Tuesday, 04 August 2026 13:25

Bragato Research Institute Funds Four New Grower-Focused Projects

Written by Staff Reporters

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Kate Meyer

Bragato Research Institute has announced funding for four new research projects, all aligned with BRI's Research Strategy, designed to be completed within one to two years, and expected to deliver near term benefits for growers and winemakers.

The projects are:

Powdery mildew spore trapping as a decision support tool for early season fungicide applications.
Alternate strategies for GLRaV3 management. BRI's Dr Ellie Bradley will lead research into RNA-based treatments that have shown promise internationally to dramatically reduce Grapevine Leafroll-associated Virus 3 levels in the field.
Low carbon and environmental impact export packaging pathways for New Zealand wine. Kate Meyer and Alice Oswald from Planetary Accounting Network will use the Planetary Accounting framework to compare glass, lightweight glass, cans, bag-in-box, and bulk shipping across environmental impact, cost, logistics, quality risk, and market suitability.
AI-driven protein design to address winemaking challenges. Professor Wayne Patrick from Victoria University of Wellington is applying AI-driven protein design to Botrytis cinerea, aiming to engineer small proteins that can bind to and neutralise these enzymes. The protein will also identify naturally occurring enzymes that shape flavours and aroma in no- and low- alcohol wines, then redesign them to work under real fermentation conditions.