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Third International Blackcurrant Conference

Conference
16-18 May 2012
at Apex City Quay Hotel, Dundee
for growers, agronomists and food and drink industry
Photograph of Ben Klibreck blackcurrants bred at the Institute

Following highly successful events in New Zealand in 2008 and France in 2010; the Third International Blackcurrant Conference will be held in Dundee, Scotland from 16-18 May 2012.

It is being hosted by the International Blackcurrant Association and The James Hutton Institute in association with GlaxoSmithKline and Mylnefield Research Services Ltd.

The 'Ben' series of blackcurrants, which account for ca. 50% of the global production, were bred at The James Hutton Institute.

Full programme now available

Tuesday 15 May

Registration opens 12pm and Civic Reception at Dundee City Chambers


Wednesday 16 May

  • Conference Opening and Welcome: Jim Grierson, President of the International Blackcurrant Association and Michael Dunsire, Chairman of the 2012 Conference Organising Committee

Session 1: Breeding and Agronomy (Chair, Graham Neale, Mylnefield Research Services, Scotland)

  • Dr Rex Brennan, James Hutton Institute, Dundee, Scotland
    Blackcurrant breeding and research at the James Hutton Institute
  • Dr Cath Snelling, New Zealand
    Low chill blackcurrant cultivars from New Zealand
  • Dr Stan Pluta, Poland
    The Polish blackcurrant breeding programme
  • Dr Jerry Cross, East Malling Research, Kent, England
    Controlling blackcurrant pests
  • Geoff Langford, Plant & Food Research, New Zealand
    Controlling gall mite in blackcurrant plantations in New Zealand
  • Dirk Herdieckerhoff, Germany
    Issues affecting growers in 2012 season

Session 2: Annual Production Review (Chair: Svend Jensen, Danskebae, Denmark)

  • Production estimates for 2012

Afternoon visits

  • Visit to Bruce Farms (blackcurrant growing) or
  • Visit to Mackays (production of high quality fruit preserves)

Evening Buffet Supper and Ceilidh - Adamston Farm


Thursday 17 May

Session 3: Health Benefits (Chair: Dr Rex Brennan, James Hutton Institute, Scotland)

  • Professor Derek Stewart, James Hutton Institute, Dundee, Scotland
    Research at the James Hutton Institute
  • Tony Jacobs, Berry Pharma, Germany
    Production and marketing of blackcurrant functional extracts
  • Bill Floyd, General Manager of the International Blackcurrant Association
    Pioneering blackcurrants in Japan: the Four Leaf Case Study
  • David Eder, Japan Food and Chemistry, Japan
    Quality guardianship: Growing blackcurrants for the Japanese consumer

Session 4: Blackcurrant Production (Chair: Rob Saunders, GSK, England)

  • Dr Anita Sønsteby, Bioforsk, Norway
    Temperature effects on blackcurrant production
  • Anthony Snell, England
    Growing and marketing blackcurrants in the UK
  • Vivian Powell, Horticultural Development Company (HDC), England
    Review of agchemical use and SOLA scheme
  • David Booty, Omex, England
    Developments in nutrition and plant health for fruit production

Afternoon visit to the James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie

Evening Conference Dinner at Fingask Castle


Friday 18 May

Session 5: Marketing Initiatives (Chair: Michael Dunsire, GSK, England)

  • Caroline Fredj, GSK, England
    2012 Ribena brand advertising in the UK
  • Stephen Taylor, Winterwood Farms Ltd, England
    Growing and marketing of blackcurrants for fresh market sales to multiple retailers
  • Paul Grant, Mackays, Scotland
    Manufacturing and marketing blackcurrant jam
  • Jo Hilditch, Blackcurrant Foundation, England
    Promoting blackcurrant consumption in the UK
  • Lesley Larg, Thorntons, Scotland
    Branding and health claims of blackcurrant products
  • Bill Floyd, President of the International Blackcurrant Association, New Zealand
    Concluding remarks and conference close

Registration

Booking is now closed. For enquiries please contact Anne Rendall.

Conference venue and accommodation

The conference venue is Apex City Quay Hotel in the city centre. We have secured rooms at a preferential rate and you can book directly using the promotional code SCR1605 or go directly to our online accommodation booking page.

Please note that if you book direct with a hotel, rather than via our booking service, the cancellation policy is likely to be poorer (although you may sometimes secure a cheaper room fee): we advise you to check this carefully.

Getting to Dundee

Dundee is on the east coast of Scotland, midway between Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The Apex City Quay Hotel is in the city centre.

Regular trains from Glasgow, Edinburgh, London and other UK cities run to Dundee. Further information can be found on the National Rail Enquiries website.

Air France runs regular flights between London City and Dundee airports as part of its CityJet service. Flybe flies to Belfast City and Birmingham International airports from Dundee. The nearest international airport is Edinburgh Airport.

Free airport transfers

A free airport coach transport service is available via Dundee and Angus Convention Bureau from and to Edinburgh Airport. To book your seats please go to the booking page and login using the details below:

  • Login ID : DNDTIBC2012
  • Password : blackcurrant
     

Visitor information

Image of the delegate passport - link to the DACB website passport page (opens in a new window)Dundee and the surrounding area have lots of attractions including the RRS Discovery, Verdant Works, McManus Galleries and Broughty Ferry Castle. The famous university and golf town of St Andrews is just across the Tay and the glens and mountains of Angus are within easy distance.

Find more information on the delegates page of the Dundee and Angus Convention Bureau website. Delegates at the conference will all be issued with a Delegate Passport which gives access to discounts and offers in restaurants, visitor attractions, culture and art events held in the area and much more. Even if you arrive in advance of the conference you can still benefit from these fantastic offers before you get your own passport by quoting 'Delegate Passport'. Look out for your passport in your delegate bag.

Conference sponsors

We would like to thank all of our sponsors who have contributed to the costs of bringing the conference to Dundee.

Image of the GSK logo - link to the GSK website (opens in a new window)
Image of the Ribena logo - link to the Ribena website (opens in a new window)
Image of the James Hutton Institute logo
Image of the MRS logo - link to the MRS website (opens in a new window)
Image of the Omex logo - link to the Omex website (opens in a new window)
Image of the Four Leaf logo - link to the Four Leaf website (opens in a new window)
Image of the Japan Food & Chemistry logo
Image of Dundee and Angus Convention Bureau logo - link to the DACB website (opens in a new window)
Image of the Agrii logo - link to the Agrii website (opens in a new window)
Image of Main Design and Build Ltd logo - link to the Main website (opens in a new window)
Image of the Mackays logo - link to Mackays website (opens in a new window)
Image of Weremczuk Agromahcines logo - link to the Weremczuk website (opens in a new window)
Image of SFM Technology logo - link to the SFM Technology website (opens in a new window)
Image of Thorntons logo - link to the Thorntons website (opens in a new window)
Image of the Bruce Farms logo - link to the Bruce Farms website (opens in a new window)
Image of Adamston Farms logo
Image of the Windmill Hill Fruits logo - link to the Windmill Hill Fruits website (opens in a new window)
Image of BerryB logo - link to the BerryB website (opens in a new window)
Image of the Cairngorm Brewery Company logo - link to the Cairngorm Brewery Company website (opens in a new window)
Image of Presentation Products logo - link to the Presentation Products website (opens in a new window)
Image of Walkers logo - link to the Walkers website (opens in a new window)
Image of the British Cassis logo - link to the British Cassis website (opens in a new window)
Image of Mackies at Taypack logo - link to the Mackies at Taypack web page (opens in a new window)

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The James Hutton Research Institute is the result of the merger in April 2011 of MLURI and SCRI. This merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food, land use, and climate change.