| “The Australian wine industry faces big challenges: its production structure, distance from key markets, water shortages, labour costs and climate change."
"Will some of these challenges naturally take the country in the direction of increased environmental respect?” Andrew Jefford, Senior Research Fellow, University of Adelaide, asked delegates in his opening address.
Speakers at the conference covered topics ranging from market drivers and high level policy through to on-the ground application of practical changes in environmental management.
From the policy and general agricultural perspectives, these included:
Rohan Nelson, Director, Agriculture with the Emissions Trading Division, Department of Climate Change who presented the key elements of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and how it will impact on the agricultural sector and the effect on prices of electricity, gas, fuel and the wider economy. Stephen Strachan Chief Executive, Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) discussed the international market signals and imperatives for sound environmental management. Andrew Campbell, Director, Triple Helix Consulting, made his recommendations for renovating agriculture and natural resources and what a third agricultural revolution might look like.
Climate change and water were naturally key topics with interesting presentations from Robert Freeman, Chief Executive of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, about key aspects of water security, including the right of farmers to access ground water, and Tom Hatton, CSIRO Director, Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, on the facts about water resources and possible outcomes of climate change on the Murray Darling Basin. Suzanne Dickey (Finlayson’s Lawyers) got more practical with a thorough description of the current legal framework around water rights and licensing and the impacts of recent legislative changes on the wine industry.
Another theme was that of opportunity. Evan Hiscock, Chair of WINEC (Petaluma Ltd. Lion Nathan) summarised the many wine industry initiatives to date and discussed the challenges ahead in waste, energy and environmental management as well as biodiversity in our vineyards for the industry as a whole. Ros de Garis (Adelaide Brighton Cement) presented the progress made by the cement industry by meeting the challenges to that industry in engaging with government in policy development, and also right down to the local level with a neat collaborative solution for wastewater reuse with a neighbouring wine bottling plant in the Barossa. Also at the industry level, Russell Johnstone, Environmental Sustainability Manager, Pernod Ricard, introduced WFA’s EntWine Australia as a voluntary national environmental assurance scheme that allows winemakers to receive formal certification of their practices according to recognised standards, which heralds a new opportunity for the Australian wine industry to objectively support its environmental credentials – this program was a common theme in many of the presentations throughout the day, clearly underlining its perceived importance.
Several speakers also presented specific practical examples of local and hands-on approaches to the challenges including:
Peter Hayman SARDI Waite Research Precinct, with a very enlightened presentation on what regional Australia can and should do to adapt to climate change; Larry Jacobs (Hahndorf Hill Winery in SA) and Tom Ward (Swinging Bridge Winery, Orange NSW) described their respective regional responses to the challenges of improved environmental management. Mark Gishen (SA Wine Industry Association) described the partnership with the SA state government to help the wine industry measure its carbon footprint and presented some preliminary ‘benchmark’ data for grapegrowing and winemaking. Alex Wright description of Voyager Estate winery’s approach to improved environmental management, specifically in biodiversity, with direct involvement of all staff, provided a highly practical and inspirational example of just what can be achieved at the grassroots level.
In addition, contributors from the research sector described some potential future contributions toward environmental management: Richard Muhlack (Australian Wine Research Institute) talked about the transition to the low-carbon economy, emerging technologies for a carbon restrained world and the potential for energy efficiency improvements; and Steve Tyerman (University of Adelaide) demystified some of the unknowns and research needs that will help the industry understand some of the impacts of climate change on our grapevines.
Finally, Sakkie Pretorius, Managing Director, Australian Wine Research Institute, entertained delegates with an animated and motivational closing address, with a take home message that sustainability and profitability must be considered as integrated goals for the future.
The 5th AWIEC provided results orientated information to help the wine industry integrate social, environmental and economic decision making into their operations with a holistic, proven and scientifically-rigorous framework. The event was held at the National Wine Centre Hickinbotham Hall, Adelaide.
The 6th AWIEC will take place in September 2011 though a one day focussed seminar on Biodynamics and Organic grapegrowing and winemaking is proposed for September 2010.
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