Third year BSc commercial horticulture student Richard Bucknall of Tonbridge who is studying at Hadlow College received his prize from Lord Kingsdown, president of the society. He also won a gold medal and £500 cheque for the George Hooson Memorial Award as the top prize-winning student resident in Kent.

Bucknall's project will study the use of spectral filter covering which absorb certain light wavelengths entering a poly-tunnel and their effect on pests infesting the crop. According to Bucknall, spectral filters could help reduce the incidence of botrytis on strawberries.

Both Hadlow College and Imperial College, Wye entered a large number of students. Imperial's first prize-winner was Malte Schuldt who is investigating farming in Poland as it prepares to join the EU.

David May, chairman of KCAS's education and awards committee warned that a decline in the number of students studying agriculture at both colleges may become the subject of a review by his committee.