Moldovan viticulture in continuous modernization: European technologies in Criuleni as part of Moldova's Orchard project

At the Agricultural Research and Extension Station in Criuleni of the Technical University of Moldova (UTM), a modern monoplan support system was installed in the didactic-experimental vineyard plantation, marking an important step towards modernizing the viticulture sector in the Republic of Moldova.

The plantation, covering an area of 4.8 hectares, was established in the spring of this year and includes 12 local grape varieties selected for resistance and quality. The investment is part of a complex project valued at 1.379 million euros, funded by the Government of the Republic of Moldova with the support of the European Investment Bank (EIB), through Moldova's Orchard program, implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA).

Innovation in Agricultural Education

The vineyard in Criuleni serves as an experimental and didactic base for UTM students and researchers, offering modern conditions for practical studies, testing cultivation technologies, and developing applied innovations in the wine sector.

For this autumn, the institution plans to plant a 12-hectare didactic orchard, as well as install support systems, hail protection, and irrigation for 24 hectares of horticultural plantations. Additionally, the acquisition of an agricultural combine and a grain seeder is underway, to expand training and research capabilities.

Investments for the Future of Moldovan Agriculture

Besides the horticultural component, the project also involves significant investments in the livestock sector. Over 500,000 euros are allocated for the rehabilitation and equipping of the Veterinary Medicine Faculty laboratories at UTM, which will allow practical training of specialists under modern conditions, meeting European standards.

Previously, as part of two other investment projects funded by the Government of the Republic of Moldova, UTM and the State Agrarian University of Moldova (UASM) benefited from total investments of approximately 4 million euros, aimed at rehabilitating laboratories, purchasing agricultural equipment, modernizing study spaces, and improving the energy efficiency of buildings.

A Structural Reform of Agricultural Education

All these investments are part of a broad process of modernizing national agricultural education, conducted through Moldova's Orchard project, which targets 13 educational institutions in the Republic of Moldova, within 15 investment projects, with a total value of 18 million euros.

Overall, the Government of the Republic of Moldova is investing 120 million euros in revitalizing agriculture through Moldova's Orchard. So far, 102 million euros have been already granted to farmers in the form of preferential loans, aimed at modernizing agricultural infrastructure and increasing the competitiveness of Moldovan products on the European market.

Viticulture: A Strategic Field in Transformation

The installation of the monoplan support system in Criuleni symbolizes a transition to agriculture based on technology, knowledge, and sustainability. By modernizing educational infrastructure and making investments focused on research and practice, the Republic of Moldova is strengthening its position as a European winemaking country, capable of producing quality wines and training specialists who will shape the agriculture of tomorrow.

The modernization of the viticulture sector is no longer just an economic necessity, but an expression of the European vision of Moldovan agriculture - one that unites tradition, science, and innovation.