Plant Improvement Organisations:

The role of the Vine Improvement Association (VIA) in the improvement of Grapevine propagation material. Established 1986.

Members: Vititech, Distell and Techno-Grow, producers as represented by VinPro and the Nurserymen Association.

The Executive Board of the Association acts as the designated authority in terms of the powers assigned to the board by the National Minister of Agriculture to manage the South African Plant Improvement Scheme for Wine Grapes under the Plant Certification Act (Act 53 of 1976).

Focus To serve the wine industry through plant improvement and plant certification as part of the Wine Industry Plan of the SAWB.

  • executing the Plant Certification Scheme for wine grapes;
  • advising the responsible Minister on matters concerning the Scheme;
  • serving as the official body responsible for wine grape propagation material;
  • holding records concerning wine grape propagation material;
  • issuing rules according to which the selection, cultivation, evaluation, testing and release to the wine industry of wine grape propagation material should be done, and;
  • issuing rules and holding records with regard to the cultivation of nursery plants.

Contact Details

Company logo of Vititec Vine Improvement Nurseries

Vititec's Vision:

Be a world leader in the management of a technologically advanced programme for the improvement of vine plant material.

Vititec's Mission:

The development, production and marketing of vine plant material to satisfy customers and shareholders' expectations.

Company logo of SAPO Trust

SAPO Trust Objective

The objective of SAPO is to supply the best quality plant material, measured against certification standards at a high speed to the industry.

This also includes the sourcing, development and commercialisation of new varieties needed in the industry or even in niche markets by entrepreneurs.

The role of VITITEC in our supply chain of grafted vines

Cape Vines has entered into a long term supply agreement with Vititec whereby grapevine grafting material is sourced exclusively from them. This agreement guarantees our client's first choice of new varieties and scion clones upon release by Vititec. Furthermore the availability of superior quality material meeting phytosanitory requirements as laid down by the VIA became available to our clients.

In many instances foundation material are used to graft vines of certain combinations at a slightly increased cost. The foundation blocks are checked by Vititec with the ELISA screening test kit for the presence of Grapevine Leaf roll viruses of types 1, 2 and 3 according to requirements of the standard operational procedure of the VIA.

Members: Producers Associations

Deciduous Fruit Nursery Association and SA Vine Nursery Association

The Executive Board of the Association acts as the designated authority in terms of the powers assigned to the board by the National Minister of Agriculture to manage the Deciduous Fruit Plant Certification Scheme under the Plant Certification Act (Act 53 of 1976).

Focus

To serve the fruit industry through plant improvement and plant certification as part of the Fruit Industry Plan. This is achieved by:

  • executing the Deciduous Fruit Plant Certification Scheme;
  • advising the responsible Minister on matters concerning the scheme;
  • serving as the official body responsible for deciduous propagation material;
  • holding records concerning deciduous propagation material;
  • issuing rules according to which the selection, cultivation, evaluation, testing and release to the deciduous industry of propagation material should be done, and;
  • issuing rules and holding records with regard to the cultivation of nursery plants.

Contact Details

Wiehann Victor (Chairperson)
Nico van Rensburg (Secretary)

"Without the frown of clouds and lightning, the vines would be burned by the smiling sun."

- Rumi