Ribena Maker Invests £200,000 to Protect Blackcurrant Crops from Extreme Weather
Suntory, the owner of the Ribena brand, is investing £200,000 to enhance the resilience of blackcurrant bushes against extreme weather conditions. This initiative follows a challenging harvest season in the UK, which was impacted by a combination of adverse weather events. The harvests, currently underway in key growing areas such as East Anglia, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Kent, and Scotland, are projected to yield approximately 10% less than the typical average of 10,000 tonnes. The company attributes these challenges to the escalating climate crisis, which is increasingly causing unpredictable and severe weather patterns across Britain and globally. The investment aims to equip blackcurrant plants with the ability to better withstand stresses like wet winters, spring frosts, hailstorms, and heatwaves, ensuring a more stable supply chain for its products.
The investment by Suntory in climate resilience for its blackcurrant crops highlights a growing trend of agricultural businesses adapting to the tangible impacts of climate change. As extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, supply chain stability for agricultural products is increasingly threatened. This proactive measure by Suntory, while seemingly modest at £200,000, signals a strategic recognition of the need for innovation in crop management and plant science. Such investments are crucial for maintaining food security and business continuity in the face of environmental volatility. The challenge for the industry will be to scale these resilience efforts effectively and affordably across broader agricultural sectors, ensuring that the economic burden of climate adaptation does not disproportionately affect smaller producers or consumers.
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