Wine sector gets $1m boost to improve productivity

Applications for grants of up to $200,000 are available through the South Australian Wine Industry Development Scheme to assist economic growth in the wine industry, which has been hit hard by recent bushfires and smoke exposure and the evolving impacts of the Coronavirus.

Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Tim Whetstone said the $1m SAWIDS grant program was designed to boost the wine industry across the supply chain.

"The South Australian wine industry generates revenue of $2.27 billion and is a critical driver for the state's economy," he said.

"While the wine industry is facing a number of challenges, there is an opportunity to grasp innovations to make businesses more productive and competitive.

"This $1m SAWIDS grant program is designed to encourage industry to think outside of the square with a focus on applications relating to technology and innovation improvements across the supply chain.

"This includes projects designed to help the wine industry build resilience and capability in the face of these extremely difficult times."

Mr Whetstone said they were seeking projects that could have a positive economic impact quickly, while also providing a broader and much longer-term benefit to our regional areas.

"I'm encouraging industry bodies, regional associations, clusters of businesses, research or educational institutions, and organisations across the wine industry supply chain to apply for the SAWIDS grant program," he said.

The role of SAWIDS is to build and strengthen the South Australian wine industry through projects that develop capability, grow competitiveness and productivity, and increase profitability through technology and innovation.

In addition to the $1m grant program, a $330,000 recovery package is being delivered through SAWIDS offering smoke taint samples to individual growers, funding a longer-term smoke taint research project and undertaking a project to survey and assess damaged vines from the recent bushfires.

Applications close 5pm, April 14.