Food expert awarded fellowship funding

Posted 9 May 2011

Harper Adams Fresh Produce Lecturer, Dr Jim Monaghan, has been awarded a Horticultural Research Fellowship to develop the next generation of technical staff.

The award is one of five fellowships worth £1.25m and has been announced following the collaboration between the East Malling Trust, Horticulture Development Company (HDC) and the HTA.

These fellowships are specifically focused on developing new industry expertise in plant pathology, entomology, weed control and crop production, as well as expanding research programmes.

Dr Monaghan will help to deliver a series of 10-week placements, aimed at those who are studying plant science, environmental science, agriculture or horticulture, at an undergraduate level at any institution across the UK.

Students will work alongside experts at the Fresh Produce Research Centre at Harper Adams to deliver three to five applied agronomy and crop protection research projects per year.

Dr Monaghan said: “The fresh produce industry is working with us to develop the next generation of agronomists and technical staff.

“These placements will give students hands-on experience of relevant applied research whilst being mentored by experts in fresh produce crop production.”

Examples of projects that students could work on include ‘the effect of deficit irrigation on field crops’, ‘the use of salts to control plant diseases in soft fruit’ and ‘heat treatments to improve shelf life of leafy crops’.

Fellowships were also presented to representatives from ADAS, East Malling Research and Stockbridge Technology Centre.

Neil Bragg, Chairman of the HDC, said: “The fellowships are essential to ensure that we support the future development of essential applied scientists and to ensure that the work and experience of the existing scientists is not lost but developed for the future.”

The deadline for applications for the work placement opportunities is May 27, with placements running from mid-July to mid-September.

Contact Dr Jim Monaghan for more details – jmmonaghan@harper-adams.ac.uk 01952 820280.