Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I this week brought together MPs with their local blackcurrant growers to discuss how to boost both productivity and sustainability in the sector. The event was an opportunity to talk through challenges, as well as opportunities for innovation and investment.

Our blackcurrant growers’ survey is an invaluable tool for understanding the challenges and opportunities facing the community of growers behind every bottle of Ribena. Working closely with MPs and policymakers enables us to invest in innovative technologies and practices that enhance the farms we work with while safeguarding the environment we all live and work in. It’s a key part of our company value of Growing for Good, which guides everything we do at SBF GB&I.

The survey indicates that 93% of growers identify adverse weather conditions as a primary concern with three-quarters expecting extreme weather to have the greatest impact on their businesses in the next five to ten years. Increasingly unpredictable conditions, from hotter summers to milder winters, are affecting harvests and long-term planning.

Download the survey here

Despite the hurdles, growers are embracing new technologies to enhance productivity and sustainability. Nearly two-thirds are adopting advanced data management systems, over half are using robotics and automation and 40% are investing in renewable energy solutions.

Elise Seibold, Chief Operating Officer at SBF GB&I comments

Our blackcurrant growers’ survey is an invaluable tool for understanding the challenges and opportunities facing the community of growers behind every bottle of Ribena. Working closely with MPs and policymakers enables us to invest in innovative technologies and practices that enhance the farms we work with while safeguarding the environment we all live and work in. It’s a key part of our company value of Growing for Good, which guides everything we do at SBF GB&I.

Growers are using this reception as an opportunity to urge the Government to take action to secure the future of the blackcurrant industry by:

• Backing innovation and R&D: Flexible funding and support for new technologies are crucial to maintaining competitiveness.
• Reforming funding streams: Enhancements to the Sustainable Farming Incentive could make it more accessible to growers.
• Improving access to grants: Support for new equipment, technology, and skills development is needed to drive sustainability and growth.

Bringing together growers and MPs at this event, SBF GB&I continues to secure a sustainable future for blackcurrant farming in harmony with nature. The business continues to go to extra lengths to protect the British blackcurrant crop, ensuring it can continue to produce its delicious Ribena drinks for years to come.