Agroecology

Harper Adams University MSc Agro-ecology graduate Tara O’Neill hopes to ultimately become a researcher involved in the development and implementation of sustainable agricultural systems both at home and abroad.

To help her on her journey, she was awarded the Clyde Higgs MSc Scholarship to support her with her Masters studies at the University.

The 24 year-old student from Downpatrick, County Down, said the scholarship is already helping her: “I’m very grateful to receive this scholarship, which has made a significant contribution to my study costs and allows me to dedicate more time to my work.

“I’d like to thank the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust, who fund the scholarship, for their kind support as I embark on my post-graduate study.

“My ambition is to develop a research career in applied ecology and entomology, particularly looking at controlling insect pests without the use of chemicals and looking at methods to make agricultural systems more sustainable.

“As part of my undergraduate degree in zoology, I spent a year working with the Biological Control Unit of Rhodes University, South Africa, where I helped reduce invasive water weeds using insects. I really enjoyed the practical and applied elements of the work and seeing changes that affected not just the environment but the local communities too.

“Agriculture is something we all depend on, and by integrating research with education and outreach programmes I hope to contribute to changing how we farm, by improving the sustainability of our food systems we provide not just for ourselves, but for the future.”

Beth Williams, 23, received the first Organic Farmers & Growers Scholarship, dedicated to the memory of late OF&G Director Bill Allen.

Studying Countryside Management at honours degree level, including a voluntary placement year working with Shropshire Wildlife Trust heightened Beth’s interests in engagement, education and widening participation in the agricultural sector.

Beth, from Edgmond, near Newport, explained: “My motivation to study the MSc Agro-ecology stemmed from my passion and interest for the topics covered during my degree in Countryside and Environmental Management at Harper Adams. The concepts of integrated land management and the issue of UK food security were my main interests during the second year of my studies.

“Then the final year of study confirmed my passion for engaging people with the need to balance the use of natural resources with the ability to feed the global population.

“Importantly, I felt that the broad scope of the MSc Agro-ecology course would enable me to pursue my ultimate career aspirations; to work in an educational capacity with organisations such as the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board to make a positive difference on the way people engage with the UK farming industry.

“I am incredibly grateful to Organic Farmers & Growers for awarding me the scholarship. The support not only relieves financial pressure to enable me to achieve my full academic potential but is also allowing me to undertake education facilitator certificates with organisations such as the National Farmers Union and education charity Farming and Countryside Education, which will help me to undertake a role in educational engagement in the future.”

An undergraduate degree can inspire multitudes of questions that can only be answered by continuing your studies. This is true for Shona Russell, who studied BSc (Hons) Agri-Business before returning to Harper Adams to start her MSc Agroecology course.

Shona said: “I have always been passionate about protecting the environment and sustainable farming, but I came across a new term since starting my graduate role which is “Regenerative Agriculture”. The ethos is not about sustaining what we already have but returning our degraded resources to what they were pre 1970’s.

“My undergraduate dissertation was about a species of fruit fly which is invasive from Japan called Spotted Wing Drosophila. I looked at the level of perceived threat among UK soft fruit farmers, population trends and climate change and information sharing between farmers and governmental authorities on how to mitigate and prepare for infestations. I was already interested in this area, hence choosing it for my dissertation subject, but through the research I learnt more and more about the relationships between pest, environment, wildlife, crop and farmer.

“This gave me a thirst for more knowledge but I had no more time left at university! I was offered a graduate job with G’s, a global fresh produce company, and started in August. My role is as a Future Farming Trials Coordinator and I work setting up trials, collecting and analysing data with a goal to aid G’s regenerative agriculture goals. This is by reducing the amount of artificial fertiliser, pesticides, water consumption and increasing soil health for years to come. I have already learnt so much about regenerative agriculture and ecosystem services whilst being here.

“When I was made aware of the Agroecology Masters course it seemed the perfect fit. I really felt that gaining a deeper knowledge of agroecosystems would help me one day to have some expertise in this area, make me even more employable, and allow me to contribute to this crucial facet of our agricultural future.”

While working and studying, Shona still has great ambitions. She commented: “I want to continue working in the same industry as a researcher and hopefully be able to be part of projects that will influence the way that UK agriculturalists treat their soil and environment."