Research & Outreach at Work for You
The Pierce's Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board has invested in research and outreach to protect vineyards, prevent the spread of pests and diseases, and deliver practical and sustainable solutions. The consistent, reliable funding made possible by the winegrape grower assessment means that California’s wine industry supports leading scientists dedicated to finding solutions to Pierce’s disease (PD) and other serious pests and diseases of winegrapes.
Click for the 2023 PD/GWSS Board Research Projects at a Glance
Pierce's disease costs more than $100 million per year, even with public control programs in place. If the PDCP ended, and GWSS was distributed freely throughout California, the annual cost to the winegrape industry would increase by more than $185 million. Read more about The Costs and Benefits of Pierce's Disease Research in the California Wine Industry.
Extensive research efforts since the program started have delivered many potential solutions to PD that are already undergoing field trials. Promising results from these field trials may lead to commercial applications that could ease the statewide threat of PD. Click for an overview of current research projects.
Research and Outreach Highlights for PD/GWSS
- Addressing knowledge gaps in PD and GWSS
- Evaluating various approaches to making winegrapes PD-resistant
- Testing wine made from PD-resistant winegrapes
- Protecting grapevines through various biological control techniques
- Investigating and managing GWSS insecticide resistance
Research and Outreach Highlights for Other Designated Pests and Diseases
- Helping eradicate European grapevine moth
- Improving understanding of the transmission of and effects of grapevine viruses
- Exploring management practices for brown marmorated stink bug and mealybugs
- Investigating grape cultivars and rootstocks with resistance to vine mealybug
Meeting Research and Outreach Priorities
Each year a Request for Proposals is issued to solicit research and outreach proposals from experts in the field. Once the proposals have been received, they go through an extensive, multi-level review process where they are evaluated by outside experts, panels of scientists, and committees comprised of scientists, research program administrators, and industry representatives. Read more about the Request for Proposals and how to apply.