The James Hutton Institute Scientific Services, the institute’s commercial arm, has established a new five-year global raspberry breeding consortium spanning to 2029.
Underpinned by crucial research from the previous organisation, the new Raspberry Breeding Consortium unites a diverse range of partners to combine skills, knowledge and access to cutting-edge technology to meet the ever-changing demands of the industry.
Currently comprised of organisations from across the globe, including Australia, The Netherlands, USA, Spain and the UK, the consortium is calling for even more members to join and combine resources to create new, targeted and improved raspberry varieties.
Dr Jonathan Snape, head of James Hutton Limited (currently rebranding to James Hutton Institute Scientific Services), said: “Raspberry economics, production methods, and rate of consumption have all undergone significant changes in recent years.
“Meeting the modern-day challenges presented by climate change, labour costs and Brexit has undoubtedly influenced which raspberry traits are in the highest demand and we need to respond to this demand if we are to have a sustainable raspberry industry in the future.
“Hosting the consortium allows us at the Hutton to share our 70 years of experience and research in raspberry breeding with our partners to drive innovation.”
With the market constantly evolving, demand is high for new varieties that balance productivity and picking efficiency, as well as pest and disease resistance. This means that growers can rely on resilient crops offering good flavour and longer shelf life. The consortium recognises that this requires a swift pace of research to produce economical and sustainable solutions.
The Hutton hosts one of the largest and most diverse collections of historic, novel, hybrid and commercial raspberry breeding facilities in Europe. By using this trove of knowledge and advancing technologies, the consortium will collaborate with international partners to understand and replicate desirable genetic traits in new raspberry varieties.
Chris Rose, chief operating officer of Asplins Producer Organisation Ltd and chairman of The Raspberry Breeding Consortium said: “We invite businesses worldwide to join the consortium and help shape the future of the raspberry industry. Together, we can harness the power of collective expertise and tackle the challenges facing our sector while driving sustainable growth and success.”
As the industry grows and develops, so does the opportunity for businesses to be at the forefront of the consortium’s drive for innovation. To discuss participation, potential members are encouraged to contact Jamie.Smith@Huttonltd.com