Accessing world-leading agri-science and technology from the James Hutton Institute, James Hutton Limited provides plant breeding, trialling, licensing and molecular diagnostic services to the soft fruit, potato and cereal industries.

James Hutton Limited manages several, industry led, soft fruit breeding programmes. These comprise a raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, blackcurrant as well as extensive research and breeding expertise in honeyberry (haskap) and cherry.

All James Hutton Limited floricane raspberry varieties are prefixed with, 'Glen'. This year we introduce two new primocanes to our portfolio; Skye and Lewis. 

Our blackcurrants are prefixed, Ben, and we breed for Ribena.  At the present time, it is estimated that James Hutton Institute blackcurrant cultivars occupy over 95% of the UK cropping area and around 50% of the global area.

Our blueberry programme began in 2017 with the objective of breeding varieties more suited to the UK/Northern European climate and is starting to see some promising selections coming through. 

The blackberry programme was established in 2018 and also looks set to launch some fantastic fruit in the not too distant future. We have been breeding our 'Loch' blackberries at the James Hutton Institute for as long as we have been breeding raspberries and we know a thing or two about breeding a brilliant bramble. 

We also work alongside the Scottish Honeyberry Co-operative, carrying out research to gain a better understanding of the agronomic traits of haskap – more commonly known in the UK as honeyberry - with a view to supporting the establishment of commercial honeyberry crops and derived products in Scotland.

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