Canadian Grapevine Certification Network, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, and British Columbia Wine Grape Council
AAFC Research Results from CAP Cluster 2018-2023
Hosted in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network (CGCN-RCCV), and the British Columbia Wine Grape Council (BCWGC), this national meeting will showcase the final results of AAFC's research conducted under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) Grape and Wine Science Cluster (2018-2023). Topics include Cold Hardiness & Climate Change, Quality Improvement, Management of Virus Diseases, and Crop Protection & Monitoring. Researchers will present key findings, impacts, and innovations shaping the future of viticulture and oenology. Each topic will also include a panel discussion of featured speakers, with opportunities for audience engaged Q&A.
Date: Thursday, April 17th, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM PST / 11:30 AM - 7:30 PM EST / 12:30 PM - 8:30 PM AST
Cost: FREE BUT REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!!!
Location: In-person or online.
1. For In-Person Attendance REGISTER HERE (Maximum of 80 spots)
- Summerland Research & Development Centre (4200 Highway #97, Summerland, BC V0H 1Z0), registration is required.
- Due to space limitations, spots will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
- Non-Canadian citizens or permanent residents must register by April 4th (this is due to additional security protocols)
- Canadian citizens and permanent residents must register by April 14th
2. Online Attendance REGISTER HERE
- Registration is required for virtual access. A Microsoft Teams link will be sent to registered attendees 48-72 hours prior to the live event.
Key themes of the event (in PST):
8:30 - 10:00 AM → Quality Improvement presentations w/ panel discussion:
● Improving wine quality through mixed and sequential fermentations with indigenous yeasts (Activity 13) - Kentville - Lihua Fan
● Water and nutrient management strategies, and health promoting natural products can reduce the competition between grapevine and cover crops and enhance health and productivity of vineyards (Activity 10) - Summerland - Mehdi Sharifi
● Canopy management to reduce disease pressure (Activity 8) - Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu - Odile Carisse
● Nitrogen management in viticulture and enology: Improving grape and wine quality and enhancing vineyard sustainability through precision management of N and strategies to increase natural yeast assimilable nitrogen in grapes and wine (Activity 11) - Summerland - Kevin Usher
10:15 - 11:30 AM → Management of Virus Diseases presentations w/ panel discussion:
● Impact of key economic grapevine viruses on vine performance and fruit quality & Distribution and impact of emergent and invasive insect pest species in the context of viticultural expansion in Nova Scotia (Activity 4) - Kentville - Debra Moreau
● Grapevine virus diseases and virus vector control (Activity 3) - Vineland - Justin Renkema
● Field strategies to mitigate the impact of grapevine viruses in British Columbia (Activity 2) - Summerland - Jose Urbez-Torres
12:15 - 1:15 PM → Cold Hardiness & Climate Change presentations w/ panel discussion:
● Grapevine evaluation and cold hardiness program to ensure superior plant material for the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network and to improve the sustainability of the Canadian grape and wine industry (Activity 7) - Kentville - Harrison Wright
● Factors affecting grapevine winter hardiness (Activity 6) - Summerland - Ben-Min Chang (with presentation content supplied by Carl Bogdanoff)
1:30 - 3:00 PM → Crop Protection & Monitoring presentations w/ panel discussion:
● Unearthing the impacts of plant-parasitic nematodes on grapevine health and productivity (Activity 15) - Summerland - Tom Forge
● Development of sustainable management practices for leafhoppers on grapes (Activity 17) - Summerland - Tom Lowery
● From nursery to vineyard: Implementation of effective management strategies against grapevine trunk disease in Canada (Activity 21) - Summerland - Jose Urbez-Torres
● Spatial characterization of terroir and other vineyard attributes using GIS and imaging tools to guide precision management for water and nitrogen and to detect infections by virus and other pathogens (Activity 22) - Summerland - Ben-Min Chang (with presentation content supplied by Pat Bowen)
3:15 - 4:30 → Networking Session