Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) has recognized Brock University for outstanding efforts that advance the province’s agriculture and food sector.

Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) captured the top spot in the Research and Innovation Excellence category of OMAFA’s Excellence in Agriculture Awards, presented Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.

“Research projects at the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute at Brock University are guided by grower needs. These initiatives address industry challenges and opportunities to increase yields, lower costs and promote sustainability,” says Member of Provincial Parliament for Niagara West Sam Oosterhoff.

In addition to research, the award speaks to the quality and productivity of CCOVI’s many partnerships locally, provincially and nationally, says CCOVI Director Debbie Inglis.

“This award is a recognition to the industry that their investments in, and collaborations with, CCOVI are paying off,” she says. “The Ontario government is indicating, yes, this is a model worth investing in and moving forward with.”

Established in 1996, CCOVI works with an array of provincial and national organizations to serve the grape and wine industry’s needs in such areas as vine health, pest management, sustainable wine grape varieties, fruit and wine quality, consumer behaviour and wine marketing, among others.

This is done through CCOVI’s research, services, technology transfer and professional education programs.

Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) team has been recognized in Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) awards presented Saturday, Nov. 2. From left: Lab Manager and Technologist Fei Yang; Molecular Lab Technologist Tony Wang; Manager, Professional Studies and Outreach Barb Tatarnic; Administrative Assistant Taylor Magee; Scientist, Oenology Jen Kelly; Scientist, Entomology Malkie Spodek; Technologist Shufen Xu; Technician Lisa Dowling; Senior Lab Demonstrator / Professional Studies Instructor Marissa Neuner; CCOVI Director Debbie Inglis; Micro-Credential Co-ordinator Steven Trussler.

Grape Growers of Ontario CEO Debbie Zimmerman says CCOVI’s crop loss prevention and crop loss conversion initiatives save the grape and wine industry in Ontario $58 million each year in costs related to cold weather, pests, new wine styles and testing services.

“These services, amongst many offered by CCOVI, provide valuable savings to grape growers and enhance Ontario’s agriculture in quality and in commercial output,” she says.

Zimmerman also notes CCOVI’s leadership role in the Clean Plant Program, which tests and ensures plant material growers use is virus-free, minimizing crop loss and avoiding contamination of otherwise healthy vines.

The Clean Plant Program is one of several research areas being explored in the new, Brock-led Research Farm under the national Clean Agriculture for Sustainable Production (CASP) Field Infrastructure project.

Acting Vice-President, Research Michelle McGinn says the Excellence in Agriculture Award testifies not only to CCOVI’s leadership in the grape and wine industry but Brock’s broader engagement in agriculture work.

“CCOVI’s proven track record of facilitating world-class innovations, efficiencies and growth in the grape and wine industry is foundational to Brock University’s present and future leadership in the field of sustainable agriculture,” she says.

Some of CCOVI’s accomplishments include:

• A 2016 study found CCOVI contributed more than $91 million and the equivalent of 307 jobs to Ontario’s economy in 2014-15.
• Nearly $2 million in Ontario and federal government funding for the Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Sensory Reality Consumer Laboratory, a world first, to study the science of consumer choice in the wine industry.
• CCOVI leading the Ontario research portion of the federal government-funded, national collaborative Canadian Grape and Wine Science Cluster
• Launching Ontario’s first winemaking and cider production micro-credentials, Foundations in Winemaking and Cider and Perry Production: A Foundation.

Inglis says she’s particularly proud of CCOVI’s role in increasing the number of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers through the science of winemaking and grape growing, along with providing opportunities for high school students to learn about grape and wine science.

For these and other leadership and education efforts, Inglis was honoured with the Wine Industry Champion Award in 2022, with Professional Studies and Outreach Manager Barb Tatarnic receiving the Outstanding Service Award from the Canadian Association for University Continuing Education last year.