The Wine Industry Capability and Research Effort To Be Boosted By The Award of A Major Grant Under The Federal Government’s Major National Research Facilities Program.
The Federal Minister for Industry Science and Resources, the Honorable Nick Minchin today announced the successful applicants under the Federal Government’s Major National Research Facilities program.
A bid for a ‘National Wine Research Cluster’ spearheaded by the Adelaide – based Australian Wine Research Institute and CSIRO Plant Industry was amongst the successful proposals.
The Commonwealth Government will contribute $4.5 million to the bid and the South Australian Government $700,000 dollars.
An additional $2.5 million cash is contributed by the partners in the bid, namely The Australian Wine Research Institute, CSIRO, The South Australian Research and Development Institute, The University of Adelaide and the Grape and Wine R&D corporation and Charles Sturt University. The Cooperative Research Centre for Viticulture will contribute in-kind support as will all other partners.
This facility will strengthen the national capacity to perform grape and wine research in support of our rapidly expanding wine industry. There is funding for both building expansions and purchase of state of the art analytical, fermentation and harvesting equipment.
“The availability of such new infrastructure is crucial and will secure better returns on public and private funding in industry focussed research.” said Mr Robin Day, a Director of Orlando-Wyndham and a member of the bid team.
“It will deliver knowledge, recommendations and services which allow wine industry practitioners to manage vineyards and wineries to specified market requirements with consequent growth in exports and employment (direct and indirect), largely in regional Australia” said Professor Peter Høj, Director of The Australian Wine Research Institute.
“This facility makes the Australian wine industry’s commitment to a knowledge-based approach to wine manufacturing even more powerful and will accelerate the application of research outcomes to key constituents of the final product” said Dr Nigel Scott, Deputy Chief of CSIRO Plant Industry