Smoke taint was the main subject at the recent West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force Annual Smoke Summit. There, numerous speakers had their turn at the podium to present updates and recent findings on wildfire smoke impacts. A chemistry degree was not a requirement to attend, but it would have been an added benefit to help with some of the scientific terminology.
Vicky Scharlau, Director of the Washington Winegrowers Association, speaking even as wildfire smoke from Canada choked many Eastern cities, noted: “Our work is progressing, but it’s not done yet. We’re hopeful that the needs noted from our West Coast industry members will be useful elsewhere.”
Tara McHugh, Pacific West Area Director for USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, echoed those thoughts: “We recognize this as an important need for the future relying on partnerships to deliver scientific solutions to forecast and track smoke exposure along with genetic modifications of grapes to reduce accumulation of smoke taint compounds in fruit.”
Source: farmprogress.com
