Historic Use of Herbicides in Napa Analyzed
News from COP28: fixing carbon markets, biological plastic recycling, Viña Concha y Toro targets 2040 for net zero
News from the COP28 conference in Dubai includes: a push to fix carbon markets, with published guidelines to tighten climate claims purchasers make; Stella McCartney and Protein Evolution unveil a parka made with new technology that biologically breaks down plastic; Viña Concha y Toro plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2040 instead of 2050. Napa’s annual conference Rootstock focused exclusively on weed control; revealing historic analysis of herbicide use in the county. Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGCB) announced the organization will include compulsory environmental certification in the future
Viticulture
Napa, California: Pam Strayer gives an in-depth overview of Roostock, Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVGG) annual conference which focused exclusively on weed control. Wine Business
A week later, Napa Green, the county’s prominent sustainability program, announced it would require its members to phase out conventional herbicides, including Roundup, by 2026, offering growers technical and financial assistance to support the change.
Sarah Ferguson, CEO and Founder of Ruetd, a data analytics consultancy, shared data analysis on historic use of the herbicide in Napa:
Glyphosate herbicide use peaked in 2013
In the 12 months from Sept. 2022 to August 2023, use reached its lowest level since 2010
During that period, 16,200 pounds of glyphosate based products, typically Roundup PowerMax (an industrial strength version for professional applicators), were applied
Since Roundup is unpopular with some consumers, a number of growers have switched to glufosinate ammonium–one popular brand is Lifeline–so if they are asked if they use Roundup, they can say they don’t.
According to Department of Pesticide Regulation statistics, at the same time that glyphosate usage declined, glufosinate ammonium sprayed vineyard acres in Napa rose from 7,596 in 2017 to 9,731 in 2021–a 28% increase.
As glyphosate’s popularity grew, herbicide resistance began to increase over three decades, with resistance progressing to include 51 glyphosate resistant species in recent years.
Manufacturers have tried to develop products with other modes of action, but so far, none succeeded in replacing Roundup per Scott Steinmaus, PhD, Head of Plant Sciences, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Global: In a recent study, a team of scientists have found a way to seal nitrogen-fixing bacteria with a protective coating so that they survive desiccation and high temperatures. Anthropecene Magazine
This enabled the bacteria to fertilize and improve the germination rates of corn and bok choy by 150%.
Such bacteria, like Pseudomonas Chlororaphis fix soil nitrates into usable nitrogen for plants, as an alternative to conventional fertilizers.
The extreme temperature and moisture sensitivity of nitrogen-fixing microbes has made it difficult to transport them long distances, limiting their applications to farms where bacteria can be expensively cultivated in bioreactors, on site.
Researchers used metal-phenolic networks (MPNs), mesh-like structures made from thin layers of metal, combined with polyphenols, which are naturally occurring compounds such as antioxidants. These networks self-assemble and can form several layers around microscopic objects like a bacterial cell.
Penglai, China: Domaine de Long Dai, the Chinese winery owned by DBR Lafite group, is mulling converting to organic farming, a move in line with new leadership’s vision and group strategy. Vino Joy News
Located in Qiu Shan Valley in Penglai, Shandong in eastern and coastal China, the region compared with more arid Ningxia, is at the mercy of Shandong’s monsoon seasons, which means higher disease pressure because of heavy rainfalls.
The shift towards organic farming, still in its infancy, is also part of the winery’s response to the increased demand from health-conscious consumers and for transparency in wine production, according to the winemaker.
For a winery with just six vintages under its label, priority at the estate is still “trying to understand and define our terroir,” Cellar Master Liang Chen stressed, “Organic conversion is a long process and we have started with experimenting a few years ago.”
Carbon Markets
With cheap loans and grants in short supply, especially at a time of higher interest rates, allowing firms in richer countries to pay for emissions reductions in the developing world to partly offset their own pollution is an attractive way of increasing financial flows.
But voluntary offset mechanisms have been tainted by concerns that some of their projects do little or nothing to slow global warming.
Under Article 6 of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, nations agreed to work toward a new global system of exchanging allowances covering greenhouse gases.
In the following years, envoys have worked on designing a robust financial instrument that would translate national emissions-reduction pledges into comparable, exchangeable units.
COP28 is expected in the coming days to endorse technical recommendations drafted by experts last month. It should finally be ready to go by 2025.
After two years of development, the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative in June published guidelines to tighten climate claims purchasers make. To comply, companies must first publish annual emissions, adopt science-based targets and make measurable progress in cutting pollution — only then they can buy credits to offset some of their remaining emissions.
Water Use
California: For Wine Business Pam Strayer sums up the new winery wastewater regulations for California wineries.
The deadline for submitting a plan on compliance is Jan. 20, 2024.
Wineries have not been required to treat and clean winery wastewater, a high strength waste stream, adequately enough to protect groundwater quality as required by state law. Now state authorities want to batten down the hatches on leakage into ecosystems, tightening up on leaking pond liners, requiring existing subsurface systems to pretreat wastewater and implementing required groundwater monitoring for larger (Tier 4) wineries.
According to water experts, many of the current solutions have slowed down the infiltration of unwanted wastewater pollutants into water systems, but they have not solved the problem at the source point.
The new order is prompting some wineries to buy more land for wastewater dispersal or to curb production to comply with the requirements.
The Manteca Bulletin reports that Delicato, the fifth largest producer in the country, has been acquiring surrounding land to increase its capacity for land-based wastewater disposal.
Much smaller Taft Street Winery in Sonoma, decided to make less wine—reducing production by about 10%—to become a Tier 2 winery instead of a Tier 3, which has more extensive—and expensive—requirements.
Diversity & Equity
UK: Jancis Robinson sums up the dismal results of a Women in Wine survey on the UK drinks industry. Jancisrobinson.com
The survey collated responses from 726 women who work or have worked in the UK wine trade. 78% of them feel that sexism, gender bias and harassment are serious issues in it, with 44% of respondents saying they had considered leaving the trade as a result.
More than a third of respondents said they had experienced harassment (with a gratuitous ‘hand on bum’ cited several times). This proportion rose to a half among younger respondents between 18 and 34.
An ideal hospitality employer would presumably offer a helpful code of conduct, just as companies selling wine should be aware of potential difficulties when women sales staff are dispatched alone to sell to male customers.
Along with gender bias, sexism and harassment, another major complaint that emerged from the survey, familiar in other businesses, was that 54% of respondents feel that they are discriminated against in terms of pay and conditions, with maternity leave a particular gripe.
Global: The Gérard Basset Foundation has announced funding for 18 new grantee partners based in 11 different countries across five continents. Harpers
The funding is expected to support over 300 individuals in the drinks trade.
The Foundation was established in 2021 and is mandated to fund educational and professional programs focused on supporting diversity, equity and inclusion in the wine, spirits, and hospitality industries.
The grantee partners are expected to fund student programs ranging from: Zimbabweans undertaking ASI qualifications, US-based Latinx students pursuing a 17-week wine-focused course, South African WSET Diploma students from historically marginalized communities and a wide range of students in West Bengal, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
Sustainability
Bordeaux: Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGCB) President Ronan Laborde, said the organization will propose a new environmental charter, Ethiq’Union, which will include compulsory environmental certification. The Drinks Business
This will include a global commitment to limit processing, removing herbicides (which is already the case for 94% of its members, he said), committing to biological approaches and developing biodiversity through agroforestry and plant cover.
Other targets will include the reduction of carbon dioxide through the use of hybrid or electric vehicles and limiting exposure of employees and neighbors to any treatments that may be required.
Marketing
US: Bonterra Organic Estates®, a Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC) wine, has released the 2022 Red Blend, sold exclusively on the brand's website starting December 4. Press Release via Wine Business
The Red Blend is the third ROC wine in the Bonterra Estate Collection following the successful launch of the 2021 Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon earlier this year.
UK: The Drinks Business has announced their Green Awards 2023 winners.
Best Logistics and Supply Chain Green Initiative for 2023 - Kuehne+Nagel for VinLog’s Electrification Initiative
Green Launch of the Year - Kojima Sohonten for Toko Junmai Daiginjo – Aigamorobo Farmed
Organic Initiative of the Year - Alpamanta Estate
The Green Packaging Award - Mallard Point
Renewable Energy Implementation Award - Kojima Sohonten
The Water Management Award - Broadland Drinks
Green Retailer of the Year - The Wine Society
Green Importer/Distributor of 2023 - Lanchester Wines
Sustainability Award – Lungarotti
Biodiversity Award - Chateau Léoube
Amorim Special Award - Waitrose’s Loved & Found range of wines
Ethical Company of the Year - Domaine Bousquet
Green Company of the Year - The Wine Society
Green Company of the Year for wine producers - Brooks Wine
2023’s Green Personality of the Year - Head of sustainability at Grupo Avinea, Andrés Valero
Green Lifetime Achievement Award for 2023 - DO Penedes president, Joan Huguet
Canada: New research from Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) focused on how wine retailers and producers can enhance consumer engagement with sustainable wines. Brock University
Published in the Journal of Wine Research and Food Research International, more than 700 Canadian wine consumers were surveyed to determine their relationship and intentions with sustainably-produced wine.
Gary Pickering, Brock University Professor of Biological Sciences and Psychology noted “Much of the previous behavioral research around sustainable wines was limited to organic wine and measures of willingness to pay,” says Pickering. “Going beyond this, we explored a much wider range of factors, including social and economic dimensions of sustainability, consumer knowledge and the influence of wine engagement and demographics.”
The results showed that while many Canadians do not have a deep engagement with sustainable wines, there is significant potential to move them toward purchase of more sustainably produced products through communication initiatives.
Carbon Emissions
Chile: Viña Concha y Toro has announced at COP28 plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2040 instead of 2050, as originally planned. The Drinks Business
The news follows a commitment by the producer in 2019 to a Science Based Target initiative to reduce its absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 55% by 2030, and reach net zero emissions by 2050.
In the previous five years to 2022, the firm has reduced its emissions by 35% with data for 2023 available next year. As a result of the findings, the company’s carbon footprint is 53% lower than the global industry average, it claims.
Plastic Recycling
Dubai: Stella McCartney unveiled at COP28 the first garment produced with biological recycling, a process in which enzymes break down plastic waste. Fast Company
The parka was made in partnership with Protein Evolution, a biological recycling company that says its process to break down plastics with enzymes produces polyester that is “indistinguishable” from virgin polyester made with oil. The garment is a proof of concept for the technology.
With biological recycling, material quality doesn’t change, and polyester fabrics (made from PET, a type of plastic also used in water bottles and clamshell packaging) can go through the process again, without weakening the fibers or needing to be mixed with virgin material.
Protein Evolution’s trademarked biological recycling process, which it calls Biopure, uses enzymes designed by artificial intelligence to break the PET or polyester down into its monomers (molecules that can bond together). Those monomers get turned into PET chips, which then can be spun into yarn and woven into fabric. These chips are the same as virgin polyester chips, so they fit right into existing manufacturing systems.
Chemical recycling also breaks PET down to its monomers, but if contaminants like non-PET plastics get mixed in with what’s getting recycled, they could affect the quality of the end product.
It’s also a high-energy process requiring immense temperatures and pressure that can release toxic chemicals and emissions; the Protein Evolution process doesn’t need high energy or temperatures, and also produces fewer emissions.
The company says that compared to virgin polyester, its process produces about 70% fewer CO2 emissions.