California Wine Institute Position: No GMOs

Wine Institute position on

gene/Biotechnology in the Wine Community

As a leader in the international agricultural community, the California wine industry is committed to producing the highest quality winegrapes and wines.  The wine community is dedicated to only using practices that are beneficial and acceptable to consumers.  Wine Institute has reviewed its position on gene technology and affirms as follows:

The position of the Wine Institute is that no genetically modified organisms be used in the production of California wine.

The California winegrape community has built its success and reputation on being innovative, environmentally responsible and dedicated to sustainable winegrowing practices.

Research around the world is being conducted to better understand how grapevines and microorganisms function.  Such research investigates fruit, pest, disease, quality, breeding, and fermentation diagnostics.  In agriculture and the food industry, gene research is underway as a potential tool for addressing major pest issues and other important problems.

There are no genetically enhanced grapes being grown by the California wine industry today.  The wine community has relied on traditional breeding programs for crop improvement and disease management for centuries, and continues to rely on the use of traditional breeding selection programs.

Wine Institute opposes the development of a patchwork of conflicting county regulations of agricultural biotechnology that may prevent continued research.  The technology should be regulated on the state and/or federal level to ensure that food and beverage products meet all federal and state requirements for quality and safety.

Wine Institute supports compliance with existing laws in countries that require mandatory labeling for genetically modified organisms.