Growing for the future

The research findings, evolving practices and programme spinoffs will all be explored at a technical conference - Beyond Vineyard Ecosystems: Growing for the Future – to be held in Christchurch from 27-28 September, with more than 20 experts – from viticulturists to scientists – sharing their insights.

Nick says the programme has explored the management of vineyards with fewer synthetic chemicals, as well as determining some “eco-credentials” around how vineyard management affects the soils and impacts the environment. “Basically measuring what we are doing and the impact of our activities.”

The result is an “enormous amount” of information, including findings that the effect of herbicide was not as impactful on the soil biodiversity as had been expected. “It was measurable, and that in itself is a first for a multi-year vineyard study. What we measured didn’t show massive impacts,” Nick says, while adding that there’s still consumer expectations to reduce chemicals such as herbicide, fungicide and insecticide.

As well as exploring soil biodiversity and elemental chemistry, the programme extended research into the likes of grapevine trunk disease, virus, mealybug and powdery mildew, “and generally measuring all vineyard outcomes and the impact of reduced synthetic chemistry ”, says Nick.

The two-day technical conference will have four in-depth sessions, each with multiple speakers, looking at virus and mealybug; vineyard longevity and grapevine trunk disease; rethinking chemistry as a first resort; and soil and ecosystem services.

Viticulturists will discuss their change in thinking over the course of the programme, as well as their view of future management, while researchers will discuss new looks at the data, how the programme has accelerated the industry’s understanding of pests and diseases, and the next wave of research.

Beyond Vineyard Ecosystems: Growing for the future

27-28 September

nzwine.com/events