SOUTH Australia's wine industry will receive a $1.2 million stimulus, with 11 innovative projects receiving grants under the SA Wine Industry Development Scheme.
Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone said in the midst of coronavirus restrictions, the projects focused on digitalisation, on-farm technology and disaster resilience and mitigation.
"The $1.2 of SAWIDS grants will unlock nearly $3.5m worth of investment in innovation in SA's world-renowned wine industry," he said.
"These grants help build and strengthen our wine industry through projects that develop capability, grow competitiveness and productivity, and increase profitability.
"It is particularly pleasing to see such innovative projects put forward through SAWIDS showing the wine industry's ability to adapt in the face of adversity.
"This is a showcase of how smart thinking and real-word application of technology can both stimulate exciting new ideas and solve sector problems."
Mr Whetstone said 28 applications were assessed by an independent wine industry expert panel.
As one of the successful applicants, HydraCo Australia, along with its partners Flinders New Venture Institute and Wine Industry Suppliers Australia, will be bringing back the successful FOMENT program, which this year will focus on helping the wine industry adopt new technology.
"We are thrilled that FOMENT is being supported out of SAWIDS in 2020 and 2021 and what this means for the development of SA as a global wine and tourism tech hub," FOMENT chair Dr Darren Oemcke said.
"In 2019 we piloted our tech acceleration program and proved we can speed up the growth of new wine-tech and tourism-tech right here in SA.
"This $154,041 investment from the SAWIDS fund not only assists us to scale up our tech acceleration program but also expand the reach of FOMENT so that we can help our wine and tourism industries become better adopters of new technology."
Other grant recipients included Adelaide Hills Vine Improvement, Australian Grape and Wine Incorporated, Barossa Grape and Wine, Coonawarra Grape and Wine Incorporated, Grow 4 Pty Ltd, Kangaroo Island Tourism, Food, Wine and Beverages Association, SARDI, The University of Adelaide and Wine Australia.
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