At a laboratory in Beijing, purple and green hybrid-species grapes are laid out on a board for testing, part of the strategy China’s nascent wine industry is using to try to combat climate challenges. Scientists are using genetics and artificial intelligence to address imperfect weather conditions, as well as anticipate future problems that might be wrought by rising global temperatures.
The world’s wine production dropped 10 percent last year mostly because of “extreme environmental conditions” such as droughts and fires, according to a leading industry body. Scientists say climate change driven by greenhouse gas emissions is making extreme weather more frequent and intense.
Global warming is also affecting grape quality, a recent review in [the] science journal Nature said, meaning “the suitability of current winegrowing areas is changing, and there will be winners and losers”.
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Each year, the lab has the potential to produce around 20,000 new genotypes through crossbreeding, all of which must be evaluated.
Previously this was done manually, but now scientists use AI image recognition software to record aspects like colour, shape and size in seconds, cutting the time needed to identify candidates for further cultivation.
