In recent decades, blueberry cultivation has established itself as one of the most rapidly expanding and promising fruit sectors in Spain and worldwide. This evolution would not have been possible without plant breeding, a scientific and technological process that has made it possible to adapt a species native to cold climates to the climatic and soil conditions of warmer regions, as well as improve its quality and production.

The blueberry is a fruit with a high nutritional value, recognized for its richness in antioxidants, minerals, and health-promoting compounds, such as anthocyanins, which help reduce free radicals associated with cardiovascular disease, cancer, and cellular aging. For this reason, it has been called the "fruit of the 21st century."

A booming crop: figures and territories

Spain is the world's fourth-largest producer and Europe's leader in blueberries, with an annual output exceeding 43.000 tons, representing 41% of the European Union's total. Blueberries are cultivated across more than 3.700 hectares, increasing the area cultivated sixfold between 2012 and 2018. Andalusia, and the province of Huelva within it, is the main producing area, accounting for 82% of the area and 97% of national production. This region, which has traditionally relied on crops such as strawberries and cut flowers, has found in blueberries a key economic alternative that has revitalized local agriculture and helped establish a population in rural areas.

Spain exports almost all of its blueberry production, mainly to European countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, which together account for 75% of these exports. This expanding market makes blueberries a strategic crop for the Spanish agri-food economy.

Plant breeding, the scientific basis for sustainable growth

Blueberry cultivation in Spain is relatively recent, and its development is closely linked to plant breeding. Without this genetic and technical innovation, it would not be possible to adapt the blueberry to the particular conditions of southern Europe, characterized by higher temperatures and milder climates than those required by traditional varieties. Plant breeding is a process that involves advanced research in genetics, molecular biology, and cultivation technologies. Thanks to it, varieties resistant to adverse conditions, with greater firmness, improved flavor, and extended post-harvest life have been developed, thus facilitating their marketing and consumption.

The breeding sector, comprised of companies and research centers dedicated to genetic improvement, has been responsible for 100% of blueberry production in Spain between 1995 and 2018. During this period, the additional cumulative production attributable to these innovations has reached almost 160.000 tons, with an average annual increase of more than 10.800 tons thanks to the introduction of new adapted and improved varieties. Beyond the agronomic benefits, plant improvement has had a direct impact on the rural economy and employment. According to the study prepared by the Cerdà Institute Foundation to ANOVE, the activity linked to blueberry cultivation has generated approximately 1.664 equivalent jobs annually in Spain during the period 1995-2018, with a notable presence in rural areas of Andalusia, Asturias and Cantabria.

ANOVE, promoting innovation and agricultural development in Spain

La National Association of Plant Breeders (ANOVE) is the organization that represents more than 60 companies and research centers dedicated to plant breeding in Spain. Its mission is to promote innovation and the development of new plant varieties that add value to agriculture and society in general. In the blueberry sector, ANOVE has been instrumental in promoting research and adapting varieties capable of growing and producing successfully in warm climates, such as those of southern Europe, thus contributing to the expansion and consolidation of this crop in Spain. Furthermore, ANOVE coordinates and supports R&D&I projects that seek to improve the quality, productivity, and sustainability of blueberry cultivation, aligning itself with European strategies for sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.