Research & Outreach at Work for You

Image of 2024 research funding, including $2.7 million for 15 new projects, $685,308 for eight continuing projects and $57.7 million invested in research since 2001

The Pierce's Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board has invested in research and outreach to protect vineyards, prevent the spread of pests and diseases, and deliver practical and sustainable solutions. The consistent, reliable funding made possible by the winegrape grower assessment means that California’s wine industry supports leading scientists dedicated to finding solutions to Pierce’s disease (PD) and other serious pests and diseases of winegrapes.

If the CDFA’s PD and GWSS prevention, control and research efforts ended, California winegrape growers could see their annual PD losses more than double from $48 million to $104 million. Even with these efforts, PD still costs an estimated $110 million annually in California. With industry and government support keeping PD and GWSS in check, grower-funded research continues to drive advancements in pest and disease management and reduce the economic impact on the winegrape industry. Read more about The Costs of Pierce’s Disease in the California Grape and Wine Industry.

Extensive research efforts since the program started have delivered many potential solutions to PD that are already undergoing field trials. Promising results from these field trials may lead to commercial applications that could ease the statewide threat of PD. Click for an overview of current research projects.

PD/GWSS Research Highlights

Other Pest & Disease Research Highlights

Meeting Research and Outreach Priorities

Each year a Request for Proposals is issued to solicit research and outreach proposals from experts in the field. Once the proposals have been received, they go through an extensive, multi-level review process where they are evaluated by outside experts, panels of scientists, and committees comprised of scientists, research program administrators, and industry representatives. Read more about the Request for Proposals and how to apply.

Information on Specific Research Projects

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