Blackberry Licensing

Blackberries are still an underutilised crop, however global demand is growing for high-quality, great-tasting varieties that meet today’s industry needs.

The James Hutton Institute Scientific Services has a dedicated team of breeders who collaborate closely with both industry and academia to achieve these industry needs. Our blackberries reflect their Scottish origins by proudly featuring the prefix “Loch” in their names.

Blackberries (Rubus fruticosus) are a highly nutritious and delicious fruits from the rose family. Thriving in temperate regions, they are gaining increasing popularity among consumers as new varieties with enhanced sweetness and flavour continue to emerge. As demand for sweeter blackberries rises, growers are seeking robust, reliable plants that are easy to manage, train, and harvest, while retailers expect the fruit to have a long shelf life and remain fresh.

With over 60 years of commercially focused blackberry breeding, James Hutton Institute Scientific Services is at the forefront of this growing sector. Our work is underpinned by the expertise and advanced facilities of The James Hutton Institute including an extensive Rubus germplasm collection and a high health facility. Through collaboration with leading scientists, we foster innovation and apply cutting-edge technology to our breeding programmes, ensuring that we develop varieties that meet both current and future industry needs.

Our experienced breeding team works closely with industry partners to create varieties that align with the latest grower practices, consumer preferences, and market trends. We provide tailored breeding programmes that deliver the right qualities for our partners, offering commercial breeding solutions, bespoke crosses, and proprietary germplasm. We offer flexible breeding programmes that cater to a range of needs—from unselected F1 true seed populations to advanced main crop and niche varieties.


We are committed to developing new, sweeter, and more snackable blackberry varieties that are high-yielding, season-specific, and offer excellent shelf life.

Eleanor Gilory, Commercialisation and Licensing Manager
Blackberry Breeding
Blackberry breeding
Blackberry Breeding
Blackberry plot

Currently, we have four blackberry varieties protected by Plant Variety Rights, with more in the pipeline to meet the growing global demand:

  • Loch Katrine
  • Loch Maree
  • Loch Ness
  • Loch Tay

For more information contact: licensing@huttonltd.com

Contact for more information

Dr Eleanor Gilroy

Commercialisation and Licensing Manager
Based in Dundee
E: eleanor.gilroy@huttonltd.com
T: +44 (0)1382568827
  • BSc Genetics (Hons) (1997-2001) Edinburgh University
  • PhD Molecular Plant Pathology (2001-2005) Edinburgh University/SCRI
  • Researcher specializing in plant immune responses to Phytophthora diseases affecting potato and raspberries (2005- 2024) SCRI/James Hutton Institute
  • Published 32 papers (with 6 in preparation)
  • Google Scholar h-index=31
  • Commercialisation and Licensing Manager in James Hutton Limited the trade mark name for James Hutton Institute Scientific Services (2024- present)
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