Press Release: Worshipful Company of Fruiterers
Monday 12th April 2021
Matthew Mack Award Presented to Dr Rex Brennan

12th April 2021

The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers is delighted to announce that the 2021 Matthew Mack Award is presented to Dr Rex Brennan.

This triennial award is to recognise distinguished achievements in education, training and innovation within the fruit industry. Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic the Award was presented at a Virtual Online Banquet Wednesday 17th March 2021, by Master David Simmons, who outlined Dr Brennan’s achievements:

"Dr Brennan’s contribution to innovation in soft fruit growing and blackcurrants in particular is well known and widely appreciated within both the UK and the global fruit industries. After a lifetime working at the James Hutton Institute in Scotland, Dr Brennan developed expertise in the integration of berry fruit genetics with commercially-funded fruit breeding programmes, especially in Ribes (blackcurrants and gooseberries).

Dr Brennan’s contribution to the genetics, breeding and development of commercially successful varieties is fundamental to the current success of the industry. He has had significant and productive collaborations with other breeders and researchers in the UK, Europe, USA and New Zealand, and also worked on winter chilling requirement and the genetic control of dormancy processes of perennial fruit crops, and the potential effects of climate change."

Chris Newenham, Chair Awards Council, Worshipful Company of Fruiterers said: “At its first ever Virtual Banquet the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers was delighted to have the opportunity to present Dr Brennan with its prestigious triennial Matthew Mack Award. Dr Brennan has devoted a lifetime’s work to enhancing and advancing the genetics of berry fruits throughout the country and this is well deserved recognition for his immense efforts.”

Dr Rex Brennan said: “I am delighted and honoured to receive the Matthew Mack Award from the Worshipful Company, in recognition of my work at the James Hutton Institute for over 30 years. I was fortunate during that time to work with many talented colleagues at the Institute and elsewhere, and I must acknowledge their considerable contributions to the work. In addition, the support of a wide range of commercial partners was crucial in getting the results of our work, including new varieties, out to the fruit industry.”

Professor Colin Campbell, Chief Executive of the James Hutton Institute said: “We are very pleased to hear Rex has received this richly-deserved honour. His work is outstanding and underpins our reputation for soft fruit breeding. Rex has also made enormous contributions to mentoring the next generation of Hutton soft fruit breeders and plant scientists."

(The full transcript of Master Simmons’ Award presentation citation to Dr Rex Brennan is available below.)

Ends

About the James Hutton Institute
The James Hutton Institute is a world-leading scientific organisation encompassing a distinctive range of integrated strengths in land, crop, waters, environmental and socio-economic science. It undertakes research for customers including the Scottish and UK governments, the EU and other organisations worldwide. The institute has over 500 employees and 120 PhD students and with associated bodies and spin-out companies there are over 750 people working on our campuses.

The James Hutton Group comprises the Institute, The Hutton Foundation and our commercial subsidiary, James Hutton Limited (JHL), which is the vehicle for translating and commercialising the scientific expertise, intellectual property, facilities and resources of the Institute. It is our interface with the private and public sector where commercial services are required. JHL offer customers a comprehensive range of analytical, research and development, crop breeding, and consultancy services drawing on the full range of expertise in the Institute.

The Institute takes its name from the 18th century Scottish Enlightenment scientist, James Hutton, who changed the way we think about our world with deep insights into land, soils, crops and the climate and is widely regarded as the founder of modern geology. He was also an experimental farmer and agronomist.

More information at

www.hutton.ac.uk

Further details about Dr Rex Brennan’s work are available on his James Hutton Institute Honorary Associate page:

https://www.hutton.ac.uk/staff/rex-brennan


Worshipful Company of Fruiterers’ Matthew Mack Award 2021
The Master's presentation citation to Dr Rex Brennan


As I’m sure you are all aware, the Matthew Mack Award is one of the three prestigious awards presented to deserving individuals in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the industry. The Matthew Mack Award was founded in 1988 and is given triennially to an individual with distinguished achievements in education, training and innovation within the fruit industry.

I am delighted to announce that the Company is presenting the 2021 Matthew Mack Award to Dr Rex Brennan. This will surely come as no surprise to the soft fruit growers here, and especially those growing blackcurrants, as Rex’s contribution to innovation particular is well known and widely appreciated within both the UK and the global fruit industries.

After a lifetime working in Scotland Rex developed such expertise in the integration of berry fruit genetics with commercially-funded fruit breeding programmes in Ribes (blackcurrants) and Rubus (mainly raspberries) that the James Hutton Institute are reluctant to let him go. Despite having retired he is still an Honorary Associate of the Soft Fruit Breeding Group there.

Rex’s contribution to the genetics, breeding and development of commercially successful varieties is fundamental to the current (pun intended) success of the industry. Perhaps less well known is his work on winter chilling requirement and the genetic control of dormancy processes of perennial fruit crops. Very appropriate in times of climate change.

Rex, on behalf of the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers, it gives me great pleasure to present you with Matthew Mack Award for 2021.