DAVIS, Calif., May 21, 2021 – Data-driven farming has its benefits, but for many grape growers, knowing where to start can be daunting. The American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) has partnered with the National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA) for a one-day symposium on precision viticulture, gathering some of the most well-regarded scientists working in precision viticulture research as well as growers applying precision technology and techniques. The one-day symposium will take place at the 72nd ASEV National Conference on Monday, June 21, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The symposium organizers’ goal is to help growers understand and adopt the research and advancements being made in data-driven farming, provide scientists with valuable insights into the industry’s early adopters’ experiences, and create a forum for a two-way dialogue to identify current research gaps, inform future scientific discovery and inspire application of current innovations.
“This year’s collaboration with NGRA to provide timely and practical information for our wine and grape community is not only relevant but inspiring,” said Patty Skinkis, ASEV President, who along with Donnell Brown from NGRA, will be moderating the symposium. “We are excited to showcase the advancements made by our community and to provide this important forum for listening and learning.”
“NGRA is pleased to partner with ASEV to present this event, as we both value the extension of research advances to industry,” said Russ Smithyman, chairman of the NGRA Board of Directors and the symposium organizing committee. “With this symposium, we will jointly deliver insight on what precision techniques and tools are available to growers today and look ahead to the research innovations that will enable even greater advances in precision farming tomorrow. Plus, we hope both growers and scientists make valuable connections that will enrich their work.”
The organizers include Dr. Smithyman (Chair), Terry Bates of Cornell University, Donnell Brown of NGRA; Mason Earles of University of California, Davis, and Keith Striegler of E. & J. Gallo Winery. The symposium will cover vine management, pests and diseases, and crop estimation and other decision-making tools. A panel of growers will share how they are putting research and tools into practice in their vineyards, and there will be two keynotes by precision viticulture notables:
- Rob Bramley of Australia’s Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), who is widely considered to be the father of precision viticulture, will open the event with an exploration of “Precision Viticulture and Beyond – Digital Approaches to Winegrowing.”
- Nick Dokoozlian of E. & J. Gallo Winery will provide a closing keynote on “The Promise and Pain of Precision Viticulture,” with a joint Q&A with Rob Bramley.
For more information about and to register for the ASEV-NGRA Precision Viticulture Symposium, click here.
ASEV and NGRA each work to support research for the U.S. grape and wine industry. ASEV is a professional society of enologists, viticulturists and scientists in the fields of wine and grape research and production, and NGRA is an industry coalition representing the research priorities of wine, juice, raisins and table grapes nationwide. Funding for the ASEV-NGRA Precision Viticulture Symposium is provided by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.
The ASEV National Conference is a forum for sharing and disseminating the latest scientific information relevant to winemaking and grape growing. For more information about the 72nd ASEV National Conference, taking place as a virtual conference on June 21-24, 2021, visit www.asev.org. For the full program listing, click here. Early registration ends on June 15. To register for the conference, click here. Group rates are available.
