The Australian Wine Research Institute

Capitalising on the carbon economy – Building resilience and sustainability in the grape and wine sector

Project summary

Efforts are under way across a range of industries to reduce GHG emissions. To effectively achieve emissions reductions, industries need relevant and up-to-date technical and policy information. This project, funded by the Department of Agriculture as part of the ‘Extension and Outreach’ program, aims to deliver technical information about GHG emissions, carbon storage and the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) to the Australian grape and wine sector. It will provide access to technology, skills and decision support. The project will also enhance the adaptability of the grape and wine sector as it faces a variable climate and competition for natural resources.

Latest information

Extension delivery
Twenty-one regional workshops were held across Australia. The workshops included regionally tailored benchmarking data from the Australian Wine Carbon Calculator which has been embedded into Entwine Australia. This information was used to assist workshop participants to identify opportunities to improve the efficiency of their water, energy and fertiliser use. Case studies were also developed to support the uptake of vineyard and winery strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also to save money. An independent assessment of this project found that the workshop series had successfully enabled informed decision-making about practice change within the grape and wine sector and that the workshops multiplied the extension efforts. Workshop participants shared workshop content within their networks and used it to provide advice and to support business decisions. Two workshops and some final case studies will be completed in July and August 2016 to conclude this project.