This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Cash for new raspberry varieties
04/07/2003
Funding of almost £500,000 to help Scottish farmers develop new raspberry varieties was announced today.
The launch of a £950,000 seven-year raspberry breeding programme is designed to strengthen the industry in Scotland by improving disease resistance and increasing yields.
Announcing the grant of £464,000 from the Executive's Flexible Fund for Agricultural and Biological Research, Environment and Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie said:
"The soft fruit industry makes an important contribution to Scottish agriculture and the rural economy of Perthshire and Angus.
"The industry in Scotland has faced a number of challenges over recent years with increased competition and falling yields through disease and frost damage.
"This programme will help the industry address those challenges by bringing new products to the market. The funding announced today will help to provide Scottish growers with new lines to meet both the fresh and processed markets.
"This funding is the result of close work with the industry and the collaboration of growers to identify new opportunities. I look forward to sampling the fruits of their labours."
The Scottish raspberry industry has been in decline for over 15 years. Since the mid 1980s the area of fruiting plantations has halved and the tonnage has declined. The decline is due to a number of factors including weak varieties, disease problems and cheap imports.
Problems have been exacerbated by the industry's inability to breed a new variety with a high yield and resistance to frost and disease. The industry believes that that the decline can be halted with new and improved varieties.
The Consortium consists of representatives from 13 organisations: AFI Ltd, Angus Soft Fruit Ltd, BerryWorld Ltd, Hargreaves Plants Ltd, Highland Fruit Stocks Ltd, Horticultural Development Council, KG Growers Ltd, Meiosis Ltd, Mylnefield Research Services Ltd (science partner), Saltire Fruits Ltd, Scottish Nuclear Stock Association, Scottish Society for Crop Research and Trade Solutions (Scotland) Ltd.
The Scottish programme is complemented by a similar programme of work being developed in England and grant aided by Defra to breed long cane varieties suitable for the climate in the south of the country. There will be collaboration between the two programmes.