Strategy

Our members are major producers of Australian grapes and wine and major contributors to levies paid for R&D, Marketing and Export charges. ACWP seeks fair and just recognition from industry and government for those contributions. Members also ask for fair and just representation in policy and strategic planning forums where their future is forged.

ACWP will:

• Raise awareness of the scale and diversity of commercial producers’ contributions and the potential for benefit by including representatives in industry dialogue and policymaking.
• Provide the conduit, linking commercial sector practitioners with institutions and policymakers.
• Advocate policies and strategies to expand and diversify domestic and international markets and restore confidence and pride.
• Respect the aspirations and contributions of the premium sector and encourage collaboration for the betterment of all levy payers.
• Promote innovation, education, and technology as pathways to profitability, sustainability and regional resilience.

Levies must be paid.  The management and utilisation of levies must be fair and just for all contributors and responsive to industry needs. ACWP will support a rigorous review of levies and export charges, not to pay less, but to warrant the funds are applied in ways that ensure industry, government, and the research community convert science into solutions and marketing insights into sales and export growth to address our greatest challenges.

ACWP will:

• Work with agencies and institutions to illustrate how our levies can transform the wine industry.
  Inspire practitioners (levy payers) to be engaged in R&D and Marketing advisory panels to accomplish more with less.
• Propose that the industry bodies establish frameworks and mechanisms to enable progressive reviews of funded programs to be reported and occasionally adjusted in consultation with practitioners.

Supply is generally considered to slope upward: suppliers are willing to produce more as the price rises. Demand is generally considered to slope downward: at higher prices, consumers buy less.

The Australian wine industry has faced complex supply and demand balance challenges for the past two decades. Economic and environmental factors, flawed stimulus policies, evolving environmental issues and changing consumer preferences have all distracted practitioners from proactively measuring and managing supply and demand fluctuations. Market clearing prices for grapes and wine have declined to unsustainable levels.  The industry does not have sufficient information or tools to manage those complexities.

ACWP will:

• Seek industry, institutional and government support to measure and agree on the scale and nature of the grape and wine surplus by region, variety and price point(s).
• Advocate to government agencies for short-term export stimulus programs to enable exporters to boost exports, retain existing customer relationships and identify new market opportunities.
• Encourage practitioners and institutions to recognise the benefits of (industry) self-regulation and facilitate the design and development of a vineyard register system and a real-time production data reporting system to manage S&D balance.
• Support Wine Australia in its collaboration with other RDCs regarding improved data/information systems but also encourage learning from other industry bodies such as the Almond Board of California that produces the monthly (Californian) Almond Industry Position Report: https://www.almonds.com/tools-and-resources/crop-reports/position-reports

ACWP members understand the importance of cultivating new wine enthusiasts, especially those outside Australia’s borders. Expanding market reach and driving demand will ensure longevity. We cannot shrink our way to growth, but we can greatly improve the value of our offerings.

Attracting skilled workers in vineyards and wineries will infuse our industry with fresh ideas, expertise, and creativity. Skilled individuals from within and outside our industry bring invaluable knowledge, not only in traditional methods but also in new technologies and sustainable practices, essential for securing the future of the commercial wine sector.

ACWP will:

• Supports fair and just allocation of levies to ensure our wines reflect the changing preferences of domestic and international consumers. Consumers should ultimately drive much of the R&D spend.
• Elicit interest in and support for developing a unique, non-replicable Australian commercial wine.
• Encourage research-to-practice programs that cause grape and wine practitioners to change customs, adopt new practices, and continuously measure and improve competitiveness in vineyards and domestic and global wine markets.
• Promote exciting opportunities and potential, especially through digitalisation and “hands off hectares” programs if we are to compete with other Ag sectors for the best talent.
• Foster structured, enduring connections with primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions.

Modernising Australian wine industry information systems and IT programs will require a significant investment over five years. Delivery of such a strategic upgrade will enable many latent R&D projects to be reimagined and integrated into a contemporary, digitalised data exchange. Consumer preferences will be easily recognised and measured. Enterprises and agencies will be empowered.  Standards will be established. Linkages throughout the value chain from the vineyard to the consumer will be enabled. Practitioners will gain access to real-time data to identify and manage risks in day-to-day decision-making.

ACWP will:

• Engage practitioners to identify the information/data/systems impediments limiting innovation and decision-making.
• Work with Wine Australia and government institutions to identify potential technology partners, investors, and co-investment opportunities through leveraging R&D levies with other funded government programs.
• Promote awareness of the possibilities for major reductions in input and operating costs, particularly in vineyards.
• Inspire practitioners to actively participate in digitalisation trial programs to enable more “show ‘n tell” opportunities in the field.