The RECOVER project, funded by the Spanish Research Agency, focuses on designing multispecies cover crops in vineyards to regenerate soil and biodiversity in these culturally, socially, and environmentally important crops in Spain. This practice aligns with European and national agricultural policies as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. To this end, the project is characterizing plant biodiversity in vineyards across different regions of Spain to identify the most abundant plant species in these vineyards.

Based on the information these plants provide as bioindicators of soil characteristics, the project aims to develop cover crops adapted to the functioning and local needs of each vineyard. Additionally, field experiments will be conducted to test different types of cover crops, seeking optimal combinations that coexist with vineyards while promoting sustainability, thereby improving the integration of these crops.

For this purpose, the project plans to test more agronomic cover crops, such as oats or lupin, alongside mixtures of plant species, such as Poa annua—a perennial plant that enters dormancy in summer—which is particularly suitable for Mediterranean-climate vineyards.