Napa Green, the organization responsible for sustainability certifications in Napa Valley, is advocating for the elimination of synthetic herbicides. The primary concerns involve doubts about the safety of glyphosate and its impact on biodiversity and soil health, which contradict Napa Green's sustainability approach. This philosophy perceives the vineyards as a holistic (eco-)system, as reported by Decanter.
According to the organization, Napa Green is the only certification program for sustainable viticulture that is actively working towards a complete phase-out of synthetic herbicides. The goal is to certify 8,000 hectares (20,000 acres) of vineyards by 2026 and achieve 33% glyphosate-free vineyard areas in Napa County by 2028.
“Eliminating plant life in and under vine rows increases soil compaction, affects fertility, biodiversity, and water infiltration,” says Kendall Smith of White Rock Vineyards, a Napa Green-certified operation. Napa Green argues that using synthetic herbicides undermines the concept of terroir by destroying soil life.
Efficiency vs. additional labor
The debate over herbicides has recently gained significant attention in Europe, where the EU Commission decided to prolong the authorization of glyphosate. Proponents of synthetic herbicides frequently cite the high expenses associated with manual weed control, the unsustainable reliance on machinery and tractors, and the low effectiveness of organic herbicides.
To support the transition, Napa Green provides a weed management toolkit and training for member operations. Ben Mackie, head of Napa Green's viticulture program, notes that soil health begins to recover shortly after the last application of herbicides, although it takes time for beneficial fungi, bacteria, and invertebrates to proliferate.
At present, 25 operations have achieved Napa Green certification, and another 40 are in the process of obtaining it. Altogether, these operations encompass a total area of 2,800 hectares (7,000 acres). VM
