News from the Department of General and Organic Viticulture

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Hochschule Geisenheim Appoints Dr. Johanna Döring as the World’s Only Professor of Organic Viticulture

As of May 1, 2024, Geisenheim's Professor Johanna Döring holds the only Professorship for Organic Viticulture worldwide. Photo: Hochschule Geisenheim/Philipp Stieffenhofer

Hochschule Geisenheim University is pleased to announce that Dr. Johanna Döring has been appointed Professor of Organic Viticulture. This one-of-a-kind professorship underlines the university’s leading role in the research and teaching of organic viticulture.

"I am delighted to now hold the only Professorship for Organic Viticulture in the world and to be able to help shape the coming transformation of the agricultural and food industry in the area of organic viticulture,” says Professor Johanna Döring. “My hope is that the solutions that are being developed in organic viticulture will also reach colleagues working in related fields.”

Centering the Sustainable Development of Organic Viticulture

Professor Johanna Döring is building on the research of her predecessor, Professor Randolf Kauer, with whom she worked for several years. “This includes INBIODYN, a unique long-term comparative trial located in Geisenheim, and the development of strategies for copper reduction in organic viticulture – in collaboration with other colleagues, of course,” she explains. Another topic close to her heart is the ongoing sustainable development of organic viticulture. This involves conducting research into solutions for offsetting the effects of climate change and for reducing the environmental impact of organic viticulture.

A Blend of Research, Teaching and Praxis

The new Professor of Organic Viticulture, who originally comes from Bad Hersfeld, stresses the importance of combining research, teaching and praxis: “I am very much looking forward to researching current concepts in organic viticulture, such as agroforestry, as well as establishing new onsite methodology and incorporating research results into my teaching approach. Research into organic viticulture is a key feature of Geisenheim University, which is why we’re currently able to impart knowledge in this field more authentically than any other institution. I am also excited to pass on my knowledge of topics such as greening mixes or the process of converting to organic production during practical lessons.”

The university is proud to have been able to recruit Professor Johanna Döring for this position; she is not only a proven expert in her field, but also a valued colleague who has distinguished herself in recent years as a dedicated lecturer in the Organic Viticulture and Advanced Viticulture courses.

Biography:

Professor Johanna Döring is herself a Hochschule Geisenheim University graduate and has extensive practical experience in organic viticulture. In 2019 she completed her doctorate on the topic of organic and biodynamic viticulture at Justus Liebig University Giessen. She then worked as a research assistant for the Professorship for Organic Viticulture at Hochschule Geisenheim University. She has authored numerous articles on the impact of organic viticulture on biodiversity, plant growth and grape quality. Since 2021 she has also been a member of the European Commission’s Expert Group for Technical Advice on Organic Production (EGTOP), in the subgroup wine.

 

Further Information:

Research Projects:

hs-geisenheim.de/en/research/departments/general-and-organic-viticulture/professorship-for-organic-viticulture/research/

hs-geisenheim.de/forschung/institute/weinbau/professur-fuer-oekologischen-weinbau/projekte/ (German)

 

Publications:

hs-geisenheim.de/en/research/departments/general-and-organic-viticulture/professorship-for-organic-viticulture/publications/