Priority Outcomes
New innovative wine products *Priority
Research that aims to provide winemakers with new winemaking additives, innovative techniques and/or new technology that will improve wine quality and/or winery productivity, while retaining wine quality through to the consumer. This could encompass research that supports the development of new product streams such as NOLO and DRV, or bulk shipment improvements.
Improved grape and wine circularity *Priority
Research that adds value to winery and/or vineyard waste streams through reduction of waste and/or the creation of secondary products. Research supporting the ‘Roadmap to Net Zero’, e.g. reduction of carbon footprint or the development of new and improved sustainable packaging solutions.
Improved vine productivity and grape quality
Research that ensures New Zealand vineyards are highly productive and efficient, while maintaining premium grape quality. This includes efforts to reduce seasonal variation or disassociate relationships between vineyard yield and wine quality, as well as efforts to improve vineyard longevity.
Enhanced plant genetic resilience against environmental challenges
Research that will provide growers with premium vines that are inherently better suited to anticipated environmental challenges. Specifically, this includes increased disease and frost resistance, improved water use efficiency, and the ability to express iconic typicity under future climate conditions. It also includes reduced susceptibility to known biosecurity threats not currently endemic to New Zealand.
Advanced vineyard efficiency and agritech adoption
Developing innovative growing systems to improve vineyard productivity and profitability while maintaining or improving wine quality. Where there is still a research knowledge gap to address this could mean trialling, testing, and validating new technology and machinery (start-ups or new to wine) to improve vineyard management effectiveness and efficiency.
Improved soil health and protecting water quality and supply
Research that delivers management tools to help improve soil organic matter, fertility, water holding capacity and biodiversity. Research that identifies techniques to manage water use more effectively in vineyards and wineries while protecting existing water resources and quality.
Reducing chemical inputs and adoption of biological control solutions
Research that allows winegrowers to achieve sustainability targets by reducing spray applications, while maintaining productivity and quality. This includes vines with enhanced pathogen tolerance, targeted and sustainable novel technologies, systems and models for more efficient disease management, and biological control solutions.
*Projects that focus on new innovative wine products and improved grape and wine circularity will be prioritised in this EOI call, as they target areas where BRI currently has lower levels of research activity.
