By Blake Jackson
The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is inviting researchers to submit proposals for its 2027-28 research funding program, focusing on challenges and opportunities identified by the state's grape-growing and winemaking industries.
Projects selected for funding will run from April 1, 2027, through March 31, 2028. The submission deadline is January 18, 2027.
The announcement follows the foundation's 2025-26 research program, which supported projects addressing spotted lanternfly management, sustainable alternatives to broad-spectrum fungicides facing regulatory scrutiny, canned wine quality, and other industry priorities.
NYWGF allocates approximately $350,000 to $500,000 annually to research projects conducted with partners such as Cornell AgriTech and the Cornell Lake Erie Research and Extension Lab.
Priorities for the upcoming funding cycle were developed using feedback from growers, winemakers, and industry organizations through an annual survey. The foundation's Research Committee finalized the focus areas.
“The strongest research proposals start with a real problem from a real vineyard or winery,” said Sam Filler, Executive Director of NYWGF. “Our priorities come straight from the people who farm, make, and sell New York wine and grape products, and this call for proposals is how we turn their feedback into answers. We encourage researchers to look closely at what the industry is asking for and bring us their best ideas.”
“As growers and winery owners, we face challenges every day that directly affect the health of our vineyards, the quality of our wines, and the long-term sustainability of our businesses,” said Matt Doyle, Chair of the NYWGF Research Committee.
“Research is most valuable when it addresses those real-world challenges and gives us practical tools to make better decisions. Our goal is to support research that doesn’t just produce information but creates solutions that strengthen New York’s grape and wine industry for generations to come,” Doyle added.
The 2027-28 research priorities cover four areas. Viticulture projects may examine disease and pest control, invasive species, mechanization, precision agriculture, sustainability, weed management, and grape varieties. Enology research will focus on wine quality, hybrid and native grapes, fermentation, and microbiology.
Business development proposals may explore changing consumer preferences, technology, and market acceptance of cold-hardy grape wines. Additional opportunities include developing value-added, non-fermented grape products and utilizing grape-processing byproducts.
Proposals will be evaluated based on industry relevance, potential regional or statewide benefits, research methods, feasibility, and budget.
Applications must be emailed to research@nywgf.org by January 18, 2027. Required documents include a written proposal, a five-minute plain-language video, a detailed budget, funding disclosures, and applicable support letters.
A researcher's Q&A session is scheduled for February 10, 2027, at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, New York, with a virtual participation option. Final research reports are due April 15, 2028.
The complete request for proposals and application templates is available at https://newyorkwines.org/industry/research/.
Photo Credit: istock-jimfeng
Categories: New York, General