SYMPOSIUM OBJECTIVES

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Biodiversity strategies involving vineyard greening are being promoted internationally as best practice for mitigating environmental impacts associated with viticulture, but also as ways to support an increased number and quality of ecosystem services within vineyards. Greening involves the introduction of non-vine vegetation and water systems within vineyards that support vineyard ecosystem health in addition to providing benefits to grapevine production and wine sales.  For example, shelterbelts can be designed to mitigate microclimate in support of vine growth. Cover crops can improve soil health (which in turn improves vine health), and provide habitats for beneficial fungi, bacteria and insects in support of reduced reliance on pesticides. Riparian vegetation can help reduce vine management-related impacts, such as spray drift, on adjacent waterways.  Furthermore, nature conservation areas, and cellar door plantings, can provide habitat for desirable indigenous biodiversity, such as birds of prey, and improve wine branding and sales.

This first Australasian Symposium for Greening Vineyards addresses the topic of innovations in designing biodiversity-based wine grape production systems in support of a wine variety of ecosystem services including improved pest management, soil retention and quality, micro-climate, water quality, indigenous biodiversity, carbon sequestration, terroir, wine branding and sales, and agri-tourism.

Greening research and practices presented will focus on innovations from New Zealand and Australia; however, research and practice from other parts of the world are most welcome to participate. The topic has been conceptualised as broad, open-ended, interdisciplinary and highly inclusive for participants from a variety of disciplines including (however, not exclusively) viticulture, landscape architecture, ecology, marketing and tourism. In addition, we welcome vineyard managers and owners, who have implemented greening within their vineyards, to share their experiences.

The symposium will achieve three goals: 1) to explore and evaluate science, planning, design and management of vineyard greening in support of reduced environmental impacts, and increased/ enhanced  ecosystem services, 2) investigate enablers and barriers to vineyard greening to arrive at new and improved science, planning, design and management approaches, and 3) to gather experts from New Zealand and Australia in vineyard greening together in order to develop and enhance research partnerships.