Boost for Australian vine and wine research
Wine Australia will provide $4.1m ($3m USD) in cash funding, while the University of Adelaide will contribute $885,000 ($638,000 USD) and a substantial in-kind contribution from the University of Adelaide. Additional investment from other partners is also anticipated.
The organisations say the agreement will allow the Australian grape and wine sector to benefit from world-leading innovation. Projects include:
- creating tools that measure and understand the relationship between canopy architecture (including fruit exposure) and fruit and wine quality.
- investigating the origin and issues from berry cell death in wine grapes.
- creating new tools to schedule irrigation based on real-time measurements of vine water status.
- look at the most effective way of using undervine cover crops
- improving the wine microbial tool kit available for fermentation, with robust and tailored yeast and bacteria
- analysing global beverage markets and varieties by region, as well as an analysis of the impact of trends and policies affecting these markets.
Andreas Clark, CEO, Wine Australia, said: “We see this as an opportunity to secure and further develop the University’s strength in teaching through excellence in research, ensuring the next generation receives world class education in all aspects of wine production.”
Wine Australia has also set up bilateral partnerships and other research organisations such as the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the South Australian Research and Development Institute, the Australian Wine Research Institute, and the National Grape and Wine Industry Centre through Charles Sturt University.
