CSIRO

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is Australia’s national science agency and a long-standing research partner of Wine Australia. CSIRO provides world-class scientific capability across agriculture, genetics, biotechnology and climate adaptation, and plays a leading role in developing innovative solutions that strengthen the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of Australia’s grape and wine sector. For more than three decades, CSIRO has worked with industry and Wine Australia to develop improved grapevine varieties, rootstocks and germplasm tailored to Australian growing conditions and future production challenges.

Through strategic investment from Wine Australia, CSIRO leads research focused on grapevine breeding, genetic improvement and future vineyard resilience. Key research areas include the development of mildew-resistant grapevine varieties, next-generation rootstocks with resistance to phylloxera and nematodes, improved tolerance to drought and salinity, grapevine germplasm management, clonal identification, and the application of advanced gene-editing technologies. Current projects are developing DNA-free gene-editing systems for Australian winegrape varieties, creating gene-edited grapevine clones with improved disease resistance and fruit quality, and breeding rootstocks better suited to future climate and biosecurity challenges.

Wine Australia has made substantial long-term investments in CSIRO’s grapevine breeding capability, recognising it as a unique national asset. A five-year co-investment program commenced in 2022 to continue the development and evaluation of disease-resistant grapevines, advanced rootstocks and next-generation breeding technologies. The partnership builds on decades of collaborative research and supports the maintenance of world-class expertise in grapevine genetics, breeding and germplasm management for the benefit of Australian grapegrowers and winemakers.

The partnership between Wine Australia and CSIRO is helping to future-proof Australia’s vineyards by delivering planting material that requires fewer chemical inputs, is better adapted to changing climatic conditions and provides greater resistance to pests and diseases. By combining advanced breeding techniques with practical industry engagement, CSIRO’s research is creating new opportunities to improve vineyard productivity, reduce production risks, enhance environmental sustainability and maintain the global competitiveness of Australian wine.