Erasmus funding for NEMEDUSSA project

Posted 21 October 2020

A Harper Adams researcher has been appointed as consultant on an ERASMUS+ funded project that seeks to develop the discipline of nematology in Sub-Saharan Africa

Reader Matthew Back has secured the role in the NEMEDUSSA project, advising the NEMEDUSSA consortium. As part of his consultancy, he will be an external counsellor, attend meetings and workshops and prepare feedback reports.

The NEMADUSSA project is funded by the European community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Student Plus (ERASMUS+) programme. The ERASMUS Plus programme was established in 2014, superseding the previous ERASMUS programme and is funded by the European Union as part of the scheme to fund education, training, youth and sport initiatives. The funding is secured for three years, and began at the beginning of September.

“The main objective of the NEMEDUSSA project is to promote and develop the discipline of Nematology in Sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, the project will be looking to build new Nematology orientated curricula in Higher Education Institutes, for example in MSc courses, and to embed a greater amount of the discipline in existing programmes.

“Nematodes or roundworms, are microscopic organisms that can be economically important parasites of plants, animals and humans. Additionally, certain genera can be used to manage insect pests, and the community composition of nematodes found in the soil, can be used to understand the soil health status. A further objective, relating to plant parasitic nematodes, is to build awareness of these pests in relation to food security,” Dr Back explained.

The research centres and academic networks at Harper Adams University aim to address global challenges facing agriculture and food production, and are shaping professional practice, government policy and the application of new technologies. Current research being carried out at Harper Adams can be found www.harper-adams.ac.uk/research.