Suntory Beverage & Food leverages AI on blackcurrant farms to support UK biodiversity efforts

Suntory Beverage & Food (SBF) GB&I has announced that it is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) technology to reveal a remarkable story of biodiversity across a number of its Ribena blackcurrant farms during the 2024 harvest season.

The project – in partnership with the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) South West – has revealed the presence of a range of threatened bird species across hedgerows, woodland and grasslands. 

Analysing the birdsong across these blackcurrant farms, the project is helping to demonstrate how farm stewardship can go hand-in-hand with wildlife protection as part of SBF GB&I’s broader commitment to improving biodiversity and supporting its growers as they respond to climate change.

The project uses AI analysis and recording technology in various habitats on five farms to collect quantitative data on key species over an average period of 48 days across the year. On average, each farm boasted 58 different species, with the most diverse farm hosting 63 species. While recordings are generally dominated by the more common and vocal species – such as the wren, robin and dunnock – the bioacoustic recorders can pick up the more elusive or unusual species that may be harder to capture, giving a fuller picture of the habitats.

Among the 83 species recorded were 15 UK red list birds and 17 from the amber list, including priority species such as the bullfinch and the skylark, whose recent and dramatic decline – down by 63 percent since 1967 – has led to the species landing on the red list.

The presence of threatened bird species is particularly encouraging given the declining bird populations in the UK, largely due to habitat loss from changes in agricultural practices. This illustrates the importance of creating farm environments where nature can thrive, and how modern, thoughtfully managed agriculture can play a significant role in protecting wildlife. This data is invaluable for SBF GB&I’s growers, as they continue to collaboratively refine their agricultural methods to support and increase bird populations.

“Every harvest season underlines what a privilege it is to work with our incredible blackcurrant growers. Visits to the farms are a joy, and even more so when we get to see the impact of projects like these. We’ve had biodiversity action plans in place on these farms since 2004, so seeing how we’re providing safe havens for such a variety of bird species really validates the hard work from our growers and our team over many years. This work is so important to boost biodiversity and ensure the resilience of the blackcurrant crop for future generations, all part of what we call Growing for Good,” said Fraser McIntosh, Head of External Affairs and Sustainability at SBF GB&I.

“Working with SBF GB&I has enabled us to harness AI technology for deeper monitoring across the farms. This method allows us to observe a larger area for extended periods, beyond what might be possible using traditional approaches. We’ve strategically placed recorders to get a broader baseline of species across the farms and to help provide an insight into species presence within different habitats, including those supported by conservation efforts. For example, species reliant on hedgerows such as dunnock and bullfinch may be being supported by the sympathetic hedgerow management under the Farm Stewardship Scheme. We’re optimistic that ongoing monitoring will help to reveal the contribution of these efforts on nurturing a robust bird community on our blackcurrant farms,” said Olly Edmonds, Farm Environment Adviser at FWAG South West.

This bioacoustic monitoring initiative builds upon SBF GB&I’s Farm Stewardship Scheme, a programme successfully implemented in partnership with FWAG South West. This scheme, which covers 34 growers across Great Britain, has consistently delivered environmental improvements to blackcurrant farms through its ‘Six Point Plan’ (6PP).

The 6PP enhances key farmland habitats and species protection by focusing on hedgerows, grass buffers, green headlands, farmland birds, pollen and nectar sources, and mature trees. This comprehensive approach aims to create more resilient farms in the face of climate change and extreme weather, while aligning with national environmental policies.