Vineyard of the Future is CSU’s new state-of-the-art facility exploring ways for the wine industry to adapt in the future. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Australia’s wine industry is one of the most profitable in the world, worth a whopping $45 billion.
With the healthy profit margins and rich history that the wine industry provides, there are still questions clouding the practice, including: How environmentally sustainable is it? and How can it continue to compete with the European market?
Charles Sturt University has put these questions on notice with its new, state-of-the-art Vineyard of the Future in an attempt to provide answers for farmers, customers and wine drinkers alike.
Launched in late October, the Vineyard of the Future has been built as an extension of the university’s Global Digital Farm in collaboration with Wine Australia and Food Agility CRC.
The vineyard will look to provide a snapshot of new and upcoming practices by conducting projects including:
- A soil accounting tool for vineyards so grape growers can measure the benefits of sustainable vineyard practices and carbon capture gains.
- A data hub platform pilot to allow integration of several wine industry data sources into one interface, with a support tool for investment, operation and research outcomes to improve efficiency and productivity.
- An Agtech demonstration, test and validation site to provide producers with the ability to see emerging and new technology in a real-world scenario.
Agrisciences Research and Business Park (AgriPark) Associate Director and CSU Associate Director of Academic and Education Partnerships for the Wine Industry, Mark Bourne, said the Vineyard of the Future would be a pioneering research and education hub.
“The state-of-the-art Vineyard of the Future will incorporate cutting-edge agricultural technologies to maximise efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and elevate the quality of Australian wines to unprecedented heights,” he said.
A CSU spokesperson said advanced precision viticulture would be at the heart of the Vineyard of the Future and provide a roadmap for vineyards to reduce inputs like water, fertilisers and pesticides while boosting yields and grape quality with data-driven insights from the program. This would allow growers to make smarter decisions, optimising resources and maximising their returns.
“The projects will not just develop the new technologies but also test and validate their commercial viability at scale to establish best practices and create a blueprint for the wine industry’s sustainable future,” Mr Bourne said.
Dave Gerner, Program Manager – Regional Innovation at Wine Australia, said: “The Vineyard of the Future project presents a fantastic opportunity for innovation to be tested, trialled, and eventually commercialised and shared with the broader wine community.
“The opportunity for researchers to be involved in the project from the ground up in a sandpit environment is significant.
”Traditionally, a lot of research is carried out in established, commercial vineyards where there is limited flexibility for researchers, so innovating on a greenfield site is very exciting.”
Ahead of National Agriculture Day last Friday (15 November), Mr Bourne said Charles Sturt was committed to advancing agricultural innovation and stability through projects like Vineyard of the Future, the Global Digital Farm, the university’s world-class research facilities, and agricultural degrees and courses.
“On National Agriculture Day, Charles Sturt, as Australia’s largest regional university, recognises the critical role agriculture plays in our regional communities and national economy,” he said.
“It provides an opportunity to celebrate our agricultural heritage while focusing on the future challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
“This recognition helps inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders and innovators, who will be essential for ensuring food security and regional prosperity.”
Work on the first three Vineyard of the Future projects will begin in December.
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