The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (ADHB) will re-launch its £500,000 agricultural studentship programme this summer with a renewed focus on delivering 'new science' that has 'practical industry benefits.'

A new-look ADHB programme is set to launch in June 2013 with plans to install students into research institutions/universities by the start of the 2014-2015 academic year, as the AHDB steps up its bid to find the next generation of horticulture experts.

ADHB said it hopes to 'harmonise' the application process for the three-to-four-year studentships funded by the levy board’s six divisions, which includes the HDC (horticulture) and Potato Council (potatoes).

“Across AHDB, we have historically funded 15-20 studentships per year and will maintain this sort of number, but we will be taking a more strategic approach to the type of studentships supported, managing them under one cross-sector, co-ordinated programme that is integrated into our broader R&D objectives,” said chair of the joint studentship programme Kim Matthews, head of R&D for AHDB’s beef and lamb division.

Studentships already run by AHDB divisions include a four-year course backed by the HDC and East Malling Research looking into the management of Verticillium wilt in strawberries, and a project run in conjunction with the Potato Council and taught at the University of Leeds, which focuses on reversing the bruise susceptibility of potatoes.