• New Stellenbosch University-led study tests whether the use of cattle and cover crops can improve vineyard sustainability.
• South Africa Wine is funding the study expected to help the industry make more informed decisions on future farming.
• Hartenberg Wine Estate hosts pioneering real-world trial of regenerative viticulture

Stellenbosch, 21 May 2025 – As the wine industry gathers for the South Africa Wine Summit this week, a bold new research project is shining a spotlight on how the use of cattle in vineyards could help future-proof the sector in the face of various challenges.

The three-year ReGenWine project, one of the most comprehensive scientific efforts to date to test the potential of regenerative viticulture in a real-world setting, was launched recently. It is being conducted by a multidisciplinary team of Stellenbosch University (SU) researchers, funded by industry body South Africa Wine, and taking place mainly at Hartenberg Wine Estate outside Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands of the country’s Western Cape province.

While Hartenberg is well-known for its striking Ankole cattle – a large-horned breed that has become part of its visual identity – the ReGenWine study uses Dexter cattle, a smaller and more manageable breed, well suited to the tight layout and conditions of vineyards.

“This is a proof-of-concept study,” said Professor Melané Vivier, the director of SU’s South African Grape and Wine Research Institute, and head of the project. “We’re looking at how to work with nature rather than against it – and whether that can deliver measurable benefits for wine farmers.”

Timely research for a changing industry

The launch of ReGenWine comes as the South African wine industry confronts growing pressure to innovate in the face of climate shocks, rising input costs, and changing consumer expectations. At the 2025 South Africa Wine Summit taking place in Stellenbosch on Thursday 22 May, these challenges will be front and centre.

“Everywhere I go these days, people are talking about sustainability,” said Gerard Martin, South Africa Wine’s executive for research development and innovation. “They’re asking about regenerative farming and what it might mean for their winemaking and their business. This study will generate valuable knowledge to help the industry make more informed decisions.”

Deep roots and progressive ambitions

At the heart of the study is Hartenberg Wine Estate, a historic farm founded in 1692 that has become a frontrunner in regenerative wine farming.

Hartenberg has gradually shifted its practices over the past two decades, introducing multi-species cover crops, composting and biological pest control. But the farm’s transition gained momentum in 2017 with the adoption of holistic grazing – integrating livestock into their vineyards.

Earlier this year, Hartenberg became the first wine estate in South Africa, and only the second globally, to be verified under the Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) framework – an evidence-based standard for monitoring and improving soil and plant health.

“When we brought the animals in, everything changed,” said Wilhelm Joubert, viticulturist at Hartenberg. “We’ve seen the land come alive again – from the return of earthworms and dung beetles to improved soil structure and biodiversity.”

Testing the model in working vineyards

ReGenWine is bringing rigorous, multidisciplinary research to a global movement that is growing fast but is often driven more by practice and anecdote than by scientific evidence. The goal is to find out whether regenerative methods can improve soil and vine health, maintain wine quality, and strengthen long-term sustainability – both ecologically and economically.

The model combines several elements typical of regenerative viticulture:

• Cover crops (oats and grasses) are planted between vineyard rows to protect soil, retain moisture, suppress weeds, and support biodiversity.
• Cattle are brought in to graze the cover crops after harvest and before new vine growth (this timing avoids damage to leaves or grapes).
• Their manure and urine replenish the soil, reducing the need for chemical fertilisers.
• The animals gain weight and can be sold or used for meat in the farm’s restaurant, creating an additional income stream.

The trial is testing whether this integrated approach will strengthen soil health, support vine performance, and reduce input costs – all while at least maintaining grape and wine quality.

Five teams, one mission

To capture the full impact of regenerative viticulture, the ReGenWine project brings together SU researchers from different disciplines and faculties in five interconnected teams:

• Soil system – measures carbon levels, microbial activity, and soil structure to assess biological and physical changes.
• Grapevine to wine system – tracks vine growth, grape development, and juice composition using field measurements and remote sensing.
• Cover crop and animal system – studies livestock integration, feed intake, movement patterns, and nutrient cycling.
• Economic and environmental circularity – models input-output flows across different vineyard setups, analyses return on investment, and evaluates lifecycle impacts.
• Project and knowledge coordination – ensures effective project management and that data is properly stored and shared with participants and the broader industry.

 

Foundation for the future

The project is building on a pre-trial study from 2022 to 2024, and the ReGenWine team hopes to generate a robust base of evidence that can inform future decisions in wine farming.

“We won’t answer all questions with one study,” said Vivier, “but we are working to provide a model that others can build on – and to provide a foundation for innovation in the future.”

“It’s also about positioning,” added Martin. “We’re showing that South Africa isn’t just following global trends – we can deliver world-class outcomes when we work together.”

 

Media contacts:

• Stellenbosch University: Julia Harper, 072 535 0204, jrs@sun.ac.za
• South Africa Wine: Gerard Martin, 082 814 6657, gerard@sawine.co.za
• Hartenberg Wine Estate: Andrea Els, 079 863 9969, wine@hartenberg.co.za

• Nuwe studie onder leiding van die Universiteit Stellenbosch toets of die gebruik van beeste en dekgewasse volhoubare wynbou kan bevorder.
• South Africa Wine befonds die studie, wat die bedryf sal help om beter besluite vir die toekoms te neem.
• Hierdie toonaangewende proefneming in regeneratiewe wingerdbou vind by Hartenberg Wynlandgoed plaas.

In die konteks van die Suid-Afrikaanse Wynberaad vandeesweek, werp ʼn nuwe navorsingsprojek die kollig op hoe die gebruik van beeste in wingerde die sektor kan help om sy toekoms te verseker te midde van verskeie uitdagings.

Die drie jaar lange ReGenWine-projek, een van die mees omvattende wetenskaplike studies tot nog toe om die potensiaal van regeneratiewe wingerdbou in ʼn werklike omgewing te toets, is onlangs van stapel gestuur. Dit word deur ʼn multidissiplinêre span navorsers van die Universiteit Stellenbosch (US) uitgevoer en deur die bedryfsliggaam South Africa Wine befonds. Dit vind hoofsaaklik by die Hartenberg-wynlandgoed aan die buitewyke van Stellenbosch plaas.

Hoewel Hartenberg bekend is vir sy treffende Ankole-beeste met hul groot horings, word kleiner en meer hanteerbare Dexter-beeste in die ReGenWine-studie gebruik. Hulle is meer geskik vir die kompakte uitleg en toestande van wingerde.

“Ons toets die konsep van regeneratiewe wynbou met hierdie studie,” het prof. Melané Vivier, die direkteur van die US se Suid-Afrikaanse Wingerd- en Wynnavorsingsinstituut, en hoof van die projek, gesê. “Ons kyk na hoe om met die natuur saam te werk eerder as daartéén – en of dit meetbare voordele vir wynboere kan inhou.”

Relevante navorsing vir ʼn veranderende bedryf

Die bekendstelling van ReGenWine kom terwyl die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf toenemende druk in die gesig staar om te innoveer in die lig van klimaatsverandering, stygende insetkoste en veranderende verbruikersverwagtinge. By South Africa Wine se beraad op Donderdag 22 Mei 2025 in Stellenbosch sal hierdie uitdagings voorop staan.

“Oral waar ek deesdae gaan, praat mense oor volhoubaarheid,” sê Gerard Martin, South Africa Wine se uitvoerende hoof vir navorsingsontwikkeling en innovasie. “Hulle het vrae oor regeneratiewe boerdery en wat dit vir hul wynmaak en hul besigheid kan beteken. Hierdie studie sal waardevolle insigte oplewer om die bedryf te help om meer ingeligte besluite te neem.”

Diep wortels en progressiewe ambisies

Die hoofproefterrein is Hartenberg, ʼn historiese plaas wat in 1692 gestig is en ʼn voorloper in regeneratiewe wynboerdery geword het.

Die afgelope twee dekades het Hartenberg sy boerderypraktyke geleidelik verander, onder meer deur middel van multispesie-dekgewasse, kompostering en biologiese plaagbeheer. Dié oorgang het in 2017 spoed opgetel toe die plaas vee begin gebruik het om die dekgewasse tussen hul wingerdrye te bewei.

Vroeër vanjaar het Hartenberg die eerste wynlandgoed in Suid-Afrika geword, en slegs die tweede wêreldwyd, wat geverifieer is ingevolge die Ecological Outcome Verification-raamwerk – ʼn bewysgebaseerde standaard waarmee grond- en plantgesondheid gemonitor en verbeter word.

“Toe ons diere ingebring het, het alles verander,” het Wilhelm Joubert, Hartenberg se wingerdboukundige, gesê. “Die grond het weer lewe gekry – erdwurms en miskruiers het teruggekeer, en die grondstruktuur en biodiversiteit het verbeter.”

Model in werkende wingerde getoets

ReGenWine bring streng, multidissiplinêre navorsing na ʼn vinnig groeiende wêreldwye beweging wat egter meer deur praktyk en anekdotes gedryf word as deur wetenskaplike bewyse. Die doel is om vas te stel of regeneratiewe metodes grond- en wingerdgesondheid kan verbeter, wyngehalte kan handhaaf en langtermynvolhoubaarheid kan versterk – sowel ekologies as ekonomies.

Die model kombineer verskeie elemente wat tipies van regeneratiewe wingerdbou is:

• Dekgewasse (hawer en grasse) word tussen wingerdrye geplant om die grond te beskerm, vog te behou, onkruid te onderdruk en biodiversiteit te ondersteun.
• Beeste bewei die dekgewasse ná die oes en voor die wingerd weer begin bod (dié tydsberekening voorkom skade aan die blare en druiwe).
• Hul mis en urine voed die grond, wat die noodsaak vir chemiese kunsmis verminder.
• Die diere sit gewig aan en kan verkoop of vir vleis in die plaas se restaurant gebruik word, wat bykomende inkomste oplewer.

Die proefneming toets of hierdie geïntegreerde benadering grondgesondheid bevorder, wingerdprestasie ondersteun en insetkoste verminder – alles terwyl die kwaliteit van druiwe en wyn minstens gehandhaaf word.

Vyf spanne, een missie

Om die volle impak van regeneratiewe wingerdbou te dek, bring die ReGenWine-projek US-navorsers uit verskillende dissiplines en fakulteite in vyf onderling gekoppelde spanne byeen:

• Grondstelsel – meet koolstofvlakke, mikrobiese aktiwiteit en grondstruktuur om biologiese en fisiese veranderinge te bepaal.
• Van wingerdstok tot wyn – moniteer wingerdstokgroei, druifontwikkeling en sapsamestelling met behulp van veldmetings en afstandswaarneming.
• Dekgewasse en diere – bestudeer vee-integrasie, voerinname, bewegingspatrone en voedingstofsiklusse.
• Ekonomiese en omgewingsirkulariteit – modelleer in- en uitsette in verskillende wingerdopstellings, analiseer opbrengs op belegging, en ontleed lewensiklusimpakte.
• Projek- en kenniskoördinering – effektiewe projekbestuur om te verseker dat data behoorlik gestoor en gedeel word met deelnemers en die breër bedryf.

Fondament vir die toekoms

Die projek bou voort op ʼn voorloper-studie van 2022 tot 2024, en die ReGenWine-span beoog om ʼn robuuste stel bewyse te genereer wat toekomstige besluitneming in die wynbedryf kan ondersteun.

“Ons gaan nie alle vrae eensklaps beantwoord nie,” het Vivier gesê, “maar ons werk daaraan om ʼn model te bied waarop ander kan voortbou – en om ʼn fondament vir innovasie in die toekoms te lê.”

“Dit gaan ook oor posisionering,” het Martin bygevoeg. “Ons wys dat Suid-Afrika nie net globale tendense navolg nie – ons kan wêreldklas-uitkomste lewer wanneer ons saamwerk.”

Mediakontakte:

• Universiteit Stellenbosch: Julia Harper, 072 535 0204, jrs@sun.ac.za
• South Africa Wine: Gerard Martin, 082 814 6657, gerard@sawine.co.za
• Hartenberg Wynlandgoed: Andrea Els, 079 863 9969, wine@hartenberg.co.za

• Dragonflies highly valuable insects for assessing water, land quality.
• Threatened by many factors.
• Must be included more widely in biodiversity conservation efforts.
• Action plan to promote dragonflies in freshwater, riverbank conservation.
• International Day for Biological Diversity is observed on 22 May.
• Watch a short video below; (download here)

Action plan

In a recent review* published in Insect Conservation and Diversity, they proposed the following five-point action plan to promote dragonflies in freshwater and riverbank conservation: expanding and enhancing dragonfly assessment and monitoring; including dragonflies in standard environmental toxicological risk assessment; learning from dragonflies to improve landscape conservation efforts; ensuring the integration of dragonflies with other plant and animal conservation initiatives; and promoting dragonflies in environmental education.

According to the scientists, global dragonfly conservation hinges on these five actions implemented across different regions and landscapes and by various stakeholders.

They explain why conserving dragonflies matters: “Dragonflies are a key component of freshwater and neighbouring land ecosystems. Importantly, they have been especially valuable for assessing water and land quality. Groups of dragonfly species in a defined habitat can tell us a lot about deteriorating environmental conditions and the requirements to restore degraded habitats.”

They point out that dragonflies are threatened by a range of factors, including habitat loss, landscape transformation, pollution, changes in water movement and management, and the spread of invasive alien species—all of which are driven by human activities.

“Overarching these threats—which often interact—is the ongoing challenge of global climate change and its associated extreme weather events.”

The scientists add that dragonflies could also help us to measure the success of conservation efforts. Some examples include the global reduction of human exploitation of wetlands through sustainable land-use practices, beaver reintroduction programmes in Europe, habitat restoration programmes including management of highly invasive alien species, sustainable drainage systems development in cities to enhance resilience to extreme weather and water-related events (which also creates new dragonfly habitats), and clean energy projects.

The researchers say that it is important to continue and expand the assessment and monitoring of dragonfly population sizes, distributions and the groups of species that live in specific areas. This information feeds into international conservation prioritisation frameworks and initiatives for understanding conservation risks and declines relative to human pressures and ongoing climate change.

Monitoring and evaluation during the early stages of conservation programmes are critical to ensure that dragonfly populations, habitats and ecosystems are effectively assessed over time. This approach also helps to quantify threats and measure the level of conservation success. Information gathered through assessment and monitoring must be translated into practical conservation efforts and policy decisions.

“By including dragonflies in broader conservation initiatives, conservation policies and management globally will become more effective. We need policies that focus on overall biodiversity protection, with dragonflies being an important component.”

Local expertise

The scientists say that dragonflies’ ability to survive under different environmental conditions depends on the traits or characteristics of individual species.

“For some species, these traits may help them adapt to or benefit from human activities, such as creation of ponds. Others, however, may lack these traits, making them vulnerable to local extinction. While databases on the traits of dragonflies are expanding, other unknown characteristics may also play a role in their ability to adapt to changing environments.”

The researchers call for conservation efforts that link water and land, improve connectivity between habitats, and better maintain water and soil quality. According to them, the landscape approach is based on the idea that efforts to protect dragonflies will also benefit other organisms that share similar habitats and requirements.

They add that building a solid base of knowledge and enhancing local expertise is key to understanding dragonflies better and improving conservation efforts.

“Updating regional species lists and developing field guides and digital applications help with species identification. These resources also have great potential to develop knowledge on how they live in ecosystems and interact with plants and animals they share these ecosystems with.”

Dragonflies are iconic and charismatic, adding to their appeal in environmental education across multiple age and racial groups, the scientists say. They emphasise the value of citizen science in enhancing research on conservation and management requirements.

Understanding the cultural role of dragonflies across various regions, will, in turn, spark interest in them, encourage a desire to protect them, and feed into policymaking.

“The protection of dragonflies should be promoted more widely by using a variety of media platforms to bring public attention to the conservation of their habitats. Finding new ways to involve diverse societies can help ensure that the true value of dragonflies as sentinels for conservation is realised.”

• Source: M Samways et al (2025). Scientists’ warning on the need for greater inclusion of dragonflies in global conservation. Insect Conservation and Diversity. DOI: 10.1111/icad.12819

*This review was done in collaboration between scientists from South Africa, Mexico, Portugal, Australia, The Netherlands, Brazil, the United States of America, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Czechia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, Argentina, Colombia, and Sweden.

FOR MEDIA ENQURIES ONLY

Dr Charl Deacon
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology
Faculty of AgriSciences
Stellenbosch University
Cell: 083 275 9298
Email: charldeacon@sun.ac.za

• Naaldekokers belangrike insekte vir beoordeling van water- en grondgehalte.
• Word deur verskeie faktore bedreig.
• Moet by wyer bewaringsinisiatiewe ingesluit word.
• Aksieplan vir bevordering van naaldekokers in varswater- en rivieroewerbewaring.
• Internasionale Dag vir Biologiese Diversiteit is op 22 Mei.
• Kyk na ’n kort video; (Laai video hier af)

Aksieplan

In ‘n onlangse oorsig* wat in Insect Conservation and Diversity verskyn het, het hulle die volgende vyfpunt-aksieplan voorgestel om naaldekokers in varswater- en rivieroewerbewaring te bevorder: uitbreiding en verbetering van naaldekokerassessering en -monitering; insluiting van naaldekokers in standaard omgewingstoksikologiese risikobepaling; leer by naaldekokers om landskapbewaringspogings te verbeter; verseker die integrasie van naaldekokers by ander plant- en dierebewaringsinisiatiewe; en die bevordering van naaldekokers in omgewingsopvoeding.

Volgens die wetenskaplikes hang wêreldwye naaldekokerbewaring af van hierdie vyf stappe wat in verskillende streke en landskappe en deur verskeie belanghebbendes geïmplementeer word.

Hulle verduidelik waarom die bewaring van naaldekokers saak maak: “Naaldekokers is ‘n sleutelkomponent van varswater- en naburige landekostelsels. Wat veral belangrik is, is dat hulle veral waardevol is vir die beoordeling van water- en grondgehalte. Groepe naaldekokerspesies in ‘n gedefinieerde habitat kan ons baie vertel oor verslegtende omgewingstoestande en die vereistes om afgebreekte habitatte te herstel.”

Hulle wys daarop dat naaldekokers deur ‘n reeks faktore, insluitende habitatverlies, landskaptransformasie, besoedeling, veranderinge in waterbeweging en -bestuur en die verspreiding van indringerspesies, bedreig word. Hierdie word alles deur menslike aktiwiteite aangeblaas.

“Die oorkoepelende faktor van hierdie bedreigings—wat dikwels op mekaar inwerk—is die voortdurende uitdaging van wêreldwye klimaatsverandering en die gepaardgaande uiterste weersomstandighede.”

Die wetenskaplikes voeg by dat naaldekokers ons ook kan help om die sukses van bewaringspogings te meet. Enkele voorbeelde sluit die wêreldwye vermindering van menslike uitbuiting van vleilande deur volhoubare grondgebruikpraktyke, herbekendstellingsprogramme van bewers in Europa, habitatherstelprogramme, insluitende die bestuur van indringerspesies, volhoubare dreineringstelselontwikkeling in stede om veerkragtigheid teen uiterste weer en waterverwante gebeure te verbeter (wat ook nuwe naaldekokerhabitatte skep) en skoon energieprojekte in.

Die navorsers sê dit is belangrik om voort te gaan met die assessering en monitering van die grootte van naaldekokerbevolkings, verspreiding en die groepe spesies wat in spesifieke gebiede woon. Hierdie inligting dra by tot internasionale bewaringsprioritiseringsraamwerke en inisiatiewe om bewaringsrisiko’s en -afname relatief tot menslike druk en voortgesette klimaatsverandering te verstaan.

“Monitering en evaluering gedurende die vroeë stadiums van bewaringsprogramme is van uiterste belang om te verseker dat naaldekokerbevolkings, habitatte en ekostelsels mettertyd doeltreffend beoordeel word. Hierdie benadering help ook om bedreigings te kwantifiseer en die vlak van bewaringsukses te meet. Inligting wat deur assessering en monitering ingesamel word, moet omgeskakel word in praktiese bewaringspogings en beleidsbesluite.

“Deur naaldekokers by breër bewaringsinisiatiewe in te sluit, sal bewaringsbeleide en bestuur wêreldwyd meer doeltreffend word. Ons het beleide nodig wat op algehele beskerming van biodiversiteit fokus, met naaldekokers as ‘n belangrike komponent.”

Plaaslike kundigheid

Die wetenskaplikes sê naaldekokers se vermoë om onder verskillende omgewingstoestande te oorleef, hang van die kenmerke of eienskappe van individuele spesies af.

“Vir sommige spesies kan hierdie eienskappe hulle help om aan te pas by of voordeel te trek uit menslike aktiwiteite, soos die skep van damme. Ander mag egter moontlik nie hierdie eienskappe hê nie, wat hulle kwesbaar maak vir plaaslike uitwissing. Terwyl databasisse oor die eienskappe van naaldekokers uitbrei, kan ander onbekende eienskappe ook ‘n rol in hulle vermoë speel om by veranderende omgewings aan te pas.”

Die navorsers doen ‘n oproep om bewaringspogings wat water en grond te verbind, die verbinding tussen habitatte te verbeter en water- en grondgehalte beter te handhaaf. Volgens hulle is die landskapbenadering op die idee gegrond dat pogings om naaldekokers te beskerm, ook ander organismes sal bevoordeel wat soortgelyke habitatte deel en soortgelyke vereistes het.

Hulle voeg by dat die vestiging van ‘n stewige kennisbasis en die verbetering van plaaslike kundigheid die sleutel is om naaldekokers beter te verstaan en bewaringspogings te verbeter.

“Die bywerking van plaaslike spesielyste en die ontwikkeling van veldgidse en digitale toepassings help met spesie-identifikasie. Hierdie hulpbronne het ook groot potensiaal om kennis te ontwikkel oor hoe hulle in ekostelsels leef en interaksie met plante en diere het waarmee hulle hierdie ekostelsels deel.”

Naaldekokers is ikonies en charismaties, wat tot hulle aantrekkingskrag in omgewingsopvoeding regoor verskeie ouderdoms- en rassegroepe bydra, sê die wetenskaplikes. Hulle beklemtoon die waarde van burgerwetenskap in die verbetering van navorsing oor bewarings- en bestuursvereistes.

“Om die kulturele rol van naaldekokers in verskeie streke te verstaan, sal belangstelling in hulle wek, ‘n begeerte aanmoedig om hulle te beskerm en tot beleidskepping bydra.

“Die beskerming van naaldekokers moet wyer bevorder word deur ‘n verskeidenheid mediaplatforms te gebruik om die publiek se aandag op die bewaring van hulle habitatte te vestig. Nuwe maniere om uiteenlopende samelewings te betrek kan help om te verseker dat die werklike waarde van naaldekokers as bewakers van bewaring verwesenlik word.”

• Bron: M Samways et al (2025). Scientists’ warning on the need for greater inclusion of dragonflies in global conservation. Insect Conservation and Diversity. DOI: 10.1111/icad.12819

*Wetenskaplikes van Suid-Afrika, Meksiko, Portugal, Australië, Nederland, Brasilië, die Verenigde State van Amerika, Duitsland, Spanje, België, Tsjeggië, Japan, die Verenigde Koninkryk, Kanada, Argentinië, Colombia en Swede het saamgewerk aan hierdie oorsig.

SLEGS VIR MEDIANAVRAE

Dr Charl Deacon
Postdoktorale navorsingsgenoot
Departement Bewaringsekologie en Entomologie
Fakulteit AgriWetenskappe
Universiteit Stellenbosch
Sel: 083 275 9298
E-pos: charldeacon@sun.ac.za