British Columbia’s wine grape growers will get federal funding for projects aiming to boost grape quality and to protect the province’s crops from pests and disease.
Parliamentary ag secretary and southeastern Ontario MP Pierre Lemieux on Friday announced up to $2.1 million in Developing Innovative Agri-Products funding for the B.C. Wine Grape Council, to support related research.
“We are very grateful for this funding which will help us to continue to adapt to a changing climate and changing pest and disease complexes, as well as responding to changing demands by the consuming public,” Hans Buchler, the council’s current chair, said in the government’s release.
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“Ongoing support for research in these areas by the federal government is critical for the success of our sector,” said Buchler, who operates an organic vineyard at Oliver, south of Penticton.
Research will focus on “enhancing the sensory and aroma qualities” of B.C. grapes, and identifying new methods for the control of the “two most prevalent” grape pests, as well as disease management and water conservation techniques, the government said.
“Strong crops and a sustainable production cycle will help producers compete in the marketplace,” the government said.
The federal release didn’t identify the two most prevalent grape pests, but according to a provincial information sheet on grape production, the “main insect pests of concern” to B.C. grape growers are leafhoppers and cutworms.
B.C.’s grape and wine sector has seen “tremendous” growth in the last 20 years, the government said, noting the province’s 2009 grape area neared 10,000 acres, with about 160 wineries in operation.
“In order to remain competitive, producers are focusing on high-quality products with low environmental impact,” the government said.
The federal funding is to flow through the Developing Innovative Agri-Products initiative, which backs “industry-led” science and technology projects.
DIAP itself was developed under the Growing Canadian Agri-Innovations Program, a $158 million, five-year program for industry-led work to get new products to market and improve ag processes.
