Centre People
Rob Agnew, B.Ag.Sci
Liaison Scientist- Plant and Food Research
Background
After 22 years with Plant and Food Research in Marlborough, Rob has built up considerable expertise in the use of mulch in vineyards, disease monitoring and management, and the use of weather data and disease development models. He is responsible for the day to day operation of Blenheim’s weather station located at the Research Centre’s Grovetown Park campus. He also operates a further five vineyard weather stations on the central Wairau Plains and two in the Awatere Valley.
Rob was part of a team that developed an integrated grape disease management programme in Marlborough, a project which formed the basis for vineyard disease monitoring and target based fungicide spraying. He has conducted a large-scale mulch trial on vineyards. He also has a historical connection with Marlborough’s cherry growing industry, with his research into variety evaluation and high density cropping.
Expertise
Meteorological data collection, climate summaries, disease management, disease models, mulch, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc sub regions, research extension.
Current Research
Rob is currently involved with the Marlborough Wine Research Centre’s Sauvignon Blanc research project with his main emphasis being the investigation of the differences in wine flavour and aroma characteristics caused by variations in Terroir in the various Marlborough sub regions.
A recent project is investigating the impact of soil variability on vine physiology and its influence on fruit composition of Pinot Noir. Another national project that he is involved in is developing new biological control agents for grape diseases. He is also participating in a project aimed at producing botrytis-risk maps for Marlborough. He distributes Vinefax, a weekly client service to Marlborough’s wine industry during the grape growing season.
Selected Publications- Agnew RH, Mundy DC, Spiers TM, 2002.
Mulch for Sustainable Production.
Booklet produced for Marlborough District Council ISBN No. 0-478-06833-6. - Agnew RH, Mundy DC, Spiers TM, Greven MM 2005.
Waste stream utilisation for sustainable viticulture.
Water Science and Technology 51(1): 1-8. - Agnew RH, Mundy DC, Balasubramaniam R 2004.
Effects of spraying strategies based on monitored disease risk on grape disease control and fungicide usage in Marlborough.
New Zealand Plant Protection Annual Conference, 10-12 August 2004, Hamilton. New Zealand Plant Protection 57: 30-36. - Agnew RH 2006.
Vineyard weather stations in Marlborough and their role in grape disease management (Poster Abstract).
New Zealand Plant Protection Annual Conference, 8-10 August 2006, Blenheim. New Zealand Plant Protection 59: 378. - Agnew R, Trought MCT, Greven M, Brady J 2006.
The impact of site selection and vine management on Sauvignon blanc fruit and vine development within Marlborough.
Wine growing for the future: Sixth International Cool Climate Symposium for Viticulture & Oenology, 6-10 February 2006, Christchurch. Pp. 41. (Paper & Abstract Book; Poster: 25 WG.).
