BCWGC January 15, 2026 R&D Committee Meeting
January 15 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
FreeJanuary 15, 2026 – 12:00 – 1:00 – Dr. Joanna Fountain, Lincoln University, NZ – Climate change impacts and adaptation options in cool climate wine regions: from knowledge to action
Bio/Introduction
Dr. Jo Fountain, is an Associate Professor at Lincoln University in Aotearoa New Zealand. She is a rural social scientist with diverse research interests focused on analysis of change and resilience in primary industries, tourism systems, and communities located in rural regions. Current projects include analysis of destination and tourist resilience in the face of natural hazard risks and ongoing and intensifying climate variability, and the changing shape of the wine industry in the context of climate change. Jo has been involved in cross-cultural and international research collaboration with colleagues in China/Hong Kong, Australia, Europe and Canada.
Climate change impacts and adaptation options in cool climate wine regions: from knowledge to action
The overall goal of this presentation is to explore synergies and opportunities for ongoing collaboration between New Zealand researchers and the goals of the BCGWC Climate Resilience Working Group. The current presentation will summarise preliminary findings from surveys and interviews conducted in the Okanagan wine region in summer 2025 as part of a larger project comparing experiences and opinions of New Zealand and Okanagan wine producers.
Dr Fountain will also discuss the recognised challenges in converting climate change knowledge to implementation of short and longer-term adaptation activities, and outline a new five-year multi-disciplinary project which aims to address the ‘Adaptation Gap’ in the New Zealand context.