(L-R) Gilles Roth, Luxembourg's Minister of Finance; Martine Hansen, Luxembourg's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture; Jeff Konsbrück, President of Fonds de Solidarité Viticole and Vice-President of Privatwënzer Lëtzebuerg; Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu

On Monday 21 July 2025, Luxembourg's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture, Martine Hansen, invited representatives from the viticulture, horticulture and agriculture sectors to a new "Wäibaudësch" discussion at Senningen Castle.

This meeting, held in the presence of Luxembourg's Minister of Finance, Gilles Roth, followed on from earlier talks with the wine sector.

During this latest exchange, Minister Hansen announced an action plan aimed at encouraging farm takeovers and ensuring generational renewal in the sector.

A survey carried out by the Luxembourg Wine Institute (IVV) among 172 wineries revealed that takeover is not guaranteed for 61% of farms run by winegrowers over the age of 50, either due to uncertainty or a lack of succession plan.

Young winegrowers present at the "Wäibaudësch" voiced concerns about economic uncertainty threatening farm viability, complicated administrative procedures, difficulty in finding housing for seasonal workers and legal constraints related to farm transfers.

Minister Hansen stated: "I understand the questions and doubts young people have about the many challenges they face. This is why we began a dialogue with them in the spring to implement an action plan for generational renewal in agriculture and viticulture, which we hope to finalise by the end of the year. We will also create a one-stop shop for young people who wish to take over a farm or start a new one."

A key topic discussed at this meeting was the management of abandoned vineyards, which pose a health risk to other farms (potential spread of disease to neighbouring plots).

To address this, Luxembourg's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture announced several initiatives:

  • the launch of the LEADER  project "Rebflächenbörse & Brachflächenmanagement" to promote the resumption of abandoned vineyards;
  • increased aid for the reconversion and restructuring of vineyards to support the revival of winegrowing activity;
  • a possible reconversion bonus for the transformation of abandoned vineyards into fruit orchards - a concept which will be analysed during the drafting of the next agrarian law;
  • the introduction of a "sanitary premium" - a temporary measure for up to two years - to combat vine diseases. The government will also analyse the possibility of a grubbing-up obligation for owners who neglect the maintenance of their plots.

Moreover, the ministry confirmed plans to reform the viticulture solidarity fund (Fonds de Solidarité Viticole - FSV), in collaboration with stakeholders, to provide the sector with a modern management tool that complies with European requirements.

On the topic of alcohol-free wine, the ministry noted that the European "Wine Package" now offers new opportunities for the marketing of de-alcoholised or partially de-alcoholised wines.

Finance Minister Gilles Roth commented: "I welcome the wine sector's desire to innovate and expand its range of wine products. For moderate and more responsible consumption. This is a development that we wish to support fiscally, in line with the European Commission's Wine Package." He noted at the press conference following this meeting that the government would try to amend the law to ensure wind blends are no longer subject to the "alcopop tax" which aims to reduce consumption of mixed drinks popular among young people; this regulation is expected to come into force in January 2026.

Representatives of the fruit and vegetable production sector also expressed concerns regarding access to water, without which the future of local crops could be at serious risk. Professionals in the sector described the implementation of a water management and storage strategy as an essential lever to ensure the sustainability of farms. The sector has thus requested a meeting involving all stakeholders to further discuss the issue and explore concrete avenues for improving access to irrigation water.

Minister Hansen emphasised during the press conference the importance of eating and drinking local products. Both she and Minister Roth described the discussions on Monday as constructive.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture, the "Wäibaudësch" 2025 confirmed a shared desire to continue dialogue between the government and the sector, in order to provide concrete responses to current challenges and ensure a sustainable future for Luxembourg viticulture.

Speaking to Chronicle.lu during the press conference, Jeff Konsbrück, President of the Fonds de Solidarité Viticole (FSV) and Vice-President of Privatwënzer Lëtzebuerg (Independent Winegrowers Luxembourg), highlighted one of the major challenges facing the sector. He pointed to the growing issue of abandoned wine plots, explaining: "We have a big problem with [vineyards] that are no longer [maintained] by the winemakers because they stopped doing it and not every [vineyard] that is stopped can be taken over by another winemaker".

He added that this poses a serious risk to the health of nearby plants. The solution would thus be to grow other plants there or - through a new legal framework - vineyard owners would be forced to remove the affected plants to stop the sickness from spreading.