1. INTRODUCTION
WINETECH operates as a network of participating institutions and individuals that, in one way or the other, have a strong interest in improving the competitive position of the South African wine industry. In other words, the primary interest of WINETECH's leadership is to build a strong and healthy South African wine industry through co-operative (participative) R&D initiatives, rather than building a strong WINETECH organisation as such.
2. MISSION OF WINETECH
To provide the South African Wine Industry with a sustainable basis of forefront technology and human resources in order to strengthen both local and international competitiveness and profitability.
3. CORE FUNCTIONS OF WINETECH
The facilitation & oversight responsibility for sustainable and responsible natural resources usage. The facilitation and coordination of relevant wine industry related research & development and technical innovation, addressing the Winetech specific value chain and the effective transfer of such technology for the benefit of all.
4. OBJECTIVES OF WINETECH
According to its constitution, the objectives of WINETECH are sixfold, namely:
- To support the wine industry with expertise, enabling it to be cost effective while producing quality wines and other grape based products through the application of environmentally friendly technologies.
- To support the training and education of individuals for the industry - at all levels in terms of skills, knowledge and insight development - in order to ensure the practical implementation of the best knowledge and most advanced technologies in viticulture, wine making and other grape based products.
- To establish a culture of technological innovation, to ensure the ongoing utilisation of the best technology within the industry, and to facilitate its dissemination to all the sectors of the industry.
- To facilitate the development of resource poor and previously disadvantaged producers and to improve their access to the industry by making appropriate cutting edge technology available to such producers.
- To establish world leadership in selected niche areas of the wine industry through WINETECH'S network of scientific and technological expertise.
- To commission relevant and thoroughly planned research, technology development and technology transfer in the promotion of the industry's technological capabilities and in the attainment of the other objectives.
5. STRUCTURE (SEE ORGANOGRAM)
Members of Winetech
The members of Winetech are the direct stakeholder members of SALBA, VinPro and WCSA as well as other identified stakeholders.
Additional Role Players
WINETECH strives to have R&D done by the most competent people and institutions to get the best and most cost effective results.
Present R&D partners are:
ARC:
Infruitec-Nietvoorbij
Plant Protection Research Institute
University of Stellenbosch:
Dept. Viticulture and Oenology
Institute for Wine Biotechnology
Dept. Plant Pathology
Dept. of Conservation Ecology and Entomology
Dept. Soil Science
Dept. Horticultural Sciences
Dept. Food Science
Engineering Faculty
Dept. Pathology
University of Cape Town:
Faculty of Health Sciences
University of Pretoria:
Dept. Zoology and Entomology
Various Private Institutions
Committees (SEE ORGANOGRAM)
The SA Wine Council is supported by a Winetech Council responsible for the effective operational functioning of Winetech. The Advisory Council comprises of experts in Viticulture, Oenology, Technology-transfer, Training, SA Wine Council and other representatives.
Technical committees for viticulture, training, technology-transfer and oenology exists with specialist technical sub-committees for viticulture and oenology.
These committees of experts are responsible for identifying research needs, prioritising research needs, evaluating the merits, progress and funding or not of research projects.
GJ MARTIN
EXECUTIVE MANAGER: WINETECH
Feb. 2013
Winetech Structure: 
