British Columbia's wine industry is under increasing strain due to climate change. Extreme weather events, such as rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and wildfires, have resulted in severe crop losses. The BC wine industry, which contributes about $3.75 billion annually and supports over 14,000 jobs, is struggling to adapt.
To address this, Genome British Columbia (Genome BC) has funded researchers studying the impacts of heat stress on grapevines. This partnership includes Genome BC, the University of British Columbia's (UBC) Wine Research Centre, the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network, the BC Wine Grape Council, and Andrew Peller Limited.
"We know that these peaks in seasonal temperatures are occurring more often. Heatwaves are stressing grapevines and impacting both production volumes and quality. We need to equip grape growers and winemakers with better decision-making tools," said Ben Bryant, Vice-President, Western Canada Operations and National Distribution from Andrew Peller Limited. "Extreme heat can cause crop losses and affect the taste profile of the grapes. We need to know how to counter this and preserve plants, regardless of the climate conditions."
Heatwaves, typically defined as three or more consecutive days with temperatures above normal, are becoming more common in regions like Okanagan Valley, where temperatures regularly exceed 35°C. Dr. Simone Castellarin from UBC's Wine Research Centre leads the research, focusing on how heat stress affects the vines' physiology and the subsequent impact on grape quality.
In addition to heat stress, the researchers are exploring the use of biostimulants—substances like seaweed extracts, beneficial bacteria, and microbes that enhance plant resilience and growth. The research aims to identify the most effective biostimulants and their proper application to protect vines from stress.
Andrew Peller Limited is offering its vineyards for testing, and with funding from Genome BC, the team will continue its research over two growing seasons. The goal is to understand how grapevines respond to heat stress and how biostimulants might help maintain grape quality.
"Crop loss isn't just a problem for winemakers and growers. This ultimately affects the quality and reputation of BC's wine industry. Here, we clearly see the value of genomics not just to agriculture, but also to our economy," said Dr. Federica Di Palma, Genome BC's Chief Scientific Officer and Vice-President, Research and Innovations.