2012 Annual Report BOARD MEMBERS the COMPANY the AWRI’S Laboratories and Offices Are Housed in the Central Building of the Wine Innovation Mr P.J
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2012 Annual Report BOARD MEMBERS THE COMPANY The AWRI’s laboratories and offices are housed in the Central Building of the Wine Innovation Mr P.J. Dawson, BSc, BAppSc(Wine Science) The Australian Wine Research Institute Ltd was Cluster (WIC). The WIC is located within an inter- Chairman–Elected a member under Clause incorporated on 27 April 1955. It is a company lim- nationally renowned research cluster on the 25.2(c) of the Constitution ited by guarantee that does not have a share capital. Waite Precinct at Urrbrae in the Adelaide foothills, on land leased from The University of Adelaide. Mr J.C. Angove, BSc The Constitution of The Australian Wine Research Collocated in the Wine Innovation Central Elected a member under Clause 25.2(c) of Institute Ltd (AWRI) sets out in broad terms the Building with the AWRI are grape and wine sci- the Constitution aims of the AWRI. In 2006, the AWRI implemented entists from The University of Adelaide. The WIC its ten-year business plan Towards 2015, and stated includes three buildings: WIC East, WIC Central Mr J.F. Brayne, BAppSc(Wine Science) its purpose, vision, mission and values: and WIC West. WIC East is the Hickinbotham Elected a member under Clause 25.2(c) of Roseworthy Wine Science Laboratory of the the Constitution Purpose University of Adelaide and WIC West accommo- To contribute substantially in a measurable way to dates the other member of the WIC concept: Mr P.D. Conroy, LLB(Hons), BCom the ongoing success of the Australian grape and CSIRO Plant Industry. Elected a member under Clause 25.2(b) of wine sector. the Constitution Along with the WIC parties mentioned, the AWRI Vision is clustered on the Waite Precinct with the fol- Dr J.S. Harvey, BSc(Hons), PhD, MBA, GAICD To deliver high value to the Australian grape and lowing research and teaching organisations: Elected a member under Clause 25.2(c) of the wine sector through world-class research and Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics Constitution (from 1 January 2012) integrated solutions and to provide thought lead- (ACPFG), Australian Genome Research Facility ership to the research activities of the Australian (AGRF), Australian Grain Technologies (AGT), Dr D.L. Johnson, BSc(Hons), PhD, MBA, GAICD wine sector. Australian Wheat Management, BiometricsSA, Ex officio under Clause 25.2(a) of the Constitution three divisions of CSIRO, Department of Water, as Managing Director of the AWRI Mission Land and Biodiversity Conservation, Primary (from 1 December 2011) To underpin our world-class research and inte- Industries and Resources South Australia grated solutions with: (PIRSA), Membrane Transporter Expression Mr B.M. McKinnon, BAgSc (Oenology)(Hons) Facility, VivoPharm and The University of Elected a member under Clause 25.2(c) of » a tenacious pursuit of understanding; Adelaide’s School of Science (which includes the the Constitution » the development of a unique, extensive and Schools of Agriculture and Wine, and Earth and usable knowledge base; and Environmental Sciences). Mrs E.A. Riley, BAppSc (Wine) » a focus on contributing substantially to stake- Elected a member under Clause 25.2 (b) of the holders achieving their needs. Registered office Constitution (from 1 January 2012) Cnr Hartley Grove and Paratoo Road, AWRI’s values provide guidance in how it will Urrbrae, SA 5064 Ms L.E. Rose, BAppSc, BSc deliver on its mission. These values are: Elected as a member under Clause 25.2(c) of Postal Address: the Constitution » scientific integrity and excellence; PO Box 197, Glen Osmond, SA 5064 » a culture of delivering results; Telephone (08) 8313 6600 Mr M.R. Watson, BEc, MBA, ACA, IPAA » internally and externally collaborative; Fax (08) 8313 6601 Elected a member under Clause 25.2(b) of » accountability and transparency; and Internet: www.awri.com.au the Constitution » focused on the Australian wine sector and Facebook: www.facebook.com/The.AWRI industry driven. Twitter: www.twitter.com/the_AWRI Mr J.A. Lumbers, BSc(Microbiol); Lit B(Public Policy) ABN: 83 007 558 296 Elected a member under Clause 25.2(c) of the Constitution (until 31 December 2011) Ms J.S. O’Connor, BEd (PE) Elected a member under Clause 25.2 (b) of the Constitution (until 31 December 2011) Professor I.S. Pretorius, BSc(Hons), MSc, PhD Ex officio under Clause 25.2(a) of the Constitution as Managing Director of the AWRI (until 30 November 2011) Contents Chair’s report 2 Managing Director’s report 4 Board notes 7 Highlights of the year 2011/2012 8 Staff 11 Staff activities 14 Progress reports 15 Information and knowledge transfer 15 Grape and wine composition 25 Grape and wine production 32 Wine in society 43 Communications and information delivery 44 Commercial Services 49 Corporate Services 51 Financial statements – Directors’ report 52 Financial statements 56 Notes to and forming part of the financial statements 58 Memorial funds 66 Appendix 1 – External presentations and talks 69 Appendix 2 – Teaching responsibilities (Lectures) of AWRI staff 81 Appendix 3 – Student supervision responsibilities of AWRI staff for 2011/2012 82 Appendix 4 – Media interviews during 2011/2012 83 Appendix 5 – papers published by the AWRI staff recorded during 2011/2012 84 AWRI Annual Report 2012 1 Chair’s report As the Australian grape and wine sector con- Research, Development and Extension Plan 2006- tinues to grapple with challenging economic 2103. The result was a benefit-to-cost ratio (BCR) conditions, The Australian Wine Research Institute in the order of 15:1. This compares very favourably (AWRI) has remained focussed on adapting to the with other institutions and research programs: contemporary environment and delivering max- a survey of economic assessments reports over imum value to the sector in the form of high the past decade suggests that BCRs of 8:1 are quality research and development outcomes and the ‘norm’. A BCR of 15:1 is an outstanding result, effective extension. demonstrating the AWRI’s commitment to value delivery in tough economic times. Under the current investment agreement between the AWRI and the Grape and Wine Secondly, an independent economic assessment Research Development Corporation (GWRDC), was commissioned to evaluate the impact of funding from industry levies and government AWRI’s work in resolving and preventing selected has been static over the past three years and taints and faults. This analysis revealed a substan- has declined in real terms. Fortunately, the AWRI tial return of ~$264 million on an investment of has been able to leverage a strong foundation in ~$8.6 million across four project areas: capability to do more with less and the true value of the AWRI’s outputs has never been higher. » Brettanomyces management and avoidance. When the Grape and Wine Research and » Halophenol taint mitigation and avoidance. Development Corporation (GWRDC) announced its intention to review the outcomes from its » Smoke taint mitigation and avoidance. seven-year investment agreement partnership with the AWRI, the AWRI recognised an oppor- » General help-desk services. tunity to investigate the value it brings to grape and wine producers. The investment agreement, Thirdly, extensive documentation was prepared which expires on 30 June 2013, concerns about 40% detailing the AWRI’s research highlights, key pub- of the GWRDC’s invested funds on an annual basis. lications and key collaborations; the value of its It is essential that the AWRI is able to articulate the technical support and extension activities; and return on this investment – both quantitatively and evidence of flexibility, responsiveness and adapt- qualitatively – to grape and wine levy payers. It is ability in aligning its research programmes with also essential that the assessment methods used industry priorities. stand up to rigorous external scrutiny. Peter Dawson The documentation highlighted that, since July The focus of the review was return on investment: 2006, the AWRI has delivered: the extent to which the AWRI has delivered value to grape and wine producers over the past seven » Responses to more than 30,000 information years. The review also focused on capability and requests including technical problem solving. impact. It asked: do AWRI researchers demon- More than 7,000 problem samples have been strate scientific and technical excellence? Is there investigated and confidential, expert advice evidence of impact, relevance and quality? Does provided to the companies concerned. These industry use the AWRI’s capability – in the form activities have made or saved Australia’s grape- of research, expertise and technical advice – to growers and winemakers millions of dollars make or save money? How effective have gover- through improved products or averted problems. nance and financial arrangements been under the seven-year investment agreement? » 2,066 presentations, workshops, seminars, lectures and other extension activities were In response, the AWRI pursued a multi-level, delivered to an audience of more than 4,250 multi-methodology approach. industry and academia. These activities are global in reach but focused on the value delivery Firstly, the CRC (Cooperative Research Centre) to Australian grape and wine producers, provid- Impact Tool was used to assess the inputs, activ- ing advice and support in crises ranging from ities, outputs, usages and impacts of the AWRI’s outbreaks of downy mildew to the devastating 15 streams of activity outlined in its seven-year bushfires of Black Saturday in Victoria in 2009. 2 AWRI Annual Report 2012 » A portfolio of 286 peer-reviewed and 240 I am proud of the AWRI’s achievements over the industry publications on a range of technical past six years and embrace the review process topics, many of which are highly influential and as a significant milestone in demonstrating the referenced by third parties. AWRI’s value proposition. Finally, input was sought from stakeholders. 117 let- In closing, I would like to acknowledge the contri- ters were received from external sources, including bution of my fellow board members throughout levy payers; suppliers of services and products (e.g.