Ribena Maker Pours £1 Million Into Berries Built for a Changing Climate

Suntory Beverage & Food Great Britain and Ireland is committing £920,000 to developing new blackcurrant varieties that can withstand the mounting pressures of climate change. The investment will be spread over five years and will continue the company’s long-standing collaboration with the James Hutton Institute. The goal? To breed plants that are tougher, more adaptable, and capable of withstanding extreme weather, drought conditions, and the rise of new pests and diseases.

The urgency behind this initiative is hard to ignore. This year’s spring was unusually warm and dry, delivering more sunshine by June than the entire previous year. For growers, the impact was immediate. The 2025 blackcurrant harvest kicked off two weeks earlier than usual. Despite healthy flowering and fruit development, farms across the country faced significant water stress.

The research programme aims to create blackcurrants that can thrive under increasingly unpredictable conditions. That includes adapting to shorter winters, intense heatwaves, and less rainfall, all of which are becoming more frequent across the UK.

Of course, quality remains a top priority. Every new variety will undergo rigorous flavour and nutrition testing to ensure it meets the high standards required for use in consumer products like Ribena.

SBF GB&I agronomist Harriet Prosser 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.”

Scientists are also developing more accurate forecasting tools to help farmers predict yields with greater precision, making it easier to plan for a changing climate.

Pest and disease resistance is another key area of focus, primarily as chemical crop protection becomes increasingly restricted under UK regulation. Using advanced molecular marker techniques, researchers at the James Hutton Institute are identifying resilient plants much earlier in the breeding cycle. Several promising candidates are already undergoing field trials.

The challenges facing the blackcurrant industry are part of a much larger story. Earlier this month, the UK Government outlined a national strategy to reform England’s food system. The message was clear. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental decline are beginning to threaten the nation’s ability to feed itself.

Agriculture currently occupies 69 per cent of the UK’s land. It relies heavily on natural systems, such as healthy soil, stable weather, pollinators, and clean water. According to the Office for National Statistics, the value of these ecosystem services is estimated at £37 billion per year, with a total natural asset value of £1.3 trillion.

But these systems are under growing strain. Pollution, industrial farming, and climate change are degrading the very resources that food production depends on. The new government plan comprises ten key objectives aimed at aligning agriculture, trade, public health, and environmental protection.

There’s also a global dimension. With around 35 per cent of food coming from overseas, the UK’s eating habits are having an environmental impact well beyond its borders. At the same time, reliance on international supply chains creates new vulnerabilities. Disruptions caused by extreme weather or geopolitical instability can ripple quickly across global markets.

A report last year from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit revealed that £8 billion worth of food imports are currently at risk due to climate-related issues. This growing exposure is a concern for both policymakers and industry leaders.

A group of senior executives from major food companies recently wrote to investors to raise the alarm. Their warning was sobering. Many businesses are not being transparent about the full extent of the climate risks they face. If left unaddressed, these hidden threats could ultimately lead to widespread disruptions in the global food supply.