Providing world-class fruit varieties

Niab works with industry consortia across the world to breed, develop and commercialise soft fruit varieties, including the raspberries Malling™ Bella and Malling™ Charm. 

Strawberry breeding first began at East Malling in 1983 for commercial and amateur markets and we have since bred nearly 50 varieties of soft fruit, including the phenomenally successful strawberry Malling™ Centenary, with sales exceeding 400 million plants. Using a combination of traditional techniques and genomics-assisted breeding, Niab supports the efficient development of disease resistant, high quality varieties ensuring improved yield, fruit size and quality, lower fruit wastage, easier picking and season extension.

NIAB leads an international consortium - East Malling Rubus Breeding Consortium (EMRBC) - to breed, develop and commercialise raspberries and blackberries for global production. The partnership formed in 2015 between Niab and its industry partners.

The commercial strawberry breeding programme moved to Bayer in early 2024, but continues to operate from the East Malling site. Niab retains its raspberry, cherry and plum variety breeding programmes.

For more information on Niab East Malling fruit varieties contact us at:

New Road, East Malling, ME19 6BJ
Tel: +44 (0)1732 843833
Email: licensing [at] niab.com