The owner of Ribena is investing £200,000 in research to help blackcurrant bushes withstand environmental stress after extreme weather reduced this year's UK harvest. The harvest, now underway in key growing regions including East Anglia, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Kent, and Scotland, is expected to be about 10% below the average of 10,000 tonnes. The climate crisis is driving extreme weather across Britain and elsewhere, impacting crops.
Extreme Weather Impacts on Crops
Growers reported that crops were hit by one of the wettest winters on record for parts of the UK, which delayed pruning and weeding. This was followed by localised frosts and hail during spring. Heatwaves in June and July caused scorching and prompted some berries to drop prematurely. The lack of rain in many areas, with little more expected before the harvest finishes in early August, is also producing smaller fruits.
Soft fruit growers noted that some fruits, such as blueberries and grapes, are benefiting from the extra heat, but others like strawberries may struggle to last into autumn as overheated plants come under stress. Crops such as leafy vegetables, potatoes, wheat, and barley are also likely to be affected by the hot, dry spell. Last year, a long period of hot weather and drought caused berry crops to ripen a fortnight earlier than usual, and vegetables requiring ample water, like carrots, potatoes, and brassicas, struggled in the heat.
Industry Response and Investment
Harriet Prosser, an agronomist at Suntory Beverage & Food, which owns Ribena, said: “Every year, there seems to be another weather record. Following last year’s drought, growers have experienced one of the wettest winters on record, localised frosts and hail during spring, and now intense summer heat. It has been an exceptionally challenging season for blackcurrant bushes.”
Jo Hilditch, chair of the Blackcurrant Foundation trade association and a grower from Herefordshire, said the group is investing alongside Suntory and the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (Niab) in practical research to help growers build healthier soils and more resilient crops. “It’s about ensuring British blackcurrant production continues to thrive for generations to come,” she said.
“As growers, we’re incredibly resilient, but there’s no doubt we’re farming in a very different climate from even a decade ago. Every season now seems to bring a new challenge, whether it’s prolonged wet weather, late frosts or intense summer heat,” Hilditch added. She noted that even in her relatively rainy part of Britain, she may need to install reservoirs and irrigation to cope with long dry spells.
Research on Soil Health and New Varieties
Farmers have already been working with Suntory on developing new blackcurrant varieties that can produce more fruit without requiring long spells of cold weather in winter, due to global heating. A collaborative research programme with Niab at East Malling in Kent will investigate how improving soil health can help blackcurrant bushes better withstand periods of environmental stress. The project will evaluate the use of organic soil additions such as wool, pasteurised manures, and green waste products to improve soil organic matter, moisture retention, and nutrient cycling. Researchers will assess how these elements might affect soil health, plant establishment, bush vigour, yield, and berry quality to identify the most effective approaches for improving resilience across UK blackcurrant production.
