Research, Technology and Innovation

Success Stories

GrapeGen Grape Genomics

As the connoisseurs say, “Life is too short to drink bad wine.” However, growing grapes can be a challenge as things like weather, disease and harvest timing can all affect a crop. As Canada’s wine industry continues to grow, wine-makers want to know as much as possible about how to keep producing high-quality grape harvests.

That’s where GrapeGen, one of the world’s largest projects studying the grape genome, comes in. Led in Canada by Dr. Steven Lund of the UBC Wine Research Centre, this Canada-Spain partnership is studying grape genes to find out the best measurements of grape ripening and quality. Using cutting-edge genomics technology, the researchers are working to identify which genetic factors mean a successful grape crop.

Lund explains: “If, for example, we can give viticulturists an indicator of when ripening will occur, well before they can see anything or feel anything, it could help them make better, more precise management decisions.” It will also help us avoid those bad wine choices.

For more information, visit http://genomebc.ca/research_tech/research_projects/agriculture/grapegen.htm http://www.grapegen.org

Success Stories Index >>