Botanical Research Institute Of Texas Joins Global Federation Of Wine, Beer, And Spirits To Support Its International Sustainable Winegrowing Award

The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), announced today that it has become a member of FIVS, the worldwide federation serving the wine, beer, and spirits industries. Membership in FIVS solidifies the Institute's global commitment to the wine industry and helps raise awareness of the Institute's international sustainable winegrowing competition. BRIT's International Award of Excellence in Sustainable Winegrowing is the only international award of its kind.

FIVS is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that is based in Paris, France. FIVS has approximately 50 members from over 25 countries and includes producers, distributors, importers, exporters, and trade associations. It encourages the adoption of meaningful environmental sustainability programs that satisfy the triple bottom line concept of combining financial viability with the requirements of social and environmental sustainability.

"Membership in FIVS acknowledges the value of a sustainable winegrowing award presented by a (neutral) third party." said Dr. S.H. Sohmer, BRIT's president and director. "BRIT's goal is to honor wine organizations worldwide and pay tribute to their sustainable practices with the presentation of our international sustainable winegrowing award."

BRIT's application for membership followed its participation in the FIVS March, 2012, global trade policy conference held in Brussels, Belgium that focused on sustainability. BRIT was invited to present the details of its international award competition. The objective of the conference was to create a forum for stakeholders throughout the industry to collaborate more closely on the critical issue of sustainability.

"FIVS welcomes BRIT as its newest member," said Jim Finkle, the president of FIVS. "We truly believe that BRIT with its International Award of Excellence in Sustainable Winegrowing will provide added incentive and recognition for adoption of sustainability aims within the global wine industry."

BRIT joins FIVS as an associate (non-voting) member.

Created in 2010, BRIT's award honors wine organizations that take a leading role in implementing sustainable practices. Because it is the only international award of its kind, BRIT hopes to attract to its program progressive wine organizations from around the world that practice "ground to glass" sustainability.

About BRIT
Founded in 1987, the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) based in Fort Worth, Texas, is an international, plant research and learning center focused on conservation, knowledge sharing, and studying the diversity of plant life. BRIT conducts extensive global research, including major projects in Texas, Europe, Peru, and the Pacific Islands. In the last 10 years, BRIT scientists have located and described scores of species previously unknown to science. BRIT's herbarium is among the largest in the United States and is the largest U.S. herbarium not part of a university, botanical garden, or broader natural history museum.

BRIT presents two annual awards: the International Award of Excellence in Conservation, which was presented in April, 2012 to businessman and conservationist Ted Turner, and the International Award of Excellence in Sustainable Winegrowing, which is presented in October and recognizes leaders in sustainable practice throughout the wine industry.

In the spring of 2011, BRIT moved into its new, US Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum-certified headquarters located in the Fort Worth Cultural District. For more information, visit http://www.brit.org.