Norbert Becker (agroscientist)

Norbert J. Becker (9 July 1937 in Wiesbaden - 7 May 2012 in Freiburg im Breisgau) was a German agricultural scientist and specialist in the area of vine breeding and viticulture.[1]

Life and work

Becker spent his youth on a vineyard near Wiesbaden in the Rheingau. While still at secondary school he helped out there and as a waiter in the vineyard‘s own inn, and became used to the aura of the Rhineland‘s wine culture. After his school years at the humanistic Dilthey-Gymnasium in Wiesbaden (in 1958) he completed his military service as officer candidate, was for two years an apprentice in practical agriculture and then studied agricultural science at the Justus-Liebig-University in Gießen.

After attaining a diploma in 1964 Becker was an assistant at the Orcharding Institute of the same university and a doctoral student at the Forschungsanstalt Geisenheim (Geisenheim Research Institute) where he obtained the degree Dr. agr. in 1968. He then started as a trainee at the State Ministry of Agriculture in Hessen.

At the beginning of 1970 he entered service with the state of Baden-Württemberg at the Federal Institute of Viticulture in Freiburg (Staatlichen Weinbauinstitut Freiburg.) His area of work involved vine cultivation (Rebenzüchtung) and viticulture locations. During his tenure a large number of fungus-resistant new cultivars were developed (Reben-Neuzuchten), which can be grown practically without spraying (with fungicide). The most promising of these, and also those of his predecessor Johannes Zimmermann were further tested in the institute‘s own cultures, and then in wine farms (Winzerbetrieben) and then developed to the stage when they could be used in practice. Among these are the following vine types: Johanniter, Bronner, Solaris, Helios and the red wine types Prior, Baron, Monarch, Cabernet Cortis und Cabernet Carbon.

Becker was also involved in teaching viticulture students and master vintagers. In his spare time he led Saturday viticulture excursions in the frame of the "general studies“ programme of the University of Freiburg. Even in retirement he followed his work-oriented hobby – the cultural, historical and health aspects of wine.

Most Important Work

  • Norbert Becker und H. Güss: Der Wein, Lebensfreude und Gesundheit. Ein weinfachlicher und ärztlicher Ratgeber für den gesundheitsdienlichen Weingenuss. 7. Auflage, (Wine, joie de vivre and health. Expert and medical advice for the healthy enjoyment of wine, 7th edition) Kehrer Verlag, Freiburg 1995, ISBN 3-929140-08-X
  • Contributions to the viticulture textbooks Vogt/Götz: Weinbau, Ulmer-Verlag, Stuttgart 6th edition, 1977 und 7th edition 1987 and Vogt/Schruft: Weinbau, 8th edition, Ulmer-Verlag, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-8001-5720-9
  • Almost 200 publications in scientific and popular journals and ca. 500 lectures to expert audiences and those interested in wine.

Literature

  • Manfred Raupp (Hrsg.): Aktualne probleme ochrana rastlin. Sympozium Stary Smokovec 1990 (Czech).
  • Konrad Rühl; Staatliches Weinbauinstitut Freiburg (Wine Law in Everyday Life, published by the State Viticulture Institute, Freiburg), Promoverlag, Freiburg 2001, ISBN 3-923288-29-8
  • Ernst Vogt and Guenter Schruft: Weinbau. 8. Auflage (Viticulture, 8th edition), Ulmer-Verlag, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-8001-5720-9

References

  1. ↑ Norbert Becker in Gesellschaft für Geschichte des Weins (Society of the History of Wine)
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