Brock Expands Niagara Farm to Fight Grape Disease

Brock University is expanding its research farm in Niagara, Ontario, in a move aimed at strengthening Canada’s grape and wine sector through cleaner plant material, disease prevention and new agricultural technologies.

The university said the Norris W. Walker Research Farm, just south of Brock’s main campus on Merrittville Highway, will serve as the next stage of its Clean Agriculture for Sustainable Production project, known as CASP. The effort builds on Brock’s Clean Plant Program, which tests and produces certified virus-free grapevines for growers and nurseries. The program is one of only two in Canada that help supply certified grapevine material, according to the university.

The expansion comes as Canada’s grape and wine industry, valued at $11.6 billion, faces pressure from climate change, plant disease and higher production costs. Brock researchers say healthy vines are the starting point for productive vineyards, and that clean rootstocks and vine material are essential to reducing the spread of viruses that can weaken crops over time.

Jim Willwerth, an associate professor of biological sciences and a researcher with Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, is leading the CASP initiative. He said the research farm will allow the university to move more of its work into a natural setting, where scientists can study how vines respond under real growing conditions while also testing tools meant to improve efficiency and resilience.

The project is expected to support research on more durable grape varieties, energy-smart greenhouses, early warning systems for growers and artificial intelligence-based tools for agriculture. Brock also said the site will be used to study how plants and ecosystems interact, with an eye toward improving biodiversity and soil health in both farm and urban settings.

The university held a celebration at the farm on Friday, May 29, to mark the project’s next phase and recognize supporters. Brock President Lesley Rigg said the initiative reflects applied research with direct community impact and fits into the university’s broader goal of building sustainable futures.

Funding for the project includes $3.5 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and $3.5 million from the Ontario Research Fund. Those public grants were matched by a gift of more than $7 million from Norris Walker, a Niagara supporter whose donation helped make the farm possible before his death in January 2024.

Walker’s daughter, Sheila Bonapace, attended the event with other family members. She said her father would have been proud to see his support continue to benefit researchers, students and the region.

Federal and provincial representatives also praised the project as an investment in local agriculture and economic growth. Chris Bittle, the Liberal member of Parliament for St. Catharines, said CASP would help strengthen Canada’s position in sustainable agriculture. Sam Oosterhoff, the Progressive Conservative member of provincial Parliament for Niagara West, said it would support growers and farm families in Niagara while helping protect jobs across Ontario.

Brock said the expanded farm will deepen its role in plant health research at a time when vineyards are looking for ways to reduce risk and maintain productivity as weather patterns shift and disease threats grow more complex.