Brock’s grape and wine research institute has signed an agreement with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) to increase research efforts that will strengthen Canada’s grape growers and wineries.

A memorandum of understanding spanning the country between Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology & Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) in Ontario and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre (PARC) in British Columbia creates a new national research network that will focus on national grape and wine research priorities of the Canadian industry.

The new PARC-CCOVI Wine Grape Research Network will support exchange of ideas and information related to viticulture and oenology. This collaboration will advance the industry via a number of ways such as joint research to address national research priorities; communications activities including lectures and seminars to share information across the country; as well as career and skills development for students, technicians and research professionals in both provinces.

Dr. Pat Bowen, Research Scientist at PARC based in Summerland, B.C. welcomes the news.

“This agreement is a first for Canada and will strengthen cooperation between researchers in Ontario and British Columbia which in turn will advance the grape and wine industry,” she said.

CCOVI director Debbie Inglis hailed the partnership as a breakthrough to strategically address national research priorities.

“All the pieces are in place to implement concrete collaborative projects that will generate useful information for grape growers and wineries across Canada,” she said.