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Program

Program

AGGRI is an industry-funded mechanism (via grapevine nursery assessments) that creates a reliable, grower-directed source of funding (proposing a 2.5% assessment on grapevine nursery sales generating approximately $3 million per year). This would enable:

  • Funding dedicated to post-doctoral researchers focused solely on industry-prioritized trait(s),
  • Investment in functional proof infrastructure, like phenotyping platforms and gene editing technologies, and
  • Applying knowledge to mechanization-friendly traits, disease and virus resistance, and climate resilience.

AGGRI will be governed by a board of 8 members appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.  Board make-up is as follows: 

Seven (7) first handlers/producers (nurseries):
Four persons representing west coast states, two representing all other states, and one at large position.

  • West coast states means California, Oregon, and Washington;
  • All other states means any of the other 50 United States not including California, Oregon, or Washington;
  • At large means the entirety of all states rather than a specific state or states.

One (1) consumer (grower or industry) member:

  • Consumer means any person who purchases grapevines or propagated material from a first handler/producer/nursery for planting, growing, or otherwise using in commercial production (not for resale). The consumer member wshall serve as chair of the Consumer and Technical Advisory Committee.
  • The board will establish a Consumer and Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC) to provide advice and recommendations regarding research, information, and program priorities. The CTAC will be not fewer than four nor more than ten members across the US. The CTAC shall inlcude a mix of consumers and technical advisors with relevant expertise.