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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. To establish world leadership in selected niche areas of the wine industry through WINETECH’S network of scientific and technological expertise.
6. 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.

J H BOOYSEN
EXECUTIVE MANAGER: WINETECH
Jan. 2010