NGWI Joint Meeting with USDA

Carver CenterBeltsville, MDApril 27, 2009

Economic impact of the US Grape Industry

• America’s largest processed specialty crop by value

• 5,000 wineries in each of the 50 states• 44 states grow grapes• Health contribution of grapes• Significant farm gate value• Taxes -- $17 Billion annually

– $9 billion federal– $8 billion state & national

Representing US grape & grape products research needs…

NGWI’s Theme Committees

• Extension and Outreach• Understanding & Improving Quality• Production & Processing Efficiency• Sustainability• Consumer Insights, Nutrition & Community

Key Components of Farm Bill Supported by NGWI

• Specialty Crop Research Initiative

• Specialty Crop Block Grants

• Clean Crop Network

Important Role For NGWI• Our structure is already multi-state; multi-

commodity• NGWI Board members served on 2 of the 3

review panels in 2008• 15 o 20 points will be awarded to projects

which have an existing industry advisory board – in 2009 we have directly been engaged in development and writing of four core proposals

Problems we’re encountering• 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 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”

NGWI Initiated Planning Grant

• Climate Change – Everyone’s talking about it; how much do we really know about carbon cycle in permanent crops?

• Planning grant to build on work previously funded by ARB/Energy Dept/Calif. Ag

• All grape types/uses, national approach, review impact of climate, soils, cultural practices

NGWI Work Undertaken without government assistance…

NGWI Sustainability ProjectsWinery 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

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– ASEV will publish results

NGWI Consumer Insights, Nutrition & Community

• Grape Health Workshop – applied for multi-state

block grants but were turned down• Held it anyway on December 2-3, 2008 in San

Francisco• Brought in health researchers with seven areas of

emphasis• Cardiovascular, cancer,cognitive function/brain health• Immune function,diabetes/glycemic response, anti-

microbial/anti-adhesion, bioavailability/analytical

Consumer Insights, Nutrition & Community

• Workshop Goals– Establish a consensus about research areas

of promise– Provide information needed for gap analysis– Stimulate discussion among key researchers– Provide direction to the grape industry– Publish papers presented in applicable

professional journal

Specialty Crops Programs Hold Promise

• How does NAREEE grapple with balance between competitive versus formula funds?

• Who provides oversight of GAP programs?

• Multi-year funding commitments are tough• Balance between quick ROI and long-term

problems

Since our Board meeting last January….

• Translated national research priorities into four NGWI-Initiated Projects

• Reviewed NGWI governance documents and four years of minutes: updated document for approval Tuesday

• Evaluated budget – Improve transparency– Reflect development goals– Research commitments

Structure of our meeting--Monday

• Coordination with USDA Experts• Areas include climate change, genomics,

Clean Plant Network, human health and nutrition, as well as NGWI Research Review

• Break into working groups—chose one • Report out specific recommendations on

priorities• USDA research structure & how to plug in!

Dinner at Mary Wagner’s Home

• Depart Carver Center about 4:45pm• Travel to 11716 Lake Potomac Drive,

Potomac, MD• Need a cooler for wine? • Bus will bring people back to hotel and

Carver Center

Tuesday’s Agenda• Two Breakout Sessions:

– Research: Process, SCRI, funding, timing– GRO Task Force: Review of draft document

• Review of USDA Research: How is it going?

• NGWI considerations: governance, budget, other business

Thank you for your participation!