Research summary
We know that berries offer many health benefits. Their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects can help with conditions such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular disorders. But climate change is having an effect on the production and yields of many different types of berries. As Canada Research Chair in Berry Horticulture, Dr. Lauren Erland aims to enhance the climate resilience of berry horticultural systems.
She and her research team are using wild and cultivated Vaccinium species (cranberry, huckleberry, lingonberry and blueberry) as models. They are determining these berries’ climate resilience, characterizing their mechanisms of resilience, and developing berry-based products. By shedding light on the biological basis of climate resilience, their research will support the selection and propagation of desirable berry varieties, inform the conservation and sustainable harvest of wild berry species, and support the development of green technologies and products.