Wine research institute planned in Marlborough

New Zealand Winegrowers’ proposal to establish a new wine industry research centre in Marlborough has been backed by Government, becoming the country’s first regional research institute to gain funding.

The New Zealand Research Institute of Viticulture and Oenology will be based in Marlborough

In June this year, Marlborough District Council voted unanimous support for regional research institutes and agreed to set aside $75,000 this year and a further $150,000 in co-funding each year from 2017 to 2022. The institutes are designed to encourage industry research and development and innovation in regional New Zealand.

Today, the country’s Science and Innovation Minister, Steven Joyce, confirmed that the New Zealand Research Institute of Viticulture and Oenology (NZRIVO) would become the first new Regional Research Institute in the country.

“The NZRIVO, which will be based in Marlborough, will undertake new research activity and collaborate with other domestic and international research institutions to support the growth and continuing success of New Zealand’s wine and viticulture industry,” said Mr Joyce.

“In its proposal to establish the NZRIVO as a Regional Research Institute, New Zealand Winegrowers and its partners made a strong business case demonstrating ongoing financial sustainability beyond initial government support.

“The new wine research institute will support innovation in Marlborough and bring jobs to the region, will work to grow industry R&D intensity across the country, and assist related organisations to make the most of their unique business, technology, and economic growth opportunities.”

Initial funding for the NZRIVO will come from government and industry, however it will operate as a private, independently governed organisation.

“The new institute will provide cutting-edge science, research and development to benefit the entire industry and its key stakeholders,” said Steve Green, chairman of New Zealand Winegrowers.

“Although the institute will be based in Marlborough, the research will have a national focus. Its reach will be global, providing world-leading research for commercial grape and wine production and positioning the hugely successful wine industry for future growth.”

In addition to the NZRIVO institute, two further institutes have been shortlisted, and are in the final stages of business case development. They include a Centre for Space Science Technology in Central Otago, and Earth+Vantage in Southland – which will use real time satellite and ground-based data to lift productivity across New Zealand in areas such as precision farming, forestry and marine management.