Bragato Research Institute

Powdery mildew is a widespread disease across New Zealand vineyards, with most vineyards requiring protection. Innovative UV-C light technology offers a multitude of benefits for controlling the disease in grapevines compared to traditional fungicides. A new project led by Bragato Research Institute in partnership with A Lighter Touch (New Zealand) is investigating how UVC light technology could help grape growers tackle powdery mildew in a more environmentally friendly way. But why does it have to be applied at night? Read more here: https://bit.ly/49kJQJK

Juliet Ansell was in her early teens when she colonised her mum’s linen cupboard with a batch of fruit flies, 50 test tubes and a hankering to understand genetics. “A few clouds of drosophila would escape now and then,” says the new CEO of Bragato Research Institute, who grew up just outside London. From the linen closet, to the hallowed halls of Oxford University, to research labs in rural Africa, Juliet grew an appetite for discomfort, “which is where you get the most growth”. That’s been useful in her roles since, including at Plant & Food Research, Zespri, and now BRI. In each of those roles, she’s gleaned knowledge of the people, environment and culture, resolving to work with it, not despite it. “You have to respect the past. You can’t just come into an industry and say, ‘I have all these ideas. I know how to do it.’" That’s the stage she’s currently in, meeting the people driving New Zealand’s wine industry, tapping into “a huge wealth of knowledge”, and discovering what people know, want to know, and what has and hasn’t worked. She has quickly found an open and collaborative industry, “and that helps innovation go faster”. Learn more about Juliet's career: https://lnkd.in/gY2v9-4q

Bragato Research Institute is responsible for managing a diverse array of data across several areas. While project data is primarily analysed to answer specific research questions, the analysis of industry data supports larger research initiatives aimed at testing hypotheses and improving vineyard practices and winemaking techniques nationwide. For example, BRI received enquiries from grape growers about recent trends of glyphosate and other synthetic herbicides used in New Zealand vineyards. To address these concerns, we interrogated growers’ spray information recorded and stored on Grapelink – the Spray Diary verification tool nominated by SWNZ. The case study below summarises the key results of these investigations, focusing mainly on glyphosate and other synthetic herbicides based on Grapelink data. This article illustrates how BRI manages and uses data, highlighting the value it plays in research: https://lnkd.in/gh9xAH6X #nzwine

Use your finance and accounting skills to help the New Zealand wine industry thrive 🍇 Bragato Research Institute is seeking a Finance Associate to effectively manage budgets and key financial processes by providing accurate, timely financial administration. Bring your small business accounting experience to this part-time role in either Blenheim or Christchurch. Visit https://bit.ly/48MwrKn to learn more. #FinanceJobs #MarlboroughJobs #NZWine #AccountantJobs

Play your part in New Zealand’s thriving wine industry! Bragato Research Institute drives grape and wine research and innovation so the industry can make better business decisions. This newly created, part-time role is perfect for an experienced EA who can optimise executive operations, ensure efficiency within the office, and champion good team culture. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3O4fu4v #ExecutiveAssistant #MarlboroughJobs #BusinessSupport #NZWine #WineResearch

Thanks to everyone who joined Dr Mark Sosnowski from SARDI, Dr Eline van Zijll de Jong from Linneaus and BRI in Hawke's Bay to hear the latest research findings on grapevine trunk disease and remediation, how we can optimise our grapevine trunk disease management, and tools for extending the life of our vineyards. There's still time to register for the Marlborough workshop tomorrow, go to https://lnkd.in/gSSXnMTe

Grapevine trunk diseases (GTD) threaten the economic sustainability of our wine industry, shortening the lifespan of vineyards and causing significant yield and quality reductions. With no curative treatments available, remedial surgery is one of the few options for managing GTD. This technique can be used to extend the economic life of a vineyard and has some benefits over fully replanting. A five-year project has concluded that established best practice guidelines for managing GTD through remedial surgery, including optimal stage of disease progression and season to conduct remedial surgery; to diagnose the main causal agent of trunk disease and to evaluate vine health and productivity of Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines up to five growing seasons following remedial surgery. This article summarises the findings: https://lnkd.in/gvHQK6hp We are also holding two remediation workshops in Hawke's Bay and Marlborough next week - find out more at https://lnkd.in/gRD7vvb6 #nzwine

Soil health can be complex to manage because soil characteristics, climate and the grower's goals vary on a sub-vineyard scale. In 2023, we surveyed grape growers to identify practices used to build soil health. The survey identified a range of techniques being used, and also identified that 96% of growers want more information to support improved soil health, specific to their location and the potential issues that might be limiting vine performance. Based on this feedback, Bragato Research Institute in collaboration with The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited and the Marlborough District Council, has developed a ‘proof-of-concept’ web tool to guide site-specific soil management practices for individual properties. Initially developed for the Marlborough region, it provides soil property information on a specific parcel of land and recommended management techniques based on the soil’s susceptibilities to conditions affecting vine performance. Watch the video to find out more or read more here: https://lnkd.in/es35rC7B #nzwine #soilhealth

As climate change continues to impact wine regions in New Zealand and worldwide, grape production faces unprecedented challenges including peaks of drier conditions. To sustain future grape production and maintain wine quality, it is crucial to explore innovative strategies that enhance grapevine resilience.  Trichoderma is a genus of fungi naturally found in soils across New Zealand. Known for their ability to promote plant health, these fungi have been extensively studied for their role in biological control, where they suppress plant pathogens. However, recent research has revealed that Trichoderma species can do much more than protect plants from disease. They also have the potential to enhance plant growth and resilience, particularly under stressful conditions like drought. Grapevines, especially those grown in regions prone to soil water deficits, could greatly benefit from the support of these beneficial fungi. Applying Trichoderma around grapevine roots has the potential to boost soil biology, supporting vine productivity in the face of limited soil moisture. Read more: https://lnkd.in/geFeP8sZ #nzwine #climatechange #soilhealth #fungi

This week, BRI's Research Winemaker Ngarita Warden and Research Specialist Paul Epee presented some of the first research wines from our Next Generation Viticulture programme at the New Zealand Society for Viticulture & Oenology's technical workshop, looking at fresh perspectives, technology and trials, wine trends and packaging innovations. Our Next Generation Viticulture research programme aims to increase the profitability of the New Zealand wine industry by improving vineyard productivity, reducing variability in yields, while delivering exceptional quality New Zealand wines the world demands. Thanks for including this research in your programme, NZSVO! #nzwine #wineresearch #viticulture