Files
Abstract
The paper outlines the trading options that pertain to the Australian viticulture industry, some of
the challenges for stakeholders that have surfaced in recent vintages and need to be managed
differently in the changing market environment of intensifying competitiveness in the
international market, concentration of supply chains and increasing food safety compliance
requirements.
A benefit:cost evaluation of data from the trial of a new information and communication
technology (ICT) based viticulture supply chain management system, VineAccess, with leading
winemakers in the 2004-05 vintage is presented. The ICT-based system indicates substantial
savings compared to the traditional system of transacting business between winemakers and
winegrape growers in the Australian wine industry. A benefit:cost ratio of 7, imputed from the
trial, extrapolates to about $4 million of potential benefit for adoption by the Australian wine
industry of ICT based systems.
The paper also outlines the potential for like-systems to be developed and applied in other
perennial horticulture industries.