Agriculture
Did you know Europe exports its essence of Christmas?
Mulled wine is one of the most popular drink enjoyed at this time of year, having characterized the smell of Christmas celebrations for centuries [1]. The EU is the biggest producer and exporter of wine globally, accounting for 64% of global production [2] and €17.9 billion of exports [3]. While relying on international trade for the spices used to make mulled wine and other Christmas delicacies [4], exports of European wine also help to share this festive tradition to regions all over the world.
The EU wine sector supports almost 3 million jobs and plays a fundamental role in the socio-economic sustainability of rural areas [3] . It is therefore important to ensure this sector is able to overcome the many challenges it faces. These include extreme weather events, evolving pests and diseases, and continued access to international trade. Enabling adequate crop protection solutions, plant breeding innovation to develop resistant varieties and implementing precision farming will be vital to sustain the leading position Europe has in wine production.