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Dr Smart sets record straight on hybrid grapes and climate change
Following the publication of an article on thedrinksbusiness.com on 15 April, Dr Smart sets the record straight on hybrid grapes and climate change.
DB has received a complaint from DR Smart that he did not make a statement to writer James Lawrence regarding the future of viticulture in Europe.
Although the article stated that ‘The future of European viticulture will be contingent on hybrid grape varieties,’ Dr Smart denies making any such assertion, and for this, db apologises.
However, in a subsequent discussion with the magazine, he has presented his actual opinion on the dual issues of climate change and hybrid grapes.
Dr Smart believes that the only long term solution to battling climate change in the vineyard is if there is a global will to mitigate climate change before so-called tipping points are reached. This will require a global effort to reduce atmospheric levels of “green house gas” emissions within decades.
The adoption or otherwise of hybrid grapes will have minimal or no effect on this outcome.
Dr Smart also wishes to state that while new disease-resistant hybrid varieties will make a useful contribution to European viticulture, in no way does this suggest that the future of European viticulture depends on their adoption.