The Institute of Agricultural Economics in Belgrade (IAE) has initiated the implementation of a scientific project on the viticultural zoning of the Valle d'Itria wine-growing area, located in the Apulia region near Bari, Italy. The project is part of the broader program "RiViVi Valle d'Itria," aimed at enhancing sustainability, valorizing the natural and agroecological resources of the area, and addressing challenges posed by climate change. The project is funded by the Apulia Region, while its implementation is led by a consortium of six institutions headed by the Italian National Research Council (CNR).

The IAE has established a project team comprised of Serbian scientists with extensive experience in viticulture and oenology, modeling terroir factors, climate change, soil analysis, GIS technologies and precision viticulture, agro-economy, and related fields. The team's primary tasks include analyzing climatic, pedological, topographic, and anthropogenic terroir factors, defining the boundaries of wine-growing zones, classifying them based on agroecological suitability, and developing thematic maps using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

The project results are expected to contribute significantly to the economic development of the region, improve the quality and emphasize the typicity of wines, preserve the genetic resources of autochthonous grapevine varieties, and promote the sustainable management of the natural and cultural resources of the Valle d'Itria area.