On-farm production of vermicompost from grape pomace

Pomace is a by-product of the winemaking process, consisting of skins, seeds and stalks that remain after the grapes have been pressed. In Italy, it is commonly sold to third parties for the production of grappa, however, it is a valuable agricultural resource for improving soil health. This practice abstract shows how a winemaking farm in Tuscany, Italy, uses grape pomace, vinasse and grape stalks for producing high-quality vermicompost that is then used to enrich the vineyard soils. This practice allows to close the nutrient cycle at the farm with important advantages in economic and environmental terms as well as on the plant vigor and yields.