A technical committee will carry out weekly monitoring of the phylloxera outbreak in Tenerife. This was agreed upon yesterday by the Island Wine Board, which was convened urgently by the Cabildo. The Wine Board will meet monthly to provide updates to winemakers. Representatives from the six protected origin denominations on the Island, sector technicians, members from the Avibo and Viboten associations, officials from the Casa del Vino, the regional government’s Agriculture Ministry, GMR Canarias, and technical staff from the corporation participated in Monday’s meeting.
Since late July, the Cabildo and the regional government have worked together to remove affected plants and delineate a zone for monitoring and implementing phytosanitary measures. A total of 2,000 inspections have been conducted, with 56 positive cases recorded to date.
During this period, a technical protocol has been established with standardised sampling per hectare and key symptoms to ensure that winemakers remain informed at all times.
Last week, the Cabildo de Tenerife announced an investment of €150,000 to hire eight new specialists in phylloxera control, adding to the twenty-two agricultural extension technicians and nine personnel from the Agricultural Department. Additionally, bureaucratic processes related to this matter have been streamlined, and more digital tools have been implemented. Efforts have also been made to develop a mobile application that allows users to process movement guides and inspection reports electronically.
The island president, Rosa Dávila, attended the Wine Board meeting “to convey, first and foremost, our full support and solidarity to the winemakers and vintners who are greatly concerned about the detection of phylloxera in our vineyards.” She stated that the institution’s priority is to “safeguard the quality and prestige of our internationally recognised wines, and to ensure that families reliant on this sector have security and support during this delicate time.” Dávila called for calm and collaboration within the sector: “The Cabildo will stand by your side, with resources and commitment, to overcome this challenge together and ensure that the future of Tenerife’s wine remains a source of pride.”
The Vice President and Minister of Tourism, Lope Afonso, commended “the collaboration taking place among the involved actors” and thanked “the crucial role that winemakers are playing in controlling the phylloxera outbreak, as the primary sector is essential for Tenerife.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of the Primary Sector, Valentín González, contextualised the discussion around the Island Wine Board meeting, stating: “Despite the outbreak, the situation is controlled and does not affect the quality, uniqueness, or characteristics of Tenerife’s wines.”
Representatives from the origin designations and associations present expressed their shared concern regarding the seriousness of the situation and showed general support for control and eradication measures for phylloxera. Additionally, it was agreed to strengthen unified action and establish closer monitoring mechanisms.
The Cabildo de Tenerife and all involved parties called for shared responsibility and collaboration to face this challenge, aiming to “safeguard the viticultural heritage.”
In this context, the Tacoronte Town Council has requested the administrations to double the collections of local varieties through grafting onto American rootstock to ensure their preservation, strengthen public germplasm banks, and enhance Cultesa’s role as a strategic centre for sanitation and multiplication.
La Victoria
CC de La Victoria has proposed a package of measures to combat phylloxera and other risks. They suggest strengthening technical support for the Cabildo, expediting aid processing to prevent farmland abandonment, and promoting employment and training programmes for young farmers, among other actions outlined in a motion.
The Secretary General of Coalición in La Victoria, Román Afonso, has criticised the PSOE’s urgent call during the council meeting.
