Udine and implemented in the eastern hills of Friuli and the Slovenian Brda region, introduced the use of leaf water potential as a key parameter for defining supplemental irrigation, water-balance models based on phenological stages, and cover-cropping and green-manure practices using selected mixtures to increase soil water retention and reduce erosion. Monitoring of water stress has also been enhanced through integrated technologies. More than 400 winegrowers, technicians, and students took part in the training activities. A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed today, committing the partners to promote and apply the project's guidelines, maintain and disseminate best practices in irrigation and soil management, establish an Italian-Slovenian working group to support integration into agricultural policies, and strengthen knowledge transfer along the supply chain. "The project provides results that allow us to apply a scientific approach to precision irrigation," said Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Councillor for Agri-food Resources Stefano Zannier. "Data-driven planning reduces consumption, enhances technologies, and ensures quality production, addressing the challenges posed by climate change." According to Paolo Sivilotti, coordinator of Irrigavit, "studying water from every angle means helping viticulture face an increasingly complex future. Cover-cropping boosts resilience, while targeted irrigation keeps vines in balance even in rainy years, contributing to both economic and ecological sustainability." (ANSA).