The owner of Ribena is investing nearly £1m in a blackcurrant breeding programme in a bid to produce more consistent yields in the face of climate change.
Suntory Beverage & Food Great Britain and Ireland (SBF GB&I), which makes the popular drink at its factory in Coleford in Gloucestershire, is working with Scotland's James Hutton Institute - a science and research centre - on the five-year project.
The funding will be used to develop new varieties of berries that will be more reliable to produce even in extreme weather conditions. They will also be bred to withstand pests and diseases while preserving the signature Ribena taste, SBF GB&I said.
Researchers at the institute aim to support more reliable flowering and fruit set even under unpredictable weather conditions. New field-based and laboratory tools will also deliver earlier and more accurate yield forecasts.
Harriet Prosser, agronomist at SBF GB&I, said: “This season’s weather extremes have shown that investment in fruit varietal breeding is vital to protect the future of both the blackcurrant crop and the growers who depend on it.
"We look forward to working with the James Hutton Institute to make sure Ribena remains a beloved British favourite for generations to come.”
The programme will also focus on resistance to pests and diseases, particularly those that significantly impact blackcurrant yields.
Using molecular markers developed at the Institute, which has sites in Aberdeen and Dundee, plants that are resistant to these threats will be identified early in the breeding process. The method is already in use, with resistant plants currently being trialled to support more sustainable blackcurrant production.
According SBF GB&I, every potential berry type will undergo flavour and nutritional testing to retain the signature taste of Ribena.
Dr Amanda Moura, soft fruit breeder at the James Hutton Institute, added: “At the James Hutton Institute, we are strongly committed to the development of a new generation of blackcurrant varieties that can continue thriving in the Ƶ while adapting to the challenges posed by climate change and pests’ pressures.
"This work offers greater security and long-term sustainability to our growers and to the industry. It is a great pleasure to be part of a project like this and to contribute to a fruitful future for British blackcurrant production.”
