Frontline biosecurity 'untouchable'
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has reiterated that 'frontline' biosecurity services within Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will not be cut under the Government's plan to reduce the public service.
At the 2021 Grape Days events, Bragato Research Institute Chief Executive Jeffrey Clarke explained that New Zealand remains the only significant wine-producing country without a grapevine improvement programme to introduce diversity and country-specific resilience into our vines.
"Lack of diversity limits our ability to select traits to accommodate a changing environment, market opportunities and biosecurity threats," says Principal Research Scientist Darrell Lizamore.
“It exposes us to significant risk – the vast majority of our Sauvignon Blanc vines are of the same clone. This means that a new pest, disease or environmental change that affects one Sauvignon Blanc vine in New Zealand could affect every one of them.”
To fill this gap in Sauvignon Blanc diversity, BRI has designed an accelerated seven-year research programme that will apply modern knowledge to tried and tested tissue culture techniques.
There is still an opportunity for members to directly participate in this research programme. Please contact Darrell at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
