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A Technical Guide for Wine Producers
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Winetech ensures technology transfer to producers
Just like any other industry in the agricultural environment, the wine industry depends on cutting edge technology to be able to compete in the highly competitive international markets. It is equally important for the cutting edge technology, once it has been created by scientists, to be transferred and applied to the industry. Herein lies the vital role of Winetech as the network for expertise and technology in the wine industry.
"The Technology Transfer Programme forms a very important and crucial part of Winetech's research, development and technology transfer goals, because it gives the South African wine industry a strategic advantage," explains Jan Booysen, Winetech manager.
"The long term competitiveness of the South African wine industry depends on its ability to learn faster and be more innovative than its competitors. To achieve this, the industry must have excellent and effective information and intelligence systems and/or networks. This means that our research, technology development and technology transfer structures and programmes must be dynamic, focussed, well-funded and properly managed."
To ensure that research and the practical consequences/content thereof are implemented at ground level in the wine industry, Winetech collaborates closely with two 'agents' who have direct contact with producers.
Winetech has entered into an agreement with the South African Society for Enology and Viticulture (SASEV) to use this society as preferred partner for generic technology transfer opportunities and to collaborate as far as technology transfer is concerned. For example, scientists whose research projects are funded by Winetech, are requested to contribute to the SASEV Journal, SASEV Congresses and forum meetings.
Winetech's other 'agent', VinPro, continues to make an important contribution at regional level by ensuring that research results are disseminated at various points in the wine industry.
According to Francois Viljoen, VinPro Manager: Consultation Service, this is achieved mainly through their Viticultural Practice Evaluation Project (previously called the Vineyard Block Competition), Regional Technology Transfer Programme and Information days. "The South African wine industry has experienced massive growth over the past ten years. As a result of the new and increased number of role players in this changing environment, there is a bigger demand for technology and information. Since January 2004 VinPro has played a significant role in the comprehensive Technology Transfer Programme for the South African wine industry by facilitating the transfer and application of research at regional level."
The Viticultural Practice Evaluation Project offers wine producers the opportunity to have the standard of their viticultural practices evaluated by a team of experts. In this way the strong as well as weak points of a vineyard block are identified and in the process the producer's management practices are measured against international standards.
At the mini-farmers' days that are held at the respective winning blocks in the various regions, wine producers and labourers are exposed to practical demonstrations of cutting edge technology and the correct viticultural practices. This is a very important and effective method of transferring the latest research information and technology to producers.
As part of each region's technology transfer structure, the respective VinPro viticultural consultant, in collaboration with the soil science consultant, is responsible for the establishment and management of vineyard study groups consisting of a group of innovative producers, viticulturists and local agriculturists. They identify, inter alia, pressing viticultural problems in that particular region so that research and technology transfer projects may be launched accordingly. Two regional information days are also organised to give researchers the platform to convey their research findings to producers and/or to convey information about specific regional problems. The services of Charl Theron, oenological consultant, have been contracted to focus on oenological matters by communicating research results to cellar managers, winemakers and cellar workers via existing or newly established winemaker study groups.
These vineyard and wine study groups, in collaboration with researchers, constitute the link between research and the practical application of information under local conditions. This occurs mainly through workshops, information days and demonstrations in collaboration with Winetech. Workshops and information days are held at least once a year for each of Winetech's four research programmes. The research programmes that benefit from information supplied by the Technology Transfer Programme are:
Although Winetech depends heavily on its two technology transfer 'agents', the Winetech office itself steers various opportunities for technology transfer. An ongoing technology transfer activity is the monthly publication of the Wynboer section in WineLand magazine. Apart from popular scientific articles, this also contains Winetech Nuus/News.
The scientific articles that are published in Wynboer and in English on the WineLand website, were compiled and published in a Technical Yearbook for the first time this year. According to Maryke Hörstmann, who co-ordinated the project, the glossy publication has elicited very positive feedback. "From the producers' point of view, it is very handy to have a book that contains all the articles that were published in the course of a year," she said.
Several other publications are wholly or partially funded by Winetech. One such publication that has enjoyed a very positive international reception is ASPECT, a full-colour publication about the unique terroir of the Cape winelands and how the unique biodiversity is reflected in the wines of the Cape.
It also made sense for Winetech to become involved in the Biodiversity and Wine initiative (BWI), inter alia by sponsoring their introductory pamphlet as well as training courses, so that producers could be made aware of the fantastic partnership between the South African wine industry and the conservation sector.
Another Winetech publication that conveys knowledge at ground level, is an overview of the basic steps in the vinification process (based on a series of articles in WineLand by Charl Theron) printed as three separate booklets in Afrikaans, English and Xhosa.
Winetech also published a Protocol for mealybug control and Guidelines for the responsible management of wastewater and solids at existing cellars in Afrikaans and English.
On the Winetech website (winetech.co.za) there is a list of all research projects that are currently being funded or have in the past been funded by Winetech, together with the researchers' contact details and summaries of their research goals. Application forms and information about funding are also provided.
Winetech's annual report, protocols, manuals and guidelines can be downloaded from the website. There is also a link to the Sawis library website to track down all articles that have appeared concerning Winetech projects.
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