Abstract
With funding from the Embassy of Italy, National Research Council of Italy, Wine Australia and Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and with significant in-kind input from CSIRO, two Symposia were held, one in Canberra (Grape and Wheat Symposium) and one in Adelaide (Grape and Wine Symposium), both in early December 2015. The Symposia were well attended and achieved the goal of strengthening existing collaborations and establishing new collaborations between Italian and Australian researchers. The Symposia were supplemented by visits to the Canberra and McLaren Vale Wine Regions. This provided an opportunity to view Italian grapevine varieties and their adaptation to Australian conditions. Wines of the Australian-grown Italian varieties were tasted. Meetings were also held between the visiting Italian scientists (three wheat and four grape and wine) and CSIRO and other agency scientists. A dinner was held at the Embassy of Italy for all invited speakers at the Canberra Symposium and invited guests. Wine Australia and industry representatives attended the Adelaide Symposium. Peter Hayes, former President of the OIV (Organisation International de la Vigne et du Vin) and current Deputy Chancellor of Charles Sturt University, attended the McLaren Vale vineyard and winery tour with the visiting Italian grape and wine scientists. A report on the Symposia and associated activities has been prepared and will be provided to an Australian Wine Industry Journal for future publication (likely to be Grape Grower and Winemaker, March 2016 issue).
Summary
The initial concept for the Australia – Italy Grape and Wheat Symposium was proposed by Professor Oscar Moze, Scientific Attaché, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Embassy of Italy, Canberra. The aim was to invite Italian scientists with specialist expertise in wheat and viticultural research to visit and participate in Symposia and meetings and to strengthen existing and build new collaborations between Australian and Italian scientists.
The invited Italian scientists included:
Professor Mario Pezzotti, Vice-Rector for Research, University of Verona, Italy.
Professor Fulvio Mattivi, Department of Food Quality and Nutrition, Research and Innovation Centre, Edmund Mach Foundation, San Michele all’Adige, Italy.
Dr Giorgio Gambino, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy, Turin, Italy.
Dr Anna Schneider, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy, Turin, Italy.
Dr Domenico Lafiandra, Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy.
Dr Annamaria Castrignano, Agricultural Research Council: Unit for Cropping Systems in Dry Environments, Bari, Italy.
Dr Ilaria Marcoteli, Genetics and Plant Breeding, University of Bari, Italy
Two Symposia were held:
A Grape and Wheat Symposium in Canberra on 3-4 December 2015, with invited presentations from three wheat researchers from Italy, three wheat researchers from Australia, four grape and wine researchers from Italy, and four grape and wine researchers from Australia. Dr Tony Fischer was invited to present an overview of Italian/Australian research collaborations and Tony Battaglene, General Manager, Strategy and International Affairs, Winemakers’ Federation of Australia, was invited to present an overview of the Australian Wine industry.
A Grape and Wine Symposium in Adelaide on 7 December 2015, with presentations from the 4 invited Italian grape and wine researchers and presentations from Dr Christopher Davies (CSIRO Agriculture) and Dr Markus Herderich (Australian Wine Research Institute).