MGI Tech has partnered with Lincoln University in Canterbury to apply genomic sequencing to New Zealand viticulture, with the aim of reducing the industry’s dependence on fungicides and promoting more sustainable growing practices.
This development follows previous sustainability efforts in New Zealand’s wine sector, including the regulatory approval of a pioneering biofungicide in May 2023. That step aimed to reduce chemical use; today’s genomics project now goes deeper, targeting resistance at the vine’s genetic level.
Genomic sequencing involves reading and analysing the DNA of organisms to identify specific traits – in this case, grapevines with natural resistance to disease and environmental stress.
Using MGI’s high-throughput genome sequencing platform, researchers can now scan tens of thousands of grapevine samples to pinpoint those with beneficial traits. The goal is to breed more resilient vines and reduce the need for chemical spraying – a concern for New Zealand’s NZ$2.1 billion wine export industry.
New Zealand vineyards are highly susceptible to fungal disease, often requiring frequent applications of fungicides. The country’s farmers apply around 3,400 tonnes of pesticides annually, with 60% of fungicides and 72% of plant growth regulators used falling under the US EPA’s classification as potential carcinogens.
“These pressures are only intensifying,” said Associate Professor Christopher Winefield, from Lincoln’s Department of Wine, Food and Molecular Biosciences.
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