International Blackcurrant Conference 2026

2nd – 5th November 2026 in Christchurch,New Zealand

Take part in our next event in the framework of the

 

International Blackcurrant Conference

Reduced conference fees for IBA members

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Organizers

After a great international growers meeting in Zeeland (Netherlands) in June 2025, the next meeting will be down under: Blackcurrants New Zealand, with their manager Mike Callagher, are organizing the International Blackcurrant Conference 2026 in Christchurch.

Programme

Next year’s programme includes farm and industry visits, presentations on various topics, a General Meeting of the IBA and will give lots of time to share experiences. Discover the agenda!

Venue

The venue of the conference will be the Christchurch Convention Centre “Te Pae”. Information on possible accommodation will be published as soon as available.

Additional info

In 2026, the IBA will be of adult age and celebrate its 18 years of existence. Therefore, a gathering of the founding fathers of our association is under organization on the 2nd November, and celebrations will take place that same evening.

Next steps

More about the IBA

The International Blackcurrant Family

Blackcurrant growers

The International Blackcurrant Association counts more than 200 active members. Most of them are blackcurrant growers. These growers mostly belong to country associations, which constitute the IBA.

Horticultural institutes

Research institutes come alongside the growers. Horticultural institutes and advisors help the growers to make the best of their plantations. They constantly work on the development of new blackcurrant varieties. Their research also includes trials of the best ways to protect the plants from diseases and pests. Adaptations of the way of growing blackcurrants to the increasing difficulties related to climate changes are also part of their support to the growers.

Health research

Together with the horticultural research, several institutes in the world focus on health research related to blackcurrants. The high anthocyanin content of blackcurrants has become increasingly interesting to many researchers all over the world.

Processors and end product manufacturers

What would blackcurrant growers be without clients? Commercial blackcurrant growing is destinated to the commercial production of many end products: concentrate, juices, jams, liqueurs, IQF (individually frozen blackcurrants) and many more basic products for the food industry. But also blackcurrant buds, leaves for herbal teas and many more for medicinal use. This use has been made of blackcurrants already in ancient times and in the Middle Ages!

International Blackcurrant Conferences

Our International Blackcurrant Conferences take place every two years. Our member associations in each country kindly organize them. We have already held them in New Zealand, Scotland, Poland, France and England. Alongside with these three-days-conferences, we now hold a small international blackcurrant grower meeting (restricted for IBA members) when we do not have international conferences. They allow us to hold our general meetings, and especially to exchange and meet among growers.