The goal of sustainable agriculture is to achieve stable production, in harmony with the ecosystem of the site and in a socially acceptable fashion. In other words, it should be based upon the three pillars of sustainability, which are:
Economic sustainability
Ecological sustainability
Social sustainability
One of the fundamental challenges in this type of agriculture is the efficient use of resources. To care for, maintain, and even improve the available resources, is the responsibility of the current generation to future generations.
Conscious of this responsibility, Bodega El Porvenir de los Andes has implemented in their vineyards some of the practices known to achieve such sustainability:
Rational use of chemicals: Integrated management of pests, in which the use of chemical pesticides is used more sparingly and in combination with natural techniques to lower the level of pests. Also, the majority of the fungicides used are permitted by organic legislation (copper, sulfur, etc.). As a general measure, any chemical used must be perfectly justified in its use and used in the right quantity.
Lesser soil erosion: In Cafayate the soils are loose and sandy; this combined with the wind´s action creates a high risk of erosion. For this reason we maintain the natural soil cover, working with a plow, and never with instruments that cause too much soil movement.
Rational use of irrigation: Drip irrigation allows water to be used in the most efficient manner for the crop and avoids the wasting of water. The level of water applied is determined in part with the help of certain instruments such as the meteorological station (which can estimate the potential evaporation) or the pressure camera (which gives us an idea of the hydratic state of the plant).
Reduction of threat to human health: One regular practice in the vineyards is the triple washing of empty packaging and its subsequent destruction under controlled conditions. This reduces the possibility of misuse of this packaging on the part of anyone, whether involved in the winery or not.
Conservation of ecosystems: Not every acre of the estate is planted with vineyards. Extensive areas of indigenous hillside and forest are conserved, where a wide biodiversity of flora and fauna is maintained so as to reduce the negative impact that agriculture can have on natural ecosystems.
Reutilization of waste as organic fertilizers: It is our regular practice in the vineyards to use organic fertilizer from the wood discarded during pruning, as well as the skins and seeds of the grapes, both residual from the winery.
Improvements in conditions for vineyard workers: To our vineyard personnel we provide all the necessary elements of security so that they can work in the most risk-free environment possible—free of risks of accidents, sickness from poison or contamination, etc. We also offer them the use of restrooms, access to drinking water and all the other conditions that make a workplace safe and healthy.
