TWO Barossa wine industry projects are set for a boost after receiving a combined $250,000 in State Government funding.
Primary industries minister David Basham visited the Barossa last week to announce support for two initiatives aimed at boosting the viticulture industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first is the Barossa Wine School, run by the Barossa Grape & Wine Association (BGWA), which is set to enhance its online learning resources.
BGWA is set to receive a $150,000 grant through the South Australian Wine Industry Development Scheme, to focus on its online school following a down take of in-person courses.
Chief executive James March said international travel changes had hit the local industry hard.
“We want to ensure that we continue to grow the international interest in the Barossa region and boost the number of marketplaces for our wine,” he said.
“We are confident this new digital engagement platform will be innovative and capable of extending the global reputation the Barossa Wine School has already founded.”
The school was launched in 2013 and has seen more than 2000 people complete one of its online and in-person courses.
Mr Basham said educating the world about Barossa wine is important.
“Due to the impact of COVID-19 restrictions, the Barossa Wine School has innovated and adapted to focus on its online platform,” he said.
“We are proud to fund this dynamic project which will demonstrate the resilience and creative thinking that has been the hallmark to date of the Barossa Wine School.”
Meanwhile, Nuriootpa will be home to an $870,000 Agtech project which will demonstrate emerging Barossa wine industry technologies.
Wine Australia will receive $200,000 from the State Government to establish the demonstrations in Nuriootpa and Loxton.
“There are enormous opportunities for the state’s primary industries to increase productivity, profitability and remain competitive on the international stage through uptake of AgTech on-farm,” Mr Basham said.
“We want wine grape growers to be able to see new technology in action on a working vineyard and demonstrate the return on investment of the products for their business.
“This is a unique project for the wine sector that is being run in South Australia but with national benefits.”
Wine Australia chief executive Andreas Clark said the partnership will strengthen the local wine industry.
“This project, which is being initiated in South Australia but will be activated nationally, will strengthen the wine sector by increasing its familiarity with, and confidence to adopt, relevant AgTech solutions that will optimise grape and wine operations,” he said.
“By partnering with the South Australian Research and Development Institute, the first state-based collaborator and other agencies nationally, the AgTech solutions showcased to South Australian wine producers will be tested to ensure they are regionally appropriate and are technologically feasible.”