The latest national and international developments in grapevine propagation
Presented by the NWGIC following the 9th International Workshop on Grapevine Trunk Diseases
21st November 2014
SARDI, Plant Research Centre, 2B Hartley Grove, URRBRAE, South Australia 5064
The recently published Australian Standard (AS 5588-2013) for Grapevine Material now forms the basis of quality assurance for cuttings and nursery vines in Australia, but is relevant to vine propagators everywhere.
This workshop program, presented by leading researchers and industry specialists from around the world, includes the latest international and Australian research in trunk diseases, viruses, biosecurity and propagation in an integrated approach to the production of high quality cuttings and nursery vines to the new standard.
Registration:
Register on line at http://www.csu.edu.au/nwgic/knowledge/workshops or by contacting Helen Waite hwaite@csu.edu.au or +61 419 522 875
Cost: A$110 per person for first person from an organization and A$77 for second and subsequent people from the same organization.
9th IWGTD 18-21 November 2014 http://www.plevin.com.au/iwgtd2014/
Speakers and Workshop Program
Peter Hayes – International Consultant, Australia Australian Standard As 5588-2013 Grapevine material: what is the standard, why was it developed?
Lucie Morton – Independent Viticulture Consultant, USA Planting material and vineyard productivity. The emperor’s new vineyard; the impact of viruses and trunk diseases on vineyard establishment.
Prue Henschke – Viticulture Biosecurity Industry Reference Group, Australia On the horizon: known and unknown threats to biosecurity; the role of nurseries and VIAs in grape industry biosecurity and the biosecurity manual for the grape and wine industry.
Dr Peter Clingeleffer – CSIRO Plant Industries, Australia Rootstocks and the CSIRO vine breeding program.
Dr Nuredin Halibi – Waite Diagnostics, University of Adelaide, Australia Diagnosis and elimination of viruses from grapevine propagating material.
Dr Laura Mugnai – DISPAA, University of Florence, Italy Trunk diseases: identity, distribution and epidemiology; an international perspective.
Dr. David Gramaje –Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Spanish National Research Council, Spain Trunk diseases: symptoms and effects on young and mature vines.
Dr Marlene Jaspers – Lincoln University, New Zealand Dealing with the invisible: managing fungal pathogens in propagation.
Dr Francois Halleen – ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, South Africa Managing mother vines for the production of quality cuttings: trunk diseases, trellising, irrigation and nutrition
Dr Melanie Weckert – NWGIC, Charles Sturt University and NSW DPI, Australia Managing trunk diseases and other pathogens in field nursery soils: soil borne pathogens, nematodes and their control.
Dr José Ramón Úrbez-Torres - Canadian Government Laboratory Visiting Fellow, Agriculture and Agri-Food, Canada. Developments in trunk disease diagnostics.
Helen Waite – NWGIC, Charles Sturt University, Australia. Managing stress in propagation: Effects of hot water treatment, hydration, cold storage and other propagation practices on cutting physiology. “Fit Vine” a tool for assessing vines against the standard.
Registration:
Register on line at: http://www.csu.edu.au/nwgic/knowledge/workshops or by contacting Helen Waite hwaite@csu.edu.au or +61 419 522 875
Cost: A$110 per person for first person from an organization and A$77 (GST included) for second and subsequent people from the same organization.
Australian Grapevine Standards Scheme
Update April 2012
Standards Australia is about to embark on a project to develop a new Australian Standard in the field of quality assurance in the origin and authenticity of grapevines. This project is being sponsored by the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation.
Paul Wright, VINA Chairman, has been invited to join the Technical Committee to contribute to the development of the proposed Standard. The Committee will be assessing the topic for further development and advising Standards Australia on the suitability of the content for further development as an Australian Standard.
The first meeting of this new technical committee will be held at the offices of Standards Australia in Sydney on Wednesday 2 May 2012. The purpose of this meeting will be to confirm the constitution of the committee, establish its terms of reference and lastly to ‘kick-off’ the project.
Three fundamental principles that underpin the Standards development process are consensus, balance and transparency. Such robust foundations provide Australian Standards with their authority and widespread acceptance for voluntary industry adoption and, in some cases, for reference within legislation for mandatory purpose. Contribution to the development of Standards, related consensus documents and involvement provides technical experts in this field with the opportunity to contribute their skills and knowledge to the development of a Standard which ultimately delivers Net Benefit to the wider Grape and Wine community.
It is envisaged that the Technical Committee working on this project will meet around 2 – 3 times over the next 12 months.
STANDARDS AUSTRALIA has provided the following scope of the proposed project:
The aim of the project is to develop a quality assurance framework around the issues of
•Phytosanitary status
•Origin, source or provenance and its traceability
•Nomenclature and assurance of validity in variety/cultivar naming and clonal identy.
The outputs from this project will be used by WGGA/WFA as a central plank in varietal authenticity and viticultural performance for the longer-term wellbeing of the Australian viticulture industries. The project will also provide the research input to assist the AWBC meet its requirements under the European Commission-Australia bilateral wine Agreement to ensure that wine exported to Europe is true to label with respect to varietal description. Such assurances are also of great significance in all other markets and are of critical importance in securing confidence for studies around varietal adaptation to climate change and other research, as well as for foundation material in grape breeding programs.
Background
The Australian Wine Industry has over the past 15 years established a significant position in the global wine trade. However, its underlying profitability and sustainability are under severe challenge arising from the competitive responses of established and emerging producer countries, many of which have better access to and assurance of the qualities of preferred planting material. Our future competitiveness and profitability will depend in large part on access to quality assured germplasm with a likely need for ongoing diversification in varieties.
We suffer considerable uncertainty and risk in our viticultural base. Our range of varieties is based generally on very long established grapevine varieties often of uncertain lineage and provenance. There is no national set of standards for planting material that enables the consumer to be sure of what the health status of their planting material is or indeed if the material is what it is claimed to be. In fact, there is no nationally or internationally consistent nomenclature or officially recognised type source material and given the demands of the AWBC Label Integrity Program serious attention to these matters is warranted.
This uncertainty and risk centres around issues of
(a) Phytosanitary status
(b) Origin, source or provenance and its traceability
(c) Nomenclature and assurance of validity in variety/cultivar naming and clonal identity
(d) Horticultural/viticultural soundness of propagules distributed from quarantine, collections or nurseries
Establishment of an Australian Standard for grapevine planting material will enhance the ability of wine grapegrowers and winemakers to comply with market and regulatory demands and may be referenced in the Regulations at some time in the future.
Australian Grapevine Standards Scheme
Update January 2012
In November 2011 GWRDC sought confirmation of VINA's commitment to this scheme as a result of a series of issues identified by GWRDC to the proposal by Standards Australia. These included, but were not limited to, a non-standard GWRDC contract, ownership of intellectual property, timeframes for delivery and the costs of developing the Standard.
GWRDC has now received reaffirmation from Winemakers' Federation of Australia, Wine Grapegrowers Australia, Australian Vine Improvement Association, Vine Industry Nursery Association and International Organisation of Vine and Wine for GWRDC to make an investment in Standards Australia for the development of an Australian Vine Quality Standard on behalf of the wine sector.
As a result, at the GWRDC Board Meeting in December, the Board resolved:
That GWRDC commence the process to develop an Australian Vine Quality Standard given support from the Commonwealth, WFA and WGGA and AVIA.
GWRDC has now formally signed the Standards Australia contract.
VINA has nominated Paul Wright, Chairman VINA, to participate on the Technical Committee to enable this process to commence as soon a practicable.
Mr Peter Hayes, Independent Consultant, and Dr Liz Waters, GWRDC Program Manager, will assist the Technical Committee by facilitating the development of this Standard.
Australian Grapevine Standard Scheme
Update September 2011
Peter Hayes
20th September 2011
Since the last update several important matters have been resolved, albeit that we are now running about 6 months behind the original schedule, however the broad project is now set to operate towards its prime objectives;
1.We have negotiated engagement around the issue of a variety test-protocol involving European (Geilweilerhof and the European Vitis database), California (Foundation Material Service, Davis) and Australia (CSIRO Plant Industry) collaborators;
a.GWRDC is to contract support to CSIRO Plant Industry for this component of the broader project, intended to be undertaken during 2011-12.
b.This element will focus on achieving breadth of genetic background across Vitis vinifera varieties and rootstocks in order to test the robustness of the protocol, and identify areas of potential ambiguity and methods for their resolution
c.Attention will be directed to defining agreed international type-reference varieties and a means to resolve conflict or ambiguity
d.Linkage has been made with the current variety testing being undertaken via Adelaide Hills Vine Improvement and their experiences will also inform the development of an underlying protocol
e.Peter Hayes will act to facilitate linkage between this project and the development of an Australian Grapevine Standard.
2.Standards Australia have accepted the net-benefit case for development of an Australian Grapevine Standard, and a contract is in development between Standards Australia and the GWRDC for its development;
a.It is intended that Peter Hayes act as a point ofliaison and facilitator for initiating the standards development activity
b.A contract should be in place within the next 4-6 weeks, with execution not able to start until that is completed
c.In the meantime, Standards Australia advises that they intend to convene the inaugural committee meeting for this project on Wednesday 7th December in Sydney
d.Beyond the actual broad based industry and interested party representatives to constitute the standards committee, a smaller technical drafting sub-committee committee shall be formed to develop the draft standard
e.The target date for an initial draft set of standards is 31st January 2011, with the draft to be reviewed by the standards committee and the National Grapevine Biosecurity Committee
f.It is intended that an Australian Grapevine Standard be developed to a final draft stage for submission to Standards Australia by 31 May 2012.
3. It is intended that prior to June 30, 2012
a.A concluding report will be submitted and workshop conducted with key elements of industry and its vine supply service sector regarding implementation of the standard and variety testing protocols
b.A final project report be submitted to GWRDC summarising all aspects of the Standards Australia project (GWRDC project number SA 1101), AVIA recommendations and guidance on a business case for national collections and CSIRO Plant industry variety testing program (GWRDC project number CSP 1102).
4.Invitations are therefore extended to the key winegrape and allied industry national representative and institutional bodies to nominate a representative to the standards committee and ensure that this nominee is available for the proposed 7th December meeting
5.The following bodies were approached in seeking support for the net-benefit case and are considered by Standards Australia to be appropriate entities from which to nominate representatives to the committee
Key stakeholder groups
Organisation Name
Do they agree with this proposal
(Y/N)?
Research and academic organizations
CSIRO Plant Industry
Y
Consumer interests
Australian Consumers’ Federation
Awaiting response to proposal; positive discussion with an ACF representative
Government organizations
Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation
Y
Y
Regulatory and controlling bodies
Wine Australia; formerly the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation
Y
Professional associations
Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology
Y
Manufacturers’ associations
Vine Industry Nursery Association
Australian Vine Improvement Association
Y
Y
Suppliers’ associations
Australian National Retailers’ Association
Awaiting response to proposal
User and purchasing bodies
Wine Grape Growers'Australia
Winemakers' Federation of Australia
Y
Y
Testing bodies
Australian Genome Research Facility Ltd
Y
Independent-International Intergovernmental
International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV)
Y
Achieving Confidence in Vine Identity and Origin; towards development of an Australian Grapevine Standard
Edited by Peter Hayes Entered 9 July 2011
Recent history in the development of new and emerging varieties and clones has demonstrated a need for better management and disclosure of information regarding identity, origin and health status of grapevine varieties and clones.
Initiated by the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) and Wine Grape Growers Australia (WGGA), a project supported by the GWRDC has been addressing this issue over the past 12 months. These organisations and others such as the Vine Industry Nurseries Association (VINA) and the Australian Vine Improvement Association (AVIA) have formally registered their support as all recognise the importance of vine identity in meeting the requirements of Wine Australia’s Label Integrity Program (LIP) and ensuring customer and consumer confidence in the Australian varietal wine offer.
The project to develop an Australian Grapevine Quality Standard is focussed on
•Phytosanitary status
•Origin, source or provenance and its traceability
•Nomenclature and assurance of validity in variety/cultivar naming and clonal identity
•Viticultural soundness of propagules distributed from quarantine, collections or nurseries
At this stage support for the project has been gained from those bodies above and from the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) as ultimately any standard and acceptance of variety identity needs wide-based support and international acceptance and credibility.
A completed proposal form outlining the net-benefit case for a standard has been submitted to Standards Australia, along with a draft “Table of Contents” and an outline of “Scope of Works and Guiding Material for Drafting of the Standard”. It has also been supplied with analysis of current import, propagation and distribution arrangements.
We now await acceptance of the project by Standards Australia. They will then appoint a technical committee to progress development of the standard itself which is anticipated to be generated over the next 12 months and publicised for industry and public comment and input.
In parallel and coordinated with the development of the standard, activity is being directed to clarifying methods for defining variety identity;
•CSIRO Plant Industry has sought support from GWRDC for an international Grapevine type reference pilot study involving an international collaborative arrangement between Australia, USA and Germany to evaluate mechanisms and methods for DNA profiling using a sample of 50 grapevine cultivars. The aim is to reach agreement on the DNA type reference genotype for specific grapevine varieties and determine the feasibility of this approach for wider adoption within an Australian Vine Quality Standards Scheme. This should provide a basis for establishing international agreement around “type reference genotypes”, which does not currently exist, and protocols for international agreement on testing and validation methods for variety identity.
•Adelaide Hills Vine Improvement Inc. has initiated and is coordinating a current season collection of some high priority “emerging varieties” for testing within currently offered Australian and international DNA typing services.
FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR AUSTRALIAN QUALITY STANDARDS SCHEME (VINE ASSURANCE) Inserted7/02/2011
An Australian Quality Standards Scheme (Vine Assurance) has wide industry support and, as can be seen from news items on this page, has been mooted for some time now. Peter Hayes was appointed Project Coordinator / Manager and has been sucessful in securing funds from GWRDC for the project, intended to facilitate a transparent concensus process for an agreed Vine Standard.
To further the process, a meeting of Peak Industry Body representatives wes held in Adelaide on 9th Dec 2010.
The Proposal and Funding assigned by GWRDC was outlined and explained by Peter Hayes
Standards Australia - is a Not-For-Profit organisation recognised by the Commonwealth Government as the nation's peak Standards body. It is a non-government organisation that coordinates standardisation activities and facilitates the development of Australian Standards by working with Government, industry and the community. People all over the world use Standards not only because they can be reinforced by law, but because they have recognised that (1) their product or service will be improved by its use (2) the production process will be more efficient (3) productivity and customer service will be better (4) goods and services will be aligned.
The Label Integrity Program (LIP) - provides the principal regulatory machanism through which Australia's international wine reputation is protected. The object of the LIP is to help to ensure the truth, and reputation of truthfullness, of statements made on wine labels, or made for commercial purposes in other ways, about the vintage, variety or Geographical Indication of wine manufactured in Australia. Currently there is an identified documentation "hole" in that grape growers are exempt from 'one step back' ie. verification of their grape variety planting material. This project hopes to plug that hole.
The project will connect with International Variety Databases to provide clear variety identity and reduce / eliminate the use of synonyms and ambiguity.
An overview document was presented consolidating assorted documentation around existing protocols and standards, including some from the non-viticultural sectors, and general AQIS guidance. Key components for plant material were identified for discussion: Source, Labelling, Quarantine, Transport (chain of custody), Foundation Repository, Primary Multiplication, Nuclear Collection, Field Multiplication (source block), Nursery.
APPLICATION FOR FUNDS FOR A NATIONAL VINE ASSURANCE PROGRAM BEFORE GWRDC Inserted Feb 10
In summary, the project proposes to
Consolidate industry and supply chain participants' commitment to an Australian Vine Quality Standard recognised by Standards Australia and
When this approach is consolidated and commenced, then
Progress towards development of an international variety database for authentication purposes
Determin whether there is a need to develop a business case(s) for the establishment of a germplasm collection to support (1) variety identification and naming (2) biosecurity and biodiversity objectives (3) research and breeding programs
If a need(s) is / are established, initiate development of appropriate business cases
Launch an Australian Vine Quality Standard.
IMMINENT NATIONAL VINE ASSURANCE PROGRAM - UPDATE Inserted Jan 2010
A proposal for a quality assurance program for the nation's grapegrowing industry has been put to the GWRDC with a decision on whether it will receive funding expected at its board meeting in March. The program has been developed by a working group comprising industry stakeholders incliding Wine Grape Growers' Australia, Wine Makers Federation of Australia, Australian Vine Improvement Association and the Vine Industry Nursery Association. Peter Hayes has been convening the group whose aim has been to develop a standards framework for the winegrape, driedgrape, tablegrape and nursery industries.
"There has been a general recognition, developed over time, that a clearer chain of traceability needs to be established relating to the originating source of vines, their identity with respect to variety and clone, their health status, and a definition of specifications for plant quality for rootlings. grafted plants, and so on. To achieve better positioning of a future industry, we need to move towards a quality assured supply chain for planting material." said Hayes. Source: Aus Vit Jan 10
Initiated by the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) and Wine Grape Growers Australia (WGGA), a project supported by the GWRDC has been addressing this issue over the past 12 months. These organisations and others such as the Vine Industry Nurseries Association (VINA) and the Australian Vine Improvement Association (AVIA) have formally registered their support as all recognise the importance of vine identity in meeting the requirements of Wine Australia’s Label Integrity Program (LIP) and ensuring customer and consumer confidence in the Australian varietal wine offer.
The project to develop an Australian Grapevine Quality Standard is focussed on
•Phytosanitary status
•Origin, source or provenance and its traceability
•Nomenclature and assurance of validity in variety/cultivar naming and clonal identity
•Viticultural soundness of propagules distributed from quarantine, collections or nurseries
At this stage support for the project has been gained from those bodies above and from the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) as ultimately any standard and acceptance of variety identity needs wide-based support and international acceptance and credibility.
A completed proposal form outlining the net-benefit case for a standard has been submitted to Standards Australia, along with a draft “Table of Contents” and an outline of “Scope of Works and Guiding Material for Drafting of the Standard”. It has also been supplied with analysis of current import, propagation and distribution arrangements.
We now await acceptance of the project by Standards Australia. They will then appoint a technical committee to progress development of the standard itself which is anticipated to be generated over the next 12 months and publicised for industry and public comment and input.
In parallel and coordinated with the development of the standard, activity is being directed to clarifying methods for defining variety identity;
•CSIRO Plant Industry has sought support from GWRDC for an international Grapevine type reference pilot study involving an international collaborative arrangement between Australia, USA and Germany to evaluate mechanisms and methods for DNA profiling using a sample of 50 grapevine cultivars. The aim is to reach agreement on the DNA type reference genotype for specific grapevine varieties and determine the feasibility of this approach for wider adoption within an Australian Vine Quality Standards Scheme. This should provide a basis for establishing international agreement around “type reference genotypes”, which does not currently exist, and protocols for international agreement on testing and validation methods for variety identity.
•Adelaide Hills Vine Improvement Inc. has initiated and is coordinating a current season collection of some high priority “emerging varieties” for testing within currently offered Australian and international DNA typing services.
Standards Australia is about to embark on a project to develop a new Australian Standard in the field of quality assurance in the origin and authenticity of grapevines. This project is being sponsored by the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation.
Establishment of an Australian Standard for grapevine planting material will enhance the ability of wine grapegrowers and winemakers to comply with market and regulatory demands and may be referenced in the Regulations at some time in the future.
