Scientists in the UK are working on creating a climate-resistant variety of blackcurrant

The Blackcurrant Foundation was created in the UK. This culture is extremely popular not only among consumers but also among scientists, writes “Agro-Center”.

Harvesting of blackcurrants in the UK begins this week. An estimated amount is 10,000 tons of berries.

This year brought a warm winter, and without enough cool days, blackcurrant plants will be less productive.

Due to the warming trend, new investments in sustainable currant varieties and advanced growing technologies aim to protect the future of one of Britain’s most popular berry crops.

The Blackcurrant Foundation represents national blackcurrant producers and is working on a new project “Innovate UK”.

The Blackcurrant Foundation has existed for almost 30 years, providing farmers with seedlings of the most promising varieties, and is now leading the initiative to create a climate-resistant variety by conventional plant breeding methods.

The new variety should maintain productivity despite warm winters. This is a long-term strategy since it takes at least 13 years to create a new variety. However, there is progress already. The “Ben Loyers” blackcurrant variety, created with the desired characteristics in mind, will be harvested this year.