Ribena owner Suntory invests nearly £1bn in climate-resilient berry production

Suntory Beverage & Food Great Britain and Ireland (SBF GB&I) is investing nearly £1 billion to develop climate-resilient varieties of berries to make its famous blackcurrant drink Ribena.

The company has said the £920,000 investment will be made over the next five years to continue an existing blackcurrant breeding programme with the James Hutton Institute – which seeks to develop new varieties of berries resistant to extreme weather, pests and diseases in the face of growing climate challenges.

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.”

Changing weather patterns causing water stress for berry farmers

This year saw the warmest and driest spring on record in the UK, with more sunshine in the first six months of 2025 than in the entirety of last year. This has changed berry growing and harvesting conditions: the 2025 harvest season began a whole two weeks earlier than usual, and despite strong flowering and fruit, many farms struggled with severe water stress.

This highlighted the urgent need for blackcurrant varieties that thrive in heat as well as drought, according to SBF GB&I.

Suntory partnership with James Hutton Institute

The James Hutton Institute breeding programme was created in partnership with SBF GB&I and aims to develop blackcurrant varieties that can deliver consistent yields despite environmental stress, including limited winter chilling, heat, and drought. Researchers also aim to support more reliable flowering and fruit set even under unpredictable weather conditions – with the goal of delivering consistent yields, even in unpredictable climate conditions.

In addition, new field-based and laboratory tools created by the programme should deliver earlier and more accurate yield forecasts, supporting farmers in dealing with extreme weather events.

The programme will also focus on resistance to pests and diseases, as the company notes that chemical pesticides continue to be withdrawn in the UK. The programme is using molecular markers to identify pest-resistant plants early in the breeding process – with resistant plants already being trialled. 

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 UK 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.”