Analysis of grape growers’ and wine producers’ perceptions in Brazil regarding climate change

análise da percepção de produtores de uva e vinho no Brasil

Résumé

The issue of climate change has received increasing emphasis in studies across various economic sectors, with agriculture being no exception. Among agricultural activities, fruit production is particularly sensitive to climatic variations, and within this sector, viticulture stands out as a segment highly impacted by climate change. In Brazil, grape and wine producers have reported a more frequent occurrence of extreme climatic events, drawing attention to the impacts of these changes on the sector. In this context, this study aimed to analyse grape and wine producers’ perceptions across different regions of the country regarding the effects of climate change on viticultural activities, and to identify the adaptation measures they adopt. To this end, a literature review was conducted, followed by a characterisation of Brazil’s main grape- and wine producing regions. Subsequently, primary data were collected through structured questionnaires applied to a sample of 80 producers to assess their perceptions of climate change and adaptation strategies in the sector. The main results indicate that approximately 80% of the surveyed producers report that their production has been affected by climate change in some way, with these impacts linked to productivity and quality. However, adaptation actions remain limited in terms of both the diversity of strategies and their effectiveness. These results highlight the importance of research and climate monitoring systems in supporting public policy development for the Brazilian grape and wine sector.