Winemaking is one of the most relevant socio-economic activities in the world, particularly in countries such as Portugal, generating substantial amounts of by-products across its various phases. Managing these by-products presents significant environmental, ecological, and economic challenges. Vermicomposting, the use of earthworms to process and transform organic wastes into nutrient-rich end-products, provides a viable alternative for waste management within the wine sector. This bioprocess also produces vermicompost that enhances soil health and fosters optimal conditions for plant growth, thereby promoting resilient and sustainable viticulture practices. This review explores the various by-products produced by the vine and wine industry, highlighting the potential of vermicomposting. Remarkably, grape marc, the primary solid waste of the winemaking process, has been the most commonly vermicomposted material. In contrast, other vineyard and wine cellar by-products have been comparatively underutilized and understudied in this context. However, we hypothesize that all vine and wine industry by-products have vermicomposting potential, allowing for the production of fertilizers and soil amendments. This approach aligns with the principles of the circular economy, ensuring that all materials stemming from viticulture and wine production are valued and reused, thereby contributing to enhanced sustainability and the preservation of resources like soil.

Sewage sludge (SS) is a by-product of wastewater treatment processes (WWTPs) and is rich in organic matter and essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, making it a potential fertilizer for agricultural use. However, its application is often limited due to the presence of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, metals, and organic contaminants that can accumulate in soils and crops, raising concerns about food safety. Sewage sludge is additionally challenging to handle due to its high moisture content, low density, and odor emission. To mitigate environmental risks and enhance its usability as a soil fertilizer, SS must be stabilized. Various techniques, including chemical, physical, and biological, can be used to stabilize SS. The addition of lime and composting has received particular attention among these techniques owing to the benefits they offer. Both methods effectively control and eliminate pathogens and reduce metal bioavailability, thus improving their agricultural utility. This review emphasizes the importance of using SS for agricultural purposes, placing particular focus on the procedures of composting and liming to stabilize and enhance the quality of SS, hence promoting its safety.

Recycling vineyard pruning residues into compost and vermicompost represents a sustainable strategy to reduce viticulture’s reliance on chemical fertilizers. Nonetheless, their effects on plant performance remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the effect of vine pruning residues compost and vermicompost on the physiological, biochemical, and growth performance of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Touriga Franca, in comparison with mineral fertilization and an unfertilized control. A pot experiment was conducted from April to September 2024 in northern Portugal under Mediterranean climate conditions, using one-year-old grapevines and subjected to four fertilization treatments. Leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant and osmoprotective metabolites, and shoot and root development were assessed at three sampling dates during the growing season. Organic amendments enhanced photosynthetic performance and root growth relative to the unfertilized control. Vermicompost promoted higher CO₂ assimilation, stomatal conductance, and shoot and root elongation, whereas compost increased intrinsic water use efficiency, photochemical regulation, and root biomass. Biochemical analyses indicated that compost favored protein and carotenoid accumulation, while vermicompost increased proline and later protein levels, alongside reduced phenolic and flavonoid contents. Despite their similar chemical composition, compost and vermicompost induced distinct physiological responses driven by differences in biological activity and nutrient dynamics. These findings demonstrate that pruning-derived organic amendments can match mineral fertilization in supporting grapevine performance while offering additional benefits for stress regulation and sustainable vineyard management.

Invasive alien species are one of the main threats to global biodiversity, and pose significant management challenges in several areas outside their natural range. In southern Mediterranean Europe, the invasion of Acacia species is particularly severe and its control requires costly and often ineffective actions. The use of vermicompost derived from these species to replace peat-based substrates in horticulture offers a promising alternative to mitigate their economic and environmental impacts while enhancing the sustainability of their control. This study explored the potential of vermicompost produced from the fresh aboveground waste biomass (leaves + stems + flowers) of Acacia dealbata and Acacia melanoxylon (75:25 w/w), two of the most aggressive Acacia species in the Mediterranean, using Eisenia fetida over twelve weeks. In essence, this study aimed to evaluate the quality of the produced vermicompost and its suitability as a partial substitute for potting substrate in the production of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) seedlings for transplant. Four substrate mixtures containing 0%, 10%, 30%, and 50% of Acacia vermicompost (w/w), combined with commercial peat-based potting substrate and perlite (20%) were tested in polystyrene seedling trays. Seedling emergence, growth, and leaf biochemical parameters (photosynthetic pigments, phenolics, soluble sugars and starch, and total thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances—TBARSs) were evaluated. The results showed that the addition of Acacia vermicompost to the commercial substrate did not affect its germination but significantly enhanced seedling growth, particularly in mixtures containing 30% and 50% Acacia vermicompost. In addition, the absence of accumulation of TBARSs also reflected the superiority of these two treatments. These findings suggest that vermicompost derived from A. dealbata and A. melanoxylon biomass can be a viable peat-based substrate alternative for horticultural production, with the dual benefit of promoting sustainable agricultural practices and contributing to invasive species management.

The valorization of agro-industrial residues and sewage sludge into value-added products through vermicomposting represents a promising strategy for nutrient recycling and waste reduction. This study evaluated the effects of aqueous extracts obtained from five vermicomposts (VC1-VC5) produced from different mixtures of vineyard and winery residues and sewage sludge on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings grown under in vitro conditions. The aqueous extracts (10%, w/v) were characterized in terms of pH, electrical conductivity, and total polyphenolic content, and applied to cucumber seedlings cultivated for 30 days under sterile and controlled in vitro conditions using commercially available peat pellets (Jiffy-7^®). Seedling development was monitored throughout the experiment, and morphological and biochemical parameters were assessed at the end of the 30-day assay. All extracts supported seedling development, with no evidence of phytotoxicity. The application of VC2 and VC4 extracts resulted in significant increases in fresh and dry weight, while VC2 led to higher chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. Conversely, VC3 and VC5 extracts were associated with slight reductions in growth parameters and photosynthetic pigment content. Correlation analysis suggested positive associations between biomass accumulation and chlorophyll content, and negative association between total polyphenolic content and stem growth. Overall, the results indicate that aqueous vermicompost extracts were not phytotoxic under the tested conditions, although their effects appear to depend on extract composition, highlighting the importance of feedstock selection for sustainable horticultural applications.

Winery residues generated by the wine industry represent an important sustainability challenge but also a valuable resource for producing vermicompost-derived products with potential agricultural applications through vermicomposting. This study evaluated the effects of aqueous vermicompost extracts produced from winery residues on the early in vitro development and physiological performance of garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings. Seedlings were cultivated on peat-based pellets (Jiffy-7^®) under controlled conditions and treated with two extract concentrations (10% and 20%, w/v) or distilled water (control). After 30 days, morphological traits (shoot height, leaf number and biomass) and biochemical parameters (photosynthetic pigments and total phenolics) were assessed. Both species showed high survival rates (>85%) and no phytotoxic symptoms. Compared with the control, VE20% increased chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll contents in garden cress by 40.3%, 35.9%, and 38.9%, respectively, whereas VE10% increased chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents in cucumber by 15.7%, 11.5%, and 25.0%, respectively. Total phenolic content did not differ significantly among treatments in either species (p > 0.05). These findings indicate that vermicompost extracts produced from winery residues exhibited low phytotoxic potential under the experimental conditions tested and influenced photosynthetic pigment accumulation without adversely affecting seedling growth. These responses warrant further investigation under ex vitro and field conditions to determine whether the observed physiological changes translate into relevant agronomic effects.