Wine Institute Technical
Committee
Jean-Mari Peltier
November 6, 2009
Napa, California
An outline for today
• Re-structuring of the research function of
USDA
• Implications for future federal research
funding
• Review of NGWI structure & priorities
• Review of SCRI and new RFA
• Journal of Nutrition
• eXtension
Inevitably We Look to
Washington…
• What is the tone set by the new
Administration?
– Their research orientation
– Implementation of Specialty Crop Provisions
• CSREES Transition
• New Chief Scientist
• Climate Change Legislation
Under-Secretary for Research,
Education & Economics
Goal: Double Competitive
Research Funding
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Climate change
Food Safety
Bio-Fuels
Nutrition (childhood obesity)
International food security
Chief Scientist
Creation of Four New
“Institutes”
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Biofuels, climate, and energy
Food safety and nutrition
Food production and sustainability
Youth and community development
• And, a Center for International Programs.
National Grape and Wine Initiative
Linking industry stakeholders and research providers
Building critical mass and national research priorities
UCD
WSU
CORNELL
Texas A&M
Penn
State
OSU
Missouri
Arkansas
ARS
NGWI Quality Committee
Projects
• Viticultural Influence on Wine Quality
– NGWI co-sponsored
– 2009 Unified Symposium and WAWGG.
– One-day aroma/quality workshops
– Outreach educational experience for the
industry.
– Covered thinning, irrigation, pruning techniques
– Working to assure ASEV will publish results
NGWI Quality Projects
• Literature Review – Viticultural Practices & Quality
– Dr. Andrew Waterhouse – Progress stalled –
NGWI may supply small grant?
• Clean Plant Network - An action plan for certified
stock. Buy in from states and development of a
regulatory framework. Regional and national
standards. Grapes will get 55% of this year’s
funding allocation!
Assessing the costs of
Climate Change Proposals
• Research project initiated by vegetable
and melon interests
• Expanded to other specialty crops
• CTGC funded for grapes
– NGWI worked with Intertox
– Trouble with cost figures
– Extrapolation of fertilizer and pesticide
increases
– Post-harvest impacts are likely higher
Assessing the health impacts
of grapes & products
• Grape Health Workshop in December
2008
• Publication in the pretigious “Journal of
Nutrition” as a special supplement
• NGWI follow on projects:
– Epidemiology study
– Human clinical trial on cognition
NGWI Sustainability Projects
Winery Water and Energy Manual
– Manual has been published and distributed to
NGWI Board members
– First workshop held in California
– 60 requests for copies of the manual were
received in the first two weeks after the
availability of the manual was announced
– NY and Washington State have all committee $
to host workshops in their area
Updating NGWI Research
Priorities
1. Understanding and Improving
Quality
2. Consumer Insights, Nutrition and
Community
3. Processing and Production Efficiency
4. Sustainable Practices
5. Extension/Education
Specialty Crop Research
Initiative
• Not “business as usual”
• Systems approach; integrated
• Applications must be multi-state, multiinstitutional, TRANSDISCIPLINARY
• Social scientist engagement
• Bewick “We’re trying to approximate the
speed of business…”
• Grapes didn’t fare well in 2008
The SCRI RFA Five Buckets
• Plant breeding and genetics to improve
crop characteristics
• Identify and address threats from pests &
diseases (also pollinators)
• Improve crop production efficiency,
productivity & marketing
• Innovations and technology
(mechanization or delayed ripening)
• Food safety
Tom Bewick’s Presentation in
January
• Described problems with 2008
applications:
– Came in after the due date
– (Problems with Grants.gov)
– Problems documenting the match
– Didn’t include transdisciplinary approach
In 2008, NGWI Didn’t submit
proposals
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Submitted 4 core projects this year
Supported 6 other projects
Fine tuned the process
Leveraged over $800,000 of industry
pledges this year
NGWI SCRI Grant
Applications in 2009
• “Developing Sustainable Solutions Water
Management in Irrigated Vineyards
• “Vineyard Mechanization for Enhanced
Economic Sustainability
• “Development of a Grape Community of
Practice for the eXtension System”
• Climate Change Planning Grant
The Process
• Administrative Review
• 20 points STAKEHOLDER Driven
Process
• Peer review
– 30% producers
– 30% from previous year
Final Agency Decisions based on panels
Challenges encountered
• University commitment to participate in the
process
• Cooperation between research institutions
can be thorny
• Grant writers familiar with the process are
hard to find
• Specialty crops – every man for himself?
• Still want close collaboration with ARS; is
balance between competitive & formula
funding right?
NGWI’s eXtension grant funded
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Valuable communications tool
“Ask the expert” feature
Interactive training modules
Access via social networking sites,
including Ask.com, Google and YouTube
• Feedback feature: who it searching? Not
just industry…
Institutions Funded in 2009
AG. EXP. STATION, GENEVA, NY
ARS, ITHACA
ARS, WEST VIRGINA
ARS, WOOSTER, OHIO
CLEMSON
CO STATE
GENEVA, NY
LOUSIANA STATE UNIVERISTY
MICHIGAN STATE
OHIO STATE
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
OREGON STATE
RUTGERS
TEXAS A&M
UC BERKELEY
UC DAVIS
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
UNIVERSITY OF LOUSIANA
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
WASHINGTON STATE
Crops Funded in 2009
Key Issues
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Define highest priority issues and outcomes
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Align priorities with regional/commodity funding bodies
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Need for alignment with regional/commodity sources for
matching funds
Simplify priorities and outcomes
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Move beyond focus of SCRI funding
Focus on a limited number of key issues
List strategy, desired outcome and industry benefit
Align theme committees on work product
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Process
Charge
Time line
Thank you for this opportunity!
NGWI’s Structure
• 6 Regional Representatives
• 7 Species Representatives
• 3 Standing Committee Representatives
• At large Representatives
NGWI’s Theme Committees
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Extension and Outreach
Understanding & Improving Quality
Production & Processing Efficiency
Sustainability
Consumer Insights, Nutrition & Community