Program areas at National Grape Research Alliance
The National Grape Research Alliance (ngra) advances Research to improve the quality and competitiveness of the american Grape industries, including wine grapes, table grapes, juice grapes and raisins. Ngra-supported Research projects involve multi-institutional, multi-state collaboration, and target issues that no single Grape sector could adequately address on its own. Our efforts are focused in four theme areas: 1) natural resources and environment, 2) integrated production systems, 3) genetics and grapevine improvement, and 4) extension and outreach.
In 2023, ngra launched its first strategic plan in more than a decade. It focuses on issues of operational performance, such as membership development and fundraising, administrative capacity and organizational visibility, and spans through 2026.these mission-related ngra projects and activities are ongoing:- vitisgen3: an ngra-initiated, scri-funded genetics Research project focused on powdery mildew resistance- hi-res vineyard nutrition: ngra-initiated, scri-funded Research seeking to improve assessment and analysis of vine nutrition, officially concluding in 2024- smoke exposure: ngra is a member of the west coast smoke exposure task force, organized by California, Oregon and Washington winegrower groups, and an advisor to an scri-funded scri project seeking solutions to the issue. - ngra fellowship: the inaugural ngra fellow, abby hammermeister, concludes her three-year term in 2024. Her work focuses on grapevine water stress indicators.- usda's National agricultural Research, extension, economics and education (nareee) advisory board: ngra president donnell brown's appointment continues through 2025.
In 2023, ngra partnered once more with the usda's agricultural Research service (ars) to produce a Grape industry workshop in november. Ngra industry priorities and ars science on or adjacent to Grape were presented. Breakout group discussions yielded new "vineyard of the future" projects focused on 1) mealybug detection, 2) genetics to support mechanization and 3) climate change mapping and mitigation.