Bio-Protection Research Centre Deputy Director Prof Steve Wratten has won the PGG Wrightson Seeds 2009 Significant Achievement Award in Agriculture/ Horticulture for his work on the Greening Waipara project.

The judges were impressed by the combination of research, technology development, technology transfer, marketing and community involvement in the project, which now includes around 50 Waipara properties, three biodiversity trails and formal links with Hurunui District Council.

Greening Waipara is a world first project that enhances the sustainability, biodiversity and marketing of winegrowing by giving vineyards ‘ecological makeovers'.

The brainchild of Prof Wratten and the Waipara winegrowers themselves, Greening Waipara restores vineyard habitats by planting mainly native species among and near vines, with the aim of developing habitats and food sources for beneficial insects.

More than 20,000 native plants have been planted to date with the help of wine growers, students and members of the local community.

Steve received his award at the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Convention at Lincoln University (June 30, 2009).