The multi-disciplinary Filling the Void project received the Science New Zealand Team Award for their work in laying the foundation for a new breeding programme for Aotearoa. Their goal was to develop a novel berry that would combine the commercial benefits of blueberries with the colour-filled flesh of bilberries. This new hybrid berry would contain five-fold the health-promoting anthocyanins of blueberries – a true super berry with exciting potential for Aotearoa. Hilary Ireland talks to scientist Richard Espley about the importance of fruit colour and how this research will allow the breeding team to develop new fruits with added health benefits.
