About Programs
The Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation invests in research, development and extension of knowledge from projects within five programs which are aimed at enhancing the profitability, international competitiveness and sustainability of the Australian wine industry.
As an industry partner the GWRDC considers the challenges of a changing wine industry environment by asking what it can do as an investor in R&D that is likely to yield useful outcomes. Key questions are:
- "What is researchable?"
- "What commands attention in the light of priorities set by grapegrowers, winemakers and the Australian Government?"
- "What benefits will be achieved as a result of making an investment?"
Every five years the GWRDC sets a new strategic direction for Research and Development outcomes. The theme for the current Five Year R&D Plan (2007 - 2012) is sustainable, consumer driven innovation, which is outlined in five programs.
As an investor, the GWRDC's responsibilities are to:
- Ensure programs in the Five Year R&D Plan produce their planned outcomes;
- Evaluate research outcomes and extend benefits of R&D;
- Report to and liaise with all stakeholders (including industry groups, R&D providers and the Australian Government); and
- Maintain a watching brief for opportunities (including awareness of activities of other R&D organisations in Australia and overseas).
Program 1 focuses on foundational research and partnerships that will help identify new and existing market opportunities and the preferences of consumers within those markets. This recognises that in all markets the social structures, and the age and wealth profiles of consumers interested or potentially interested in wine are changing.
Program 2 will further develop the results of the previous Plan's Quality and Differentiation program by increasing winemaking expertise and technologies allowing industry to tailor wines for their target markets.
Program 3 will foster research that will allow industry to deliver quality grapes sustainably for any winemaking purpose or market. This will build on some of the work funded by the previous Plan's Sustainable Production program.
Program 4 focuses on addressing sustainability and environmental issues within industry. In particular, improving water use efficiency, coping with heat stress, understanding the impacts of climate change, addressing biosecurity issues, more effective pest and disease control are all targets of the R&D program. The program also seeks to foster the next generation of researchers and leaders for the grape and wine industry.
Program 5 focuses the GWRDC's efforts on the utilisation of innovative extension strategies to ensure that all stakeholders can benefit from the outcomes of the research investment and has links to the previous Plan's Management and Stakeholder Relations program.
