MV Generational Farming
MCLAREN VALE SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM - Generational Farming - 2011
VISION:
Generational Farming Program aims:
- To produce high quality grapes to produce great wines
- To reduce inputs (water use, herbicides, pesticides and insecticides)
- To conserve water and energy
- To foster biodiversity
- To develop the relationship with growers, employees and community.
BACKGROUND:
‘McLaren Vale has a rich history of success and is widely recognized as one of Australia’s greenest wine regions because of its ongoing water use efficiency strategies and commitment to environmental sustainability. This was evident in the launch of its region-wide environmental management plan in 2007. Minimal chemical pest and disease management is the norm in the Vale, and efficient water use is a major part of the region’s environmental focus’ (Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation, 2011).
In 2007, the McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism launched the Soil and Pest and Disease Codes of Conduct. The codes were created on specific topics to be used by the member as a guide for the sustainable management in viticulture. The good acceptance of the codes contributed to motivate a group of growers to work voluntarily in a program that would improve even more the sustainability of McLaren Vale. Generational Farming is recognized as crucial to position the region in Australia and the world. McLaren Vale Sustainable Program is a community initiative built from the resources of the McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Association and members who have worked for many years to develop the system used in this Program, learning and improving from good sustainable wine grape practices throughout the world.
DESCRIPTION
McLaren Vale Sustainable (Generational Farming) is a regional voluntary sustainability assurance scheme available to all grape growers within the region who wish to improve their management decisions to produce a better quality grape, using less resources and allowing to preserve and pass the land from one generation to the next without depleting soils or harming the natural environment.
PROGRESS
A group of 43 wine grape growers completed the workbook, covering important issues related to viticulture management practices that would have direct impact in the sustainability of the region.
MCLAREN VALE SUSTAINABLE
McLaren Vale Generational Farming program requires the integration of economic, environmental and social components at all levels.
The aim of the program is to continuously increase the sustainability of McLaren Vale, providing the growers with feedback they need to help them to make sustainable decisions through the understanding of their current status and comparison with the regional averages. This information should help them to plan on their own pace, the issues that would impact the most on their activities in order to make their business even more sustainable.
The workbook:
The workbook is the main tool of the program. It is currently divided into 6 chapters with a respective point value:
Soil Health, Nutrition & Fertilizer Management 200 points
Pest and Disease Management 200 points
Biodiversity Management 100 points
Water Management 200 points
Waste Management 100 points
Continuing Education 100 points
It was conceived to be a living document that would change from season to season to embrace new benchmarks and seasonal particularities. Each chapter comprises: objectives, goals, brief explanations on issues, web resources and references.
The scoring system range allows the grower to understand where they are regarding each specific chapter and topic and in relation to the regional benchmark. The program encourages the growers to use their answers (weaknesses and Strengths) as the starting point to set the guidelines to prioritize action for maximum improvement in their management practices
The overall score, based on each chapter is separated into 4 categories in the sustainability scale:
0 to 1: Poor
1.1 to 2: Average
2.1 to 3: Good
3.1 to 4: Excellent (Benchmark)
The scoring system was not created to penalize the operations but to help the growers to target critical issues that may be impacting in their sustainability, thus in the region.
Participants must be a member of McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Association (MVGWTA). The first step is to define the site within the vineyard that is going to be self assessed every season through the Generational Farming Workbook.
Some Sections in the Workbook are absolutely mandatory and essential to go further in their participation in the program. If the minimum pre-requisites are not achieved for each stage of the program, a Plan of Corrective Actions needs to be implemented before the next self assessment.
The final stage of the Generational Farming Program is the certification. Generational Farming members need to be audited at last every three years by a third party certifier who is going to verify and validate the provided information. Generational Farming embraces vineyards in any stage of their sustainability process as we believe that an inclusive program will improve our regional initiative. However, the member will not be eligible to continue the certification process if the Certifier finds any the above:
- if grapes show MRL’s (maximum residue limits) above the AWRI – Agrochemicals registered for use in Australia Viticulture (The Dog Book) recommendations
- if non-permitted residues appear in grapes
- if withholding period are exceeded
- if unregistered chemicals are used
McLaren Vale Generational Farming Program requires demonstration of continuous improvement in the operations. The tools to measure improvement are:
· Self assessment
· Audit
· Action plan emphasizing areas of greater impact in your operations
McLaren Vale Sustainable program believes that sustainability is about the present and the future. The program should help vineyards and wineries to continuously improve their management, adopting the best (possible) practices.
