A consortium led by Berry Gardens and co-ordinated by NIAB EMR has won £1.9 million in funding for scientific research on fruit crops.
The funding, which was awarded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council for a collaborative training partnership (CTP), will finance a six-year PhD programme running from October 2017 to September 2023.
The initiative, designed to address the strategic needs of the UK fruit industry, will finance 16 four-year studentships in core research areas such as plant breeding, plant pathology, entomology, soil science, plant physiology and crop agronomy.
Students on the programme will have the opportunity to put their research into practice by integrating their findings in agri-businesses.
Richard Harnden, Berry Garden’s director of research and the strategic lead for the CTP programme said: “This pioneering partnership between businesses, research providers and the AHDB will provide a world-class horticultural and bioscience UK research training programme.”
He hopes it will “address the scientific challenges faced by agri-businesses, from crop production, food quality and supply, through to consumer preference and reducing waste in the supply chain.”
Training and research facilities and expertise will be provided by crop research institute NIAB EMR in partnership with the universities of Cambridge, Nottingham and Reading.
The industry partners forming the consortium span the supply chain, including the likes of Berry Gardens, Worldwide Fruit, M&W Mack, Univeg, Marks & Spencer and National Association of Cider Makers.
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) ensures knowledge exchange between these partners.
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