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Grape and wine cluster research to be shared April 17

Hosted in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network (CGCN-RCCV), and the British Columbia Wine Grape Council (BCWGC), this national meeting will showcase the final results of AAFC's research conducted under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) Grape and Wine Science Cluster (2018-2023).

Topics include Cold Hardiness & Climate Change, Quality Improvement, Management of Virus Diseases, and Crop Protection & Monitoring. Researchers will present key findings, impacts, and innovations shaping the future of viticulture and oenology. Each topic will also include a panel discussion of featured speakers, with opportunities for audience engaged Q&A.

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Designing a Robotic Berry Picker

Video: Designing a Robotic Berry Picker


Since blackberries must be harvested by hand, the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive. To support a growing blackberry industry in Arkansas, food science associate professor Renee Threlfall is collaborating with mechanical engineering assistant professor Anthony Gunderman to develop a mechanical harvesting system. Most recently, the team designed a device to measure the force needed to pick a blackberry without damaging it. The data from this device will help inform the next stage of development and move the team closer to the goal of a fully autonomous robotic berry picker. The device was developed by Gunderman, with Yue Chen, a former U of A professor now at Georgia Tech, and Jeremy Collins, then a U of A undergraduate engineering student. To determine the force needed to pick blackberries without damage, the engineers worked with Threlfall and Andrea Myers, then a graduate student.