Regenerative Agriculture – The Next Step in Sustainability (CEUs available*)
January 24, 2024
1:00 pm - 2:15 pm
Regenerative Agriculture – The Next Step in Sustainability (CEUs available*)
Join us for a dynamic and informative session delving into the forefront of sustainable farming practices in the world of viticulture. In an era where environmental consciousness is paramount, the wine industry stands at the crossroads of innovation and responsibility.
This session, led by experts in the field, delves into the ground-breaking realm of regenerative agriculture, focusing on its application in vineyards and its profound implications for animal integration, soil health, pest management, and cultivation practices.
*Session receives 1.5 hours Sustainability CCA CEU: Sustainability.
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Moderator
Clinton Nelson
Organization:
Bonterra Organic Estates, California
Working as the Sr. Director of Vineyards and Grower Relations for Bonterra Organic Estates, formerly Fetzer Vineyards, I have helped cultivate a focus on precision viticulture, regenerative organics, and water conservation across our northern California Estate Vineyards, in addition to other premium winegrape growing regions across California. The mission is simple, we must be part of the solution to the climate crisis – not a contributor to the causes. Educational background, BSc Biology and MSc Viticulture/Enology, in concert with applied experience in winegrape research, education, outreach and management have afforded me a unique and advantageous perspective to creating practical and sustainable solutions.
Speakers
Luca Brillante
Organization:
California State University, Fresno
Dr. Luca Brillante holds the esteemed Bronco Wine Co. Chair in Viticulture and serves as an Associate Professor of Viticulture at Fresno State. He is a pioneering figure in precision and computational viticulture. With a prolific research portfolio, he has published 44 peer-reviewed articles, secured an international patent, and presented at over 90 scientific conferences. Dr. Brillante’s expertise extends to editorial roles in international peer-reviewed publications.
His career began in viticulture and winemaking, including a stint at Chateau Mouton-Rothschild. His academic journey led to a joint Master in Bordeaux, Montpellier, and Torino and a Ph.D. in Burgundy, focused on ecophysiological analysis through artificial intelligence methods. Subsequently, he conducted post-doctoral research at CREA in Conegliano, Italy, and UC Davis.
In 2018, he joined Fresno State, where he leads a state-of-the-art research lab in precision and digital viticulture. He’s dedicated to developing innovative sensor technology, optimizing vineyard sustainability and efficiency, and addressing contemporary challenges like climate change and labor availability.
Amélie Gaudin
Organization:
University of California, Davis
Dr. Amélie Gaudin is Associate Professor and Endowed Chair of Agroecology in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of California Davis. She obtained a Ph.D. in Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph (Canada) and worked as an agronomist and crop physiologist at various CGIAR centers to sustainably intensify staple food crop production in smallholder farming systems. She currently leads a dynamic and diverse team of students and postdoctoral researchers to characterize outcomes of regenerative agricultural models that have conservation of natural resources, agrobiodiversity, and ecosystem services as a basis for improvements. She engages communities with the science of agricultural ecology by collaborating with and learning from a diverse group of students, growers, advisors, and policy advocates. Her research integrates concepts and methodologies from various disciplines to measure multifunctional outcomes of ecological intensification and regenerative strategies on soil health, C sequestration and drought resilience. She is also interested in better understanding root system and rhizosphere ecology and their potential to harness improvements in soil health, sequester carbon and decrease crop water and nutrients requirements. More information here: http://gaudin.ucdavis.edu
Devin Rippner
Organization:
USDA Agricultural Research Service, Washington
Devin Rippner is a research soil scientist with the USDA-ARS Horticultural Crop Production and Genetic Improvement Research Unit and an adjunct faculty member at Washington State University. He has worked with a variety of stakeholders including beekeepers, viniculturists, and poultry producers on 3 continents to meet their soil health related needs. He is a nationally recognized leader in the application of AI in agricultural research, serving on advisory boards for two national laboratories. He leads a diverse team of researchers and the newly planted Long Term Agricultural Research and Extension Vineyard at the Washington State University Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser WA.