Scientists have developed two new varieties of blackcurrant that need less chilling in winter as concern deepens over the effects of climate change on certain types of fruit.
Most varieties of blackcurrant, apple and pear need a long spell of cold weather below seven degrees C to fruit reliably the following summer, reports the Royal Horticultural Society.
However, the trend of mild winters which are forecasted to continue is causing serious concern among growers and office fruit fans alike.
Now research by the Scottish Crops Research Institute, funded by Ribena manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline, has bred two new blackcurrant varieties, provisionally named Ben Vane and Ben Klibreck.
The new varieties, which at the moment are only available to commercial growers, crop more reliably even after mild winters.
An international forum known as ClimaFruit is also currently working to safeguard the future of the multi-million pound soft fruit industry after future raspberry production was found to be threatened by climate change.
Raspberry production alone earns Scotland’s farmers around £12 million a year.
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