Oregon Wine Industry Sustainable Showcase Gregory V. Jones
Panel Framework Oregon wineries and vineyards are implementing innovative sustainability and environmental practices across the entire system from growing grapes to making wine to selling wines regionally, nationally and internationally Our goal today is to provide a discussion on these practices in the wine industry and how they are being showcased in Oregon
Talk Outline Sustainability a Growing Trend Sustainable Vineyard/Winery Initiatives Oregon Agribusinesses and the Wine Sector Climate Change one of many stressors Summary Panel Discussion
Interest in Sustainability: A Growing Global Trend Global to regional challenges: Environmental degradation, climate change, resource scarcity, pollution, health threats, population growth, urbanization, etc. Growing involvement in sustainable development & sustainable agriculture among governments Growing investment in sustainable businesses: manufacturing, food/agriculture, service, energy, transport, and other sectors; many involved in certification and labeling
Multiple Forces Behind Changes CONSUMERS ENVIROMENTAL STRESSORS CLIMATE CHANGE SUSTAINABILITY INCREASING IN IMPORTANCE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES & ROLE OF NGOs COMPETITION GOVERNMENTS INVESTORS & ANALYSTS EMPLOYEES
Sustainable Vineyard & Winery Developments Worldwide
Wine Sector Sustainability Surveys Subjective Norms, Environmental Commitment, and Competitive Advantage most correlated with the implementation of sustainable practices Owner/employee subjective norms and regional institutional norms greatest drivers of sustainability practice adoption Company size not a significant factor Greater export dependency drives country differences (external stakeholders)
Sustainability Initiatives In the International Wine Industry Chilean Sustainability Code
Oregon Oregon is a specialty-crop state with 220+ recognized commodities Oregon is #1 in the nation for numerous commodities and in the top 5 for many more #1 #1 #1-3 #1 #1 #1-4 #2 #2 #3 #3 #3 #4 #4 #4
Oregon The wine sector in Oregon is a top 10 agricultural commodity with strong ties to tourism Like Oregon itself, the industry is seen globally as being environmentally focused The industry strives to be environmentally, economically and socially sustainable, supported by a culture of network cooperation to reduce threats and maximize opportunities
Viticulture and Wine Production Sustainability: Processes of Greatest Efforts and Synergies Energy GHG Air Quality On-Farm Synergies Winery Energy GHG Air Quality Pesticides Indirect Pesticides Water Use Soil, Nutrient & Water Quality Indirect Water Use Soil, Nutrient & Water Quality Biodiversity Indirect Biodiversity Waste Human Resources Waste Human Resources
Climate Change and Agriculture Changes in average climate structure and variability, longer/warmer growing seasons, changes in extremes Earlier phenology (plant growth events) Altered ripening profiles Altered disease/pest timing and severity Impacts to beneficial insects (e.g., bees) Changes in soil fertility and erosion Water availability and timing of irrigation (some places drier, some wetter)
Climate Change and Agriculture Impacts vary depending on whether they are broadacre crops
Climate Change and Agriculture Or specialty crops
Crop Climate Thresholds Production and Quality Metrics Too Cold Threshold Under Ripe Low Yields Poor Quality Optimum Zone Consistent quality and yield, economically viable, easier to be environmentally sustainable Plasticity Adaptation Management (short term) Varietal (long term) Too Warm Threshold Over Ripe??? Yields??? Quality Climate Metrics Jones (2006)
Summary & Further Discussion Climate change is only one of many stressors that agribusinesses face Sustainable agricultural practices are becoming increasingly recognized, adopted and integrated within different sectors of agriculture Viticulture and wine production have been at the forefront of these developments largely due to the nature of the business and its historic ecological stewardship
Summary & Further Discussion Surveys have shown that the majority of growers and producers in the wine industry see sustainability as a key part of an overall business plan Oregon s wine industry is leading the way, driven by company, employee, and regional association initiatives The rest of this panel will focus on many of these efforts by leader s in the Oregon wine industry