Viticulture is one of the industries in which male dominance is extremely persistent. This has now changed a little in Baden.
With Bettina Frank-Renz (38), this week, for the first time in 100 years and eight directors, a woman has taken the helm of the renowned state viticulture institute (WBI) in Freiburg. State Agriculture Minister Peter Hauk handed her the certificate of appointment on Thursday – in a small circle and under strict hygiene requirements. The audience was only connected online.
Born in Ulm, she first came into contact with viticulture while studying agricultural science at the University of Hohenheim. During her studies at two wineries in Ludwigsburg and Salem, her interest in wine awoke – and she never let go.
After studying and doing her doctorate, she went to the agricultural administration at the Esslingen district office. She then completed the agricultural traineeship with a focus on viticulture at the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district office. She then moved to the Ministry for Rural Areas, where she last worked as a viticulture consultant.
Then it happened in quick succession. In 2016, Bettina Frank-Renz became the deputy head of the lower agricultural authority in Breisach, and in 2019 she was head of the same authority in the Lörrach district office. And after only one and a half years, the call from Stuttgart came to the position at the WBI. The previous director Rolf Steiner had retired after 16 years.
At the WBI in Merzhauser Straße in Freiburg, the 38-year-old has been head of a research institute known throughout Europe with its own winery and training company for young winemakers since the beginning of this week. Internationally, the WBI became known in wine circles primarily for the successful breeding of fungus-resistant grape varieties (Piwis). Piwis need significantly fewer pesticides.
The institute also contributed to other spectacular successes, such as the method of using artificial pheromones to irritate grape moth so that the butterflies no longer mate and consequently cannot cause any damage in viticulture. They replace insecticides. The next task in which the ministry is counting on the WBI is to massively expand organic wine cultivation in the country and to reduce pesticides in viticulture by up to 40 percent by 2030.
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