Scottish scientists have joined a consortium including Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Germany, with the goal of securing the long-term future of the soft-fruit industry.

The project, called ClimaFruit, has a budget of E6 million (£5.2m). The funding is a 50:50 split between the partner nations and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) in Invergowrie, Scotland’s leading centre for crop research, is taking the lead role for the UK. SCRI and its commercial subsidiary, Mylnefield Research Services Ltd, have a proven track record in soft-fruit research and breeding. The Glen Ample raspberry bred at SCRI is the most popular in the UK and 50 per cent of the world’s blackcurrant varieties were also bred in Invergowrie.

The partners will focus their research on blackcurrants, raspberries and blackberries.

The project, which runs for four years, has several key targets: to find ways of reducing chemical use and the carbon footprint of horticultural production systems; to provide long-term economical and ecological solutions for the best use of water, nutrients and chemicals; and to secure the production of locally grown fruit, providing fresh, healthy food products and natural ingredients for foods with reduced chemical residues.

There are other hoped-for benefits, which include the creation of new businesses that contribute to local economies and to step up production of both fresh and processed berry products.

The ambition is to create a world-leading berry fruit team focused on delivering sustainable and healthy solutions.

The Scottish Government’s cabinet secretary for rural affairs and the environment, Richard Lochhead, said: “Scientific research is hugely important to our rural industries, our drive to grow the food and drink sector and our efforts to tackle global issues such as climate change and food security.

“The Scottish Government supports SCRI in its ambitions to secure the long-term future of the soft-fruit industry, reduce its environmental impact and encourage greater production of locally grown, natural, healthy fruits.

“Scottish science is already renowned worldwide and by SCRI joining this international consortium, it will further enhance its reputation for excellence. It will also provide a valuable boost to Scottish soft-fruit production, which is a major contributor to the agricultural sector.”

SCRI’s lead scientist, Dr Derek Stewart, runs the Plant Products and Food Quality programme at the Invergowrie research centre. He said: “This is recognition that SCRI is the lead organisation in the UK for soft-fruit research and breeding.

“A recent external review described the soft-fruit team here as ‘world leaders’. To be involved in this North European/North Sea consortium is a huge boost for us. It’s also evidence that Scotland’s vital berry industry has got first-rate research and development capability on its doorstep.”

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