Dr Jason Smith is a Senior Research fellow at the Orange Campus of Charles Sturt University, which is located in the cool-climate wine and horticulture region of Central Western New South Wales. Since early 2019, Jason has been leading research into vineyard water balance and the adaptation of production systems to rainfall variability and drought. His broader interest is the understanding of whole plant interactions with the environment in an agricultural context, and the application of this knowledge to improve agronomic practices and make the most effective use of technology in supporting management decisions.

Previously, Jason spent three years with the Hochschule Geisenheim University in Germany, teaching viticulture into domestic and international degree programs and undertaking research into grapevine water use under elevated CO₂ at the university’s free air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) facility. This followed 15 years of warm and hot climate viticulture research with externally funded projects through the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre in Wagga Wagga and collaboration with CSIRO and the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Jason maintains formal collaboration and links with researchers in Australia, New Zealand and Germany, providing connections with parts of the word facing similar climate change and water risk in viticulture. This collaboration also creates possibilities for future students to gain international experience while undertaking post-graduate studies through Charles Sturt University.

• Vineyard water use and drought adaptation
• Root growth and interactions with cover crops
• Carbohydrate reserves and plant carbon balance
• Climate change impacts on wine grape production