Assets and Allies; AI Apps; USDA Transitions

March 2025

Budbreak this month in California’s Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.*

ASSETS AND ALLIES

Amid all that’s been going on in the world that impacts grape research, a significant bright spot stands out: the committed leadership of our industry-led nonprofit organization. The election of NGRA Board Directors and officers in late January is an annual reminder of our strongest assets and biggest allies.

NGRA’s 30-member Board of Directors is at full capacity with passionate, science-minded industry representatives from all grape and wine commodity sectors (wine, juice, raisins and table grapes) from all regions across the country. Our Board Directors collectively set direction and ensure funding for, and provide oversight of our research mission. They participate in our three Board meetings each year, plus many are active on and/or lead committees. Every year, a cohort of about one-third of our Board is asked to renew their three-year terms. The Board Directors who were either newly voted-in or renewed their terms in 2025 are:

Regional Representative

Northeast Region - John Martini, Anthony Road Wine Company

Commodity Sector Representatives

Juice Grape Sector - Mark Amidon, National Grape Cooperative/Welch’s
Table Grape Sector - Franka Gabler, California Table Grape Commission

At-Large Representatives

Stephanie Bolton, Lodi Winegrape Commission
Melissa Hansen, Washington State Wine Commission
Allison Jordan, Wine Institute
Michael Naito, Allied Grape Growers
Jim Trezise, WineAmerica
Matt Frank, Trinchero Family Estates (New to the Board)
Kevin Judkins, Inland Desert Nursery (New to NGRA and our Board)

NGRA’s officers have no term limits but are asked every year to reconfirm their ability to serve in this highest-level leadership capacity. Officers comprise the core of our nine-member Executive Committee, which meets monthly to set strategy and guide our organization. All of them are Board Directors and many also serve on other committees. It’s a big commitment! So, we understand when an officer needs to pass the torch, as Past Chair Jessica Youngblood (Youngblood Vineyard) did this year. Her gracious step down activated our succession plan to seamlessly continue governance. Effective in 2025, are officers are:

Chair - Rich Schaefers, Nuveen Natural Capital
Vice Chair - Emily Hodson, Virginia Wine Board (Veritas Vineyard and Winery)
Secretary - Chad Vargas, Atlas Vineyard Management (New officer)
Treasurer - Dan Martinez, Martinez Orchards
Research Chair - Nick Dokoozlian, GALLO

Someone once said, you don’t sit on a nonprofit Board, you serve on a Board. It’s clear that NGRA’s leaders share that sentiment. All 30 of our Board Directors lead and/or are active in other groups that advance the grape and wine industry. Through their own earned experience and robust networks, they ensure we have our ear to the ground for research needs and can help amplify our industry research needs to others who can help. We’re exceedingly grateful for their time and attention, and fortunate to have such well-respected industry representatives in our midst.

Donnell Brown

President

*ABOUT THE IMAGE

Jason Smith, president/CEO of Valley Farm Management, a founding NGRA member-organization, snapped this image of budbreak in his pinot noir vineyard in California’s Santa Lucia Highlands. “Sometimes you have to stop and soak in the beauty of Mother Nature and the gifts she gives,” he says.

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

NVEELC Is Back!

With support from NGRA, the National Viticulture and Enology Leadership Community (NVEELC) grew from a grassroots effort of wine, juice, table and raisin grape extension and outreach professionals working within and outside of traditional cooperative extension. We’re reconvening this unique community of practice to offer professional development and opportunities to share research, regional reports and best-practices, and foster collaboration and dialogue, helping viticulture and enology extension professionals stay apprised of industry challenges across the country. NVEELC will restart with a virtual conference for viticulture and enology extension and industry (non-sales) outreach specialists on April 9. Learn more.

CR Passes but Research Resources Hang in the Balance

The US government’s continuing resolution (CR) passed mid-March averted a government shutdown. The stopgap spending measure maintained most agencies’ budgets close to FY2024 levels, including for USDA, where “the critical programs our customers rely on remain available,” said Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins . However, as the debate about the size and scale of the government continues, “many fear that science will inevitably take a hit” and that “federal research and development are becoming ‘collateral damage,’” the journal Nature reports.

As Nature observes , “The spending bill…omits many of the usual line-item details directing agencies precisely where to put their money, giving the administration leeway to decide where the money goes.” As funding levels are assigned, NGRA sent Secretary Rollins and others a letter of support for the grape germplasm repositories in Davis, CA, and Geneva, NY. “These invaluable resources enable grape breeders to develop innovative new varieties that ensure American grape growers and wine producers can continue to compete in today’s global market and sustain our industry into the future. Their continued funding in FY2026 and beyond is important,” we wrote. Of equal importance are critical research grant programs like the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), which remain offline as the budget reconciliation process continues.

Leadership Transitions at USDA

This month, two longtime leaders at USDA retired and others moved into new roles at agencies key to grape research. Congratulations to:

Chavonda Jacobs-Young retired, most recently having served as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education and Economics, and Chief Scientist. This presidentially nominated and congressionally appointed role is currently vacant. It oversees the Agricultural Research Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Economic Research Service, National Agricultural Library, and National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Spiro Stefanou (formerly Administrator - Economic Research Service) has been named Acting Deputy Under Secretary - Research, Education and Economics.
Simon Liu, Administrator - Agricultural Research Service, retired.
Joon Park (formerly Chief Operating Officer - Research, Education and Economics and ARS Deputy Administrator for Administrative & Financial Management) has been named Acting Administrator - ARS, succeeding Simon Liu on an interim basis.
Jaye Hamby was appointed Director - National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which administers the USDA’s extramural research grant programs, including AFRI and SCRI.

USDA, HHS Share Update on Dietary Guidelines

Following the inaugural meeting earlier this month of the Make America Healthy Again Commission, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., issued a statement on the process of drafting the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The public comment period closed on February 10. Now, the two agencies are conducting a line-by-line review of the Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee released in 2024 by the prior administration. They are committed to releasing the final Guidelines ahead of its statutory deadline of December 31, 2025. Moving forward beyond 2025, the statement says, HHS and USDA look to make process improvements to ensure transparency and minimize conflicts of interest.

New Legislation Seeks to Expand Smoke Exposure Research

Legislation was re-introduced in the Senate this month that, if passed, would authorize $32.5 million annually over the next five-year Farm Bill cycle to strengthen smoke exposure research. The bill was brought by Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) on March 13. It would direct USDA-ARS, in conjunction with UC Davis, Washington State University and Oregon State University, to continue to work to:

Identify the compounds responsible for smoke taint
Establish standard methodologies for sampling and testing smoke-exposed wine grapes and smoke-affected wines, including fast and inexpensive screening methods
Establish a reliable database of background levels of smoke taint compounds that occur naturally in wine grapes
Develop risk assessment tools or mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate smoke taint

Industry supporters include the West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force, of which NGRA is a member, Washington Winegrowers Association, Washington Wine Institute, California Association of Winegrape Growers, Wine Institute and others.

Washington Winegrowers Announces New Leadership

The Washington Winegrowers Association, an NGRA member-organization, this month announced a leadership transition, naming Sara Higgins as Executive Director, succeeding Colleen Frei. Sara has been an integral part of the Washington Winegrowers Association for more than a decade, most recently serving as Assistant Executive Director alongside then-ED Vicky Scharlau, who retired in 2024. Sara also is CEO of 501 Consultants, the association’s longstanding management partner.

New Dean Named for UC Davis CA&ES

Ashley Stokes , a professor of veterinary large animal clinical sciences and dean emeritus at the University of Tennessee, will join UC Davis as its new dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES) on July 1. She succeeds Helene Dillard, who announced her retirement in 2023. During her 11-year tenure as dean, Helene helped to elevate and maintain the college’s ranking as No. 1 in agriculture in the nation and No. 2 in the world—a status that attracted Ashley to lead CA&ES into the future.

NY’s Vineyard Survey Gets a Satellite Assist

The New York Wine & Grape Foundation, an NGRA member-organization, is conducting its second annual statewide vineyard survey of grape growers in the Empire State, now through May 15. (If that’s you, you can respond to the mailed survey or complete it online.) Last year, NYWGF partnered with Deep Planet, an agri-tech company that uses satellite imagery and machine learning models to detect surface area under vine, to provide a base upon which New York’s vineyard data can be regularly and accurately measured. Deep Planet scans detected 29,586 total vineyard acres in New York, and growers reported over 15,745 bearing acres. See the 2024 Vineyard Survey report . This year’s survey builds on that foundation, combining cutting-edge technology with on-the-ground input to ensure the Foundation is capturing the full picture of New York’s grape industry.

Sue Ebeler Wins Women & Philanthropy Impact Award

Earlier this month, Sue Ebele r , a professor of viticulture and enology and associate dean of Undergraduate Academic Programs in UC Davis’ College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, was awarded the 2024 Women & Philanthropy Impact Award, presented at the Wisdom of Women symposium. Sue was honored for the more than 30 years she’s spent at UC Davis, building a culture of belonging, mentorship and opportunity. Her leadership has empowered countless students—especially women—find their place and thrive.

Kevin Corliss Honored for Lifetime Achievement

At the Washington Winegrowers Association’s annual Leadership & Legacy Luncheon, held during its WineVit® Convention last month, the Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon Kevin Corliss, who recently retired as vice president of vineyards at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, an NGRA member-organization. The award is given in recognition of a career commitment to the wine industry, establishing a legacy of influential excellence enriching the great tradition of Washington wine.

Plant Pest Risk on Small Planes?

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to determine whether there is validity to statements that small commercial passenger aircraft (64 seats or fewer) have less chance of introducing plant pests and animal diseases into the US than larger commercial aircraft. In this RFI, APHIS seeks specific, factual evidence that supports an alternate fee structure for smaller aircraft so that any new information can be considered before fees go into effect on June 2. If you have a perspective on this plant pest risk issue, submit your comments by April 21.

Teach Viticulture at Oregon State

Oregon State University is seeking applicants for a full-time viticulture instructor/educational program director/recruiter. The person who fills this position will develop and deliver courses in viticulture and vineyard operations at the upper division and graduate levels through in-person and online instruction. This role will be part of the Department of Horticulture and the Oregon Wine Research Institute (OWRI) at OSU, working to recruit, train, and develop the next generation of vineyard professionals. Successful candidates will have industry experience and a masters or PhD level education in a related field of study. Learn more and apply by April 1.

RESEARCH FOCUS

Artificial Vintelligence? AI Holds Promise and Pitfalls for Grapes and Wine

By Pam Roberto

From virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri to personalized social media ads and curated recommendations from streaming services, artificial intelligence (AI) weaves seamlessly through the fabric of our everyday lives. AI has revolutionized how we access and consume information, and optimism is riding high that it will deliver greater efficiency, better outcomes and higher customer satisfaction in nearly every sector of the economy, including agriculture.

Experts disagree about the precise definition of AI, but the term generally refers to technologies that enable computers to simulate human intelligence and perform tasks such as learning, reasoning, communicating, problem solving and decision making. Whereas earlier generations of technology platforms required manual programming from human beings to process and analyze information, AI-based systems have the capacity to recognize patterns, make predictions and adapt to changing circumstances, all with little to no human input.

AI is creating new opportunities across the grape and wine spectrum, from growing grapes to engaging consumers. The industry’s rapid embrace of AI-based technologies signals an urgent need for new solutions to pressing challenges like climate change, labor shortages and fluctuating demand. But not all wine enthusiasts are ready to embrace AI. Traditionalists worry AI could overshadow the inherently human elements of grapegrowing and winemaking, while naysayers argue that substituting artificial intelligence for human intuition undermines a legacy of tradition, heritage and artisanal craftsmanship.

Well-resourced producers are deploying AI-based sensors, drones and even robots in their vineyards to monitor growing conditions and assess vine health. By providing early warnings about water stress, nutrient deficiency and disease outbreaks, these tools can improve grape quality, maximize yield and increase sustainability by reducing waste and allocating resources more efficiently. Vineyard managers are also using AI-assisted robots to automate labor-intensive repetitive tasks like vine trimming, pruning and harvesting. There are also high hopes that AI can help mitigate the impacts of climate change, as with wines exposed to wildfire smoke.

Winemakers also are leveraging AI to aid with fermentation and blending. Besides predicting the optimal fermentation conditions to produce a desired wine style, AI can make real-time adjustments to temperature, sugar levels and other parameters throughout, improving quality and consistency across batches. Some producers are even giving AI a starring role in the winemaking process. In 2023, Languedoc-based wine merchant Aubert & Mathieu released what is reportedly the world’s first fully AI-blended wine. The team queried the popular AI platform ChatGPT for advice on crafting a fruity Grenache- and Syrah-based wine, and followed the winemaking and blending procedures it recommended. Aubert & Mathieu also asked the platform to provide a name, label and retail price for the finished product. ChatGPT’s eerie suggestion to call the wine “The End” suggests AI may have already mastered irony.

Wine drinkers can expect AI to play a larger role in our future purchasing decisions, both in terms of the wines available and how we choose among them. An increasing number of tech companies are using AI to sift through millions of consumer reviews and reams of historical sales data to advise producers and retailers on which wine styles or blends will maximize the number of potential buyers. If large producers start chasing the same AI-predicted trends, a market saturated with homogenous wines may unfortunately follow. It would be a shame if wines that AI predicted many consumers would like “on average” started to supplant those that, while beloved by fewer people, have a truly passionate following.

From vineyard management to marketing, AI is rapidly transforming the wine industry and there’s no putting the genie back in the bottle. Whether it’s anticipating problems in the vineyard, automating time-consuming tasks, or adapting to climate change, it’s hard to argue the industry shouldn’t leverage AI to work smarter, not harder. AI may be genius for interpreting vast quantities of information, but both grapegrowing and winemaking benefit from the authenticity of the human touch. The grape and wine industry has much to gain from embracing new opportunities created by AI, while remaining mindful of the technology’s shortcomings.

This article is excerpted from the original story, “Artificial Vintelligence? Uncorking the Promises and Pitfalls of AI in Wine,” published by Wine Review Online on January 15, 2025. Read the full story.

Applying for a grant? Request a letter of support!

NGRA is pleased to provide letters of support for research projects that directly address our industry research priorities. Request a letter via our online request form at least two weeks prior to the grant deadline (or any internal deadline you may have). Requests are reviewed and approved by NGRA Research Committee leadership, so processing times may vary.

IN THE NEWS

Are These Smart Solar Panels the Future of Sustainable Vineyards?

March 20, 2025 | SevenFifty Daily

A vineyard at Hochschule Geisenheim University in Germany features a sophisticated agrivoltaic system designed just for grapes. These “vitivoltaics” have gutters that direct rainwater to irrigation outlets, heating wire for frost protection, UVC devices to deter downy mildew (though it’s less of a problem because the vines are shielded from precipitation), and electrical outlets for farm equipment and laptops. Agrivoltaics have been shown to lower temperatures under the panels, helping to slow ripening and retain soil moisture. Vines suffer less sunburn, have lower sugar content and higher acidity. The only downside? The cost to install.

NASA Uses Advanced Radar to Track Groundwater in California

March 20, 2025 | Maven’s Notebook

A NASA jet equipped with radar technology so sensitive it can detect ground movements thinner than a nickel will fly six missions over California’s San Joaquin Valley this year in hopes of pinpointing where groundwater replenishment occurs and, ultimately, quantifying the amount of water naturally recharging the system. The ground movements it’s tracking are the nearly imperceptible swelling of the earth’s surface as water seeps in. “We’re measuring changes in surface elevation—smaller than a centimeter—that tell us where the water is,” says the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab scientist who oversees the synthetic aperture radar program central to the project.

The Importance of Grape Germplasm Collections

March 18, 2025 | USDA Radio

USDA’s grape collections play a significant role in preserving and protecting obscure, even unnamed grape varieties (called “accessions”) whose DNA may hold keys to the sustainability of the grape and wine industry. These living plants are maintained in Geneva, NY, and Davis, CA, for use by grape breeders and geneticists in developing grape varieties with improved traits like disease or drought tolerance or resistance, flavor or color attributes, and more. USDA-ARS Grape Curator Erin Galarneau explains.

Spotted Lanternfly Strategies for Vineyards

March 12, 2025 | Good Fruit Grower

At the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO in December, a panel of experts shared bad news and good news about spotted lanternfly. “The bad news: The invasive pest continues to spread across the United States, posing a threat to vineyards wherever it goes,” reports Good Fruit Grower. The good news: management strategies seem effective in controlling the pest—at least in Southeast Pennsylvania, SLF’s “ground zero.” Adapting these methods to other regions might not be a straightforward process.

Grapevine Red Blotch Virus Detection in the Vineyard: Leveraging Machine Learning with VIS/NIR Hyperspectral Images for Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Vines

March 10, 2025 | Computers and Electronics in Agriculture

A Fresno State-led study reveals that, using machine learning to analyze imaging, a targeted set of spectral bands from the visible (VIS) to near-infrared (NIR) range can enable early detection of Grapevine Red Blotch Virus, even before symptoms are visible. The findings pave the way for precise and autonomous sensing systems for GRBV scouting in vineyards.

Local Vintners Test Autonomous Wildfire Suppression System

March 6, 2025 | North Bay Business Journal

Two California wineries, one in Napa and one in Sonoma, are piloting a wildfire suppression platform called FireDome, modeled on Israel’s Iron Dome autonomous missile defense system. In 2026, they plan to deploy a two-layer sensor-based system that detects approaching wildfire then launches eco-friendly retardant into the path of the flames. The initial design is set to protect 50 to 100 acres with a single launcher.

UCD Grapevine Breeding Program Update: Focus on Disease Resistant and Blending Cultivars

March 4, 2025 | Wine Business Monthly

Luis Diaz-Garcia and Dario Cantù gave updates on grape breeding and genetics research at UC Davis. Luis reported that, in the next 5 to 10 years, new releases could be available with the same PD-resistance as the recently released Walker varieties, with powdery mildew resistance, too. Dario noted that, “we’ve made great progress in understanding North American wild grape species,” whose DNA can be mined for genetic resistance to “a wide range of biotic stresses (PD, nematodes, phylloxera) and abiotic stresses (salt, drought, cold).”

Grape Sleuthing Through History: Solving the Cynthiana Mystery to Save the Variety from Extinction

March 1, 2025 | Wine Business Monthly

Using high-tech gene sequencing and old-fashioned ampelography, Lucie Morton, an independent viticulturist in Virginia, reports that “it can now be stated conclusively that Cynthiana and Norton are different varieties.” Here, she details how “Cynthiana came into (Eastern US) vineyards so furtively and effectively,” and argues that definitively separating the two varieties will “resurrect a highly acclaimed grape variety from death by obscurity.” Dean Volenberg, director of the Missouri Grape and Wine Institute, was instrumental in the discovery.

How Fungi Move Among Us

March 1, 2025 | The New York Times

Mycorrhizal fungi are the “supply chains of the soil,” exchanging vital nutrients with plants (80% of which [including grape] rely on their networks) for the carbon they need to grow. These fungi seem to assess supply and demand to reach toward the largest payoff, even shuttling nutrients and nuclei in opposite directions if needed. Research by the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks on how these “living algorithms” make decisions was published in the journal Nature last month. Click for cool video.

Investigating Fanleaf Symptom Development and Nematode Transmission to Imagine Novel Management Strategies

March 2025 | California PD/GWSS Board Bulletin

Are your grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) resistant rootstocks not seeming so resistant anymore? Research funded by the CDFA PD/GWSS Board and led by Cornell’s Marc Fuchs seeks to unlock the genetic mechanisms of GFLV symptom expression to potentially prevent the virus from causing root and foliar damage. Novel new disease management options could be on the horizon. (See p. 3.)

Sensor Snapshot from Satellites to Drones

March 2025 | HiRes Vineyard Nutrition Podcast

One aspect of the NGRA-initiated HiRes Vineyard Nutrition project is exploring the use of data derived from various sensors (e.g., on satellites, drones or tractors) to assess vine nutrition status and make decisions about nutrient management. Listen is as Rob Chancia (Rochester Institute of Technology) explains the tradeoffs of satellite vs. drone imagery, for example, and how the HiRes team seeks to ensure that sensor data can be readily used by growers in the real world.

What Do Fish, Butterflies and Bats Have to Do With Booze?

February 28, 2025 | Modern Farmer

This Modern Farmer article encourages consumers “to acknowledge our drinks as agricultural products” and look for clues on product packaging that point to “choices that are healthier for us and the planet.” It introduces sustainability certifications that might be listed on verified “ecolabels,” including Organic, Biodynamic, B Corp and LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology), as well as the more specific wildlife protection programs like Fish-Friendly, Salmon-Safe, Bee-Friendly, Bat-Friendly (for spirits made from agave, which is pollinated by bats).

Monitoring and Building Soil Health in California Vineyards

February 28, 2025 | Grape & Wine Magazine

A Cal Poly-led study confirms that, in California vineyards, the “core suite of soil health indicators” recommended by the Soil Health Institute—soil organic carbon (SOC), carbon mineralization potential (MinC) and aggregate stability index (ASI)—works well to assess the effectiveness of regenerative practices. Using these metrics, they also confirmed that “building soil health may face more biophysical limitations in Mediterranean regions compared to temperate climate zones.” And they remind us that “building soil health is a slow process that often takes over a decade.”

Understanding Photosynthesis in Relation to Climate Change in Grapevines

February 15, 2025 | Theory in Biosciences

A literature review by viticulture researchers in India catalogs changes to grape phenology under changing climatic conditions and the resulting impacts on wine, raisin and table grape production. Grapes are maturing earlier, they write, increasing the sugar-to-acid ratio, a crucial determinant of wine’s alcohol concentration and flavor, and bad news for table grapes. As light intensity and CO2 levels rise, the biosynthesis of anthocyanins and tannins declines--and berry color. Rising temperatures can diminish the production of antioxidants, affecting the quality of raisins. If there’s good news, it’s that Cabernet Sauvignon seems relatively well-equipped for heat stress—better than Syrah, anyway.

Wine Minute: Wine Grape Pests

February 14, 2025 | Pacific Northwest Ag Network

Did you know that vine mealybug (the more prolific and destructive species of this pest) was discovered in Oregon in only 2022? In this podcast, Oregon State entomologist Andrew Butcher talks about the challenges of studying the tiny, cryptic invader.

Selecting a Rootstock for a Winegrape Vineyard

February 1, 2025 | Wine Business Monthly

Grape growers started using rootstocks more than 130 years ago for pest and disease control. Although they’ve since recognized their “long-term impacts on productivity, efficiency and profitability,” writes viticulturist Stan Grant for Wine Business Monthly, “selecting a rootstock remains a dubious business due to uncertainty about rootstock influences for any specific vineyard situation.” Here, he offers guidance on how to “fine-tune rootstock selection options for the best possible match with scion variety, soil and vineyard management objectives.”

Molecular Diagnostics to Identify Fungicide Resistance in New Zealand Vineyards

February 1, 2025 | Bragato Research Institute

Researchers in New Zealand seek to develop molecular diagnostic tools to detect fungicide-resistant powdery mildew in their vineyards. Molecular diagnostics are faster and more efficient than traditional lab testing. By identifying genetic changes in the target gene linked to resistance, these tools can quickly determine whether a fungus has adapted to a particular fungicide, and make it possible to test for multiple types of resistance simultaneously.

Investigating Alternative Training Systems to Boost Vineyard Productivity – Flowering to Harvest Season 2022-23

February 1, 2025 | Bragato Research Institute

The seven-year Next Generation Viticulture project in New Zealand has established field trials to compare six alternative training systems to the country’s traditional 3Cane system to see if any improved vineyard productivity. At the end of the first season, all six “had significantly higher retained node numbers, actively developed more shoots shortly after budburst, produced significantly more fruit, and grew and kept more biomass.” But 6VCane stood out.

Dogs Sniff out Devastating Spotted Lanternflies for Early Detection

January 2, 2025 | Cornell Chronicle

In a study led by researchers at Cornell to compare humans’ vs. dogs’ ability to find overwintering spotted lanternfly eggs, it was found that each has their strengths. Trained detector dogs are better at sniffing out egg masses in forested areas, while people excel at spotting them in vineyards. Dogs also do well in situations where the target’s scent is less concentrated, as when there are low densities of SLF before they’ve infested an area.

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