Church Point (NS), September 13, 2018 – Université Sainte-Anne is pleased to announce that Professor Karine Pedneault has received a grant worth nearly 1 million dollars, as part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's AgriScience Program. This funding, spread out over 5 years, will enable Université Sainte-Anne to play a key role in vinicultural research specifically aimed at achieving better knowledge of terroirs and grape varieties in Eastern Canada.
This financing is part of an investment package of nearly 8.4 million dollars awarded to the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network (CGCN) for the development of the wine sector in Canada, specifically British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. It is a first for this sector, which is an increasingly important part of the Canadian economy.
“This project demonstrates that Université Sainte-Anne is positioning itself as an important player in Canada's Agri-Food sector. The funds allocated will enable us to gain knowledge essential to the productivity and quality of wines in Eastern Canada, and to transfer this knowledge to stakeholders in the industry and wine sector professionals.”
- Kenneth Deveau, Université Sainte-Anne's Vice-President Academic and Research.
“Wine production is a recent development in Eastern Canada, especially in the Atlantic Provinces. We have an immense amount of work to accomplish in establishing which grape varieties perform best in our terroirs, in terms of productivity and quality. We must understand where to plant these grape varieties, how to grow them, and ultimately, how to produce the very best wines. Wines that can position themselves on the international stage. Developing wine production also means developing gastronomy and agritourism, sectors that also benefit from the spin-offs of our research.”
- Karine Pedneault, the project's lead researcher.
The financed project includes two activities that will be conducted in collaboration with researchers from other institutions: Dr. Frédéric Pitre (Institut de recherche en biologie végétale - IRBV), Dr. Matthew McSweeney (Acadia University), Dr. Matthew Vankoughnett (Nova Scotia Community College - NSCC) and Dr. Caroline Provost (Centre de recherche agroalimentaire de Mirabel - CRAM). The entire project is under the direction of Dr. Karine Pedneault.
The first activity aims to better understand the impact of temperature on the ripening of grapes in Eastern Canada, assisted by an experimental approach whereby heat may be increased at key points of grape development. The data collected will be modelled and will thus lead to a better understanding of Eastern Canada's various terroirs.
The second activity will evaluate the impact of the harvesting date and the terroir on the composition and sensory perception of the grapes and wine. The research team will also study consumer preferences. Different grape varieties such as Riesling, Acadie blanc, New York Muscat, Vidal and Seyval blanc will be studied in Nova Scotia and in Quebec.
The AgriScience Program has enabled the financing of four projects in Eastern Canada, including the one undertaken by Dr. Pedneault's team. The results of these research projects will increase the competitiveness of Eastern Canadian vineyards and provide them with increased visibility on the international stage via the scientific publications and conferences that this project will generate. Finally, this work will consolidate vinicultural research teams, a research sector that is a recent addition in Eastern Canada, to better serve the industry.
About Université Sainte-Anne
Université Sainte-Anne, the only French language post-secondary institution in Nova Scotia, offers university and college-level courses as well as a French immersion program and customized training in French as a second language. Recognized for its excellent programs as well as its unique and exceptional living environment, Sainte-Anne offers experiential learning opportunities that promote student engagement and success, and an atmosphere which encourages a culture of excellence in research and development. Solidly established in its community, Université Sainte-Anne is a partner of choice for all those who wish to strengthen the vitality of the regions surrounding its 5 campuses as well as all of Acadie throughout Nova Scotia.
For more information
Rachelle LeBlanc, Director of Communications and Marketing
Université Sainte-Anne
Tel.: 902-769-2114 Extension 7222
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