The Northwest-based LIVE program was awarded an official international endorsement of its independent, third-party sustainable vineyard and winery certification program from the International Organization for Biological Control of Noxious Plants and Animals (IOBC). The IOBC promotes the use of sustainable, environmentally safe, economically feasible, and socially acceptable control methods of pests and diseases.

LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology), is the certification of limiting raw material inputs including pesticides, fertilizer, water, chemicals and fuel used in vineyard and winery production. LIVE has over 25,000 farm acres enrolled throughout Oregon and Washington. Producers must complete two years of membership under rigorous standards before achieving certification. Members must undergo third-party inspections to verify their practices.

Each year, LIVE must apply for endorsement by the IOBC to continue operating under their standards of sustainable winegrowing. This international endorsement proves compliance to GLOBALGAP standards (www.globalgap.org), a recognized and highly-regarded standard for agricultural production. Certified LIVE members are also internationally certified by the IOBC.

Registered as a non-profit in 1999, the Oregon-based LIVE program has been certifying vineyards since 1997. The mission of LIVE is to preserve human and natural resources in the wine industry of the Pacific Northwest.