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Harper Adams University College is the UK’s leading provider of specialist higher education and research for the food chain, rural and land-based industries. Undergraduate, postgraduate and PHD subjects cover every aspect of food production, from agricultural engineering to food marketing, land management and animal health and welfare. For more information visit www.harper-adams.ac.uk

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The bionic burger – food fantasy or future?

GLOBAL demand for food, pressure to combat climate change and advancements in technology could see synthetic meat enter the market sooner than we may think, according to a lecturer at Shropshire’s Harper Adams University. And with food companies under increasing pressure to find ways of producing more for less, artificial meat on supermarket shelves could soon become reality, says Terry Pickthall, Senior Lecturer and Placement Manager for Agriculture at the university near Newport. Mr Pickthall’s comments come after the world’s first synthetic burger made from meat grown from bovine

Event to inspire future engineers

INSPIRING young people to choose agricultural engineering is the theme of a free careers forum to be held at Harper Adams University next term. ‘Worldwide opportunities in engineering for agriculture’ is being organised by Harper Adams in conjunction with the Douglas Bomford Trust and the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE). The event, scheduled for November 7, is designed to inspire and encourage the next generation of engineers to play a key role in agriculture and food production. Among the speakers will be former Chief Scientist, Sir John Beddington, who commissioned the

Weevil research to establish natural pest control method

Researchers at Harper Adams University are using tracking devices to monitor the movements of a common soft fruit pest in order to help growers to protect their crops. The vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) feeds on the roots and leaves of soft fruit and potted ornamental plants, causing damage and yield loss. Work is now taking place through Defra funding to establish a non-chemical method to control adult vine weevils, by encouraging them to seek shelter in refuges filled with a naturally-occurring pathogen. Harper Adams is contributing to the project by monitoring how far each

Shropshire's Harper Adams University in top 20 for student satisfaction

SHROPSHIRE'S Harper Adams University remains one of the UK’s leading universities for student satisfaction, according to new figures published today. The latest National Student Survey (NSS) shows that 90 per cent of students being taught at Harper Adams near Newport were satisfied with the quality of their course, ahead of a benchmark set for the university by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) of 84 per cent. When ‘taught satisfaction’ levels are compared across the universities that took part in the survey, Harper Adams’s 90 per cent is the (joint) seventh

McDonald’s invites Harper Adams University student behind the counter

A STUDENT from Shropshire’s Harper Adams University has been serving customers at McDonald’s restaurants as part of a training programme designed to provide young British farmers with an insight into what consumers want from their food. Chris Fox has become one of the first youngsters to take part in the McDonald’s Progressive Young Farmer Training Programme, designed to help young people kick-start careers in the farming sector by providing them with the blend of farming and business skills needed to succeed in the industry. In the final stages of the programme, the 21-year-old, who

UAVs fly high over Shropshire's Harper Adams University

A flight demonstration of several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has taken place at Shropshire’s Harper Adams University illustrating how the aircraft are being used in agriculture. The use of unmanned systems in farming has increased in recent years and UAVs are clearly a part of the future of agriculture, according to industry experts. The demonstration at the university near Newport on Tuesday was carried out by KOREC, which specialises in supplying innovative surveying, mapping, machine control and geospatial positioning technology to a variety of industries. UAVs, which can

Student research investigates ewe diets

Final year students at Harper Adams University hope to find out whether using home grown protein sources, such as rapeseed meal, affects ewe and lamb performance through an EBLEX sponsored trial. Nutritional recommendations for ewe diets were developed around 50 years ago, yet much has changed in terms of breeds used, ewe weights, productivity and birth-weights. Currently, there is a reliance on the use of soya bean meal - an expensive and imported protein source. This project aims to provide evidence of how substituting some of the soya bean meal in ewe rations with protected home-

Future of Farming Review welcomed by expert at Shropshire's Harper Adams University

THE Future of Farming Review paints a positive picture for agriculture and emphasises the importance of attracting new talent into the industry, according to an expert at Shropshire’s Harper Adams University. Charles Cowap, Principal Lecturer in Land Management at the university near Newport, has welcomed the industry-led review, which assess the workforce that will be needed by a sustainable, productive and resilient agriculture sector now and in the future. “David Fursdon’s Future of Farming Review at last gives us an authoritative report which goes further than imploring landowners

Success at Royal Welsh Show for Harper Adams University

THE 50th Royal Welsh Show has been hailed a huge success by Shropshire’s Harper Adams University after hundreds of prospective students, alumni and industry partners were welcomed to the institution’s reception centre. For the 2013 show the university from Newport hosted two receptions, sponsored two dairy cattle competitions and was the main sponsor for the Wales YFC Young People’s Village, which featured acts such as DJ Greg James and S Club. The university also had a reception centre at the heart of the showground in the Lantra Building throughout the duration of the four-day event,

Harper Adams University lecturer to visit Latin American universities

A lecturer from Shropshire’s Harper Adams University is to travel to South America next month to promote the institution’s postgraduate provision. Native Chilean Dr Daniel May, a lecturer in Applied Farm and Rural Economics, will take part in the International Conference on Competitiveness Evaluation and Conceptual Aspects in Lima, Peru, from August 27 to 29, where he will present a paper entitled ‘Behavioural Drivers of Business Competitiveness’. During his trip and the conference he has organised to meet with representatives from key universities in Peru and Chile to forge links

Fresh Produce Managers graduate at Shropshire's Harper Adams University

THE latest group of newly-qualified fresh produce managers has graduated at a special ceremony at Shropshire’s Harper Adams University. The 16 graduates have spent the last two years completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Food and Fresh Produce Management delivered by MDS (Management Development Services) and accredited by Harper Adams. Graduates from groups 28 and 29 were invited to the university’s Regional Food Academy on Friday to receive their certificates and to celebrate their successes with friends and family. The event was opened by Link Co-ordinator and Harper Adams

Shropshire's Harper Adams University hosts UK celebrations for CLAAS centenary

SOIL protection, controlled traffic farming and high-tech tractor-implement control were just some of the topics discussed at the UK conference to mark 100 years of German agricultural machinery manufacturer, CLAAS. Around 115 agricultural engineers, farmers, academics and business delegates came together for last Thursday’s conference entitled ‘Precision Farming Challenges in the 21st Century’, which was hosted by Shropshire’s Harper Adams University – home to The National Centre for Precision Farming (NCPF). Six speakers from across Europe gave presentations at the conference, aimed

Book explores history of agricultural education

THE HISTORY of agricultural education and research in the UK is explored in a new book, authored by Harper Adams Principal Lecturer in Land Management, Carrie de Silva.  A Short History of Agricultural Education and Research: some key places, people, publications and events from the 17th to 21st centuries was launched at the RICS National Rural Conference last week. The book aims to be a readable quick-reference for key and interesting features and provides a solid grounding for further investigation, whilst being a diverting read

CLAAS centenary celebrations at Harper Adams

GERMAN agricultural machinery manufacturer, CLAAS, is celebrating 100 years of research and innovation by sponsoring a series of international conferences, with Harper Adams University hosting the UK event. ‘Precision Farming Challenges in the 21st Century’ is being held on July 4 at Harper Adams University in Shropshire, which is home to the National Centre for Precision Farming (NCPF). The aim of the event is to stimulate research, application and innovation by agricultural engineers, farmers, land owners, academics and policy makers. Speaking at the event is a host of European

Manufacturers risk backlash by opting out of new food labelling scheme

MANUFACTURERS who refuse to sign up to a new traffic light food labelling system to combat UK obesity will be accused of having something to hide, says a food expert from Shropshire’s Harper Adams University. The warning has been issued by Ralph Early, Head of the Food Science and Agri-Food Supply Chain Management Department at the university near Newport, who believes opting out of the scheme is a risky business. Last week the Government announced that a revised traffic light system of consistent front-of-pack information on grocery food products is to be introduced over the next 18

Grounds Manager at Harper Adams University recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours

HARPER Adams University’s Grounds Manager, Mark Hall, has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2013 Queen’s Birthday Honours. Mark has given exemplary service to the university since he joined in February1981 – managing a team of five staff that attend to a built estate of 18 acres and 22 acres of woodland, as well as assisting with 800 acres of farmland. Aside from ensuring that the grounds on the campus near Newport, Shropshire, are of the highest possible quality, the grounds team also maintains all of their machinery and equipment and support other departments across the

‘Dionysus’ robot to help winegrowers

Farmers around the world will be able to improve their irrigation efficiency thanks to an autonomous vineyard robot developed at Harper Adams University. ‘Dionysus’ has been created to use thermal imaging sensors to detect moisture levels in grape vines. This data will then be used to inform farmers as to whether irrigation is required. Three MEng Agricultural Engineering students at the university in Shropshire have designed and built the project – James Thomas, Kit Franklin and Chris White. 23-year-old James from Devizes in Wiltshire, said: “We had to select an appropriate

Harper Adams University students first to benefit from horticultural bursary scheme

SIX students from Shropshire’s Harper Adams University have been named as the first beneficiaries of a bursary scheme introduced by the Horticultural Development Company (HDC). Students on BSc Agriculture, Agri Business, Crop Management and Agri Food Marketing courses at the university near Newport are set to benefit from the HDC Undergraduate Final Year Bursary Scheme launched at the end of last year in response to the identified need to build and sustain a skilled workforce for the horticulture sector. The bursary offers £4,500 towards the costs of final year tuition and is

Hundreds turn out for Open Farm Sunday and Farmers’ Market at Shropshire's Harper Adams University

MORE than 1,000 members of the public flocked to Shropshire’s Harper Adams University for its first Open Farm Sunday event. The event, which was run alongside the university’s Summer Farmers’ Market, was held on Sunday as part of the national initiative organised by Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF). Around 400 visitors took part in the tractor-trailer rides around the university’s farm, stopping off to take part in various farm-related talks and activities looking at crops, the dairy unit and insects. The university’s farm was one of hundreds across the country that welcomed

21st Temperton Report explores the sector’s reliance on energy

HARPER Adams University was delighted to host the 2013 Temperton Fellowship Research Report presentation, by 21st Fellow, Mike Tyers. Mr Tyers, who works for Countrywide Farmers, presented his report entitled ‘The challenge for the poultry sector in meeting the demand for protein when energy is limited’ at the Farmers’ Club in London. The aim of the paper is to highlight the reliance of agriculture and in particular, the poultry sector, on energy. It identifies the opportunities and threats to the sector that changes in energy supply might impose. It looks at the development of

Offally good ready meal scoops gold for Harper Adams students

NINE students from Harper Adams University in Shropshire have scooped gold in the UK finals of a Dragons’ Den-style competition to find the best eco-innovative food product. The More Than Meat Pies team from the university near Newport won the British heat of the Ecotrophelia: European Food Innovation Student Awards with its ready meal offal pie, aptly named A Hearty Meal. Along with a £2,000 cash prize, the team will also receive one-year Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST) membership and a number of Elsevier food science publications. The team will now go forward as the

Harper Adams University launches new app

HARPER Adams University in Shropshire has launched a new game app for the iPhone and iPad. The free app, called Campus Critters, has been available in the Apple App Store since the end of May - topping 2,000 downloads in its first week. The game was originally designed for use on the university’s stand at agricultural shows, but its popularity has seen it developed into a mobile app. Alex Hardie, Marketing Manager for Shows and Event at the university near Newport, said the inspiration for Campus Critters came from a desire to attract the university’s target audience to its stand

Global partnership to develop ‘smart’ irrigation solutions

HARPER Adams University has joined a consortium to develop an innovative irrigation solution for orchards and vineyards. The USER-PA project brings together precision agriculture experts from eight ICT-AGRI member countries – Israel, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Scientists have been sourced from universities, research institutions and industry thanks to their expertise in the fields of robotics and automation, sensor technology, spatial decision support systems, irrigation, and plant physiology. Harper Adams University's role in the

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