Apples are a staple in the global fruit bowl, the second most consumed fruit in the world. Through our research, we want to make sure every piece of fruit tastes amazing and is produced in the most environmentally sustainable ways.

Our cultivars are bred with the characteristics that producers need, like good yield and resistance to disease, and with the right combinations of appearance, texture and flavour that mean that consumers love them too. We help growers understand the best way to manage their trees to keep insect pests and diseases under control and use just the right amount of water to keep trees and soil healthy. We also help producers get their fruit from the orchard to the supermarket in the best possible condition for eating.

We’re not only focused on the present, but the future too. We’re designing new ways of growing apple and pear trees that not only help growers produce more and tastier fruit but will also pave the way for new technologies and automation that make orchards easier and more efficient to manage. Alongside this, we’re building digital tools that predict how trees will grow in different environments so growers can be sure their orchards will thrive as the climate changes.