Sainsbury’s has this week launched its first farmers and growers scholarship programme that will fund industry places on a 11-month soil health and management course.
Seven British growers and farmers have joined the programme, which is being run in partnership with London’s Imperial College, from categories including leeks, potatoes, carrots and wheat.
The scholarship will combine soil research and analysis with studies on how soil management can be developed to enhance yield, quality and sustainability.
Students will begin with a foundation week, which will include seminars, lectures, visits and discussions in order to introduce the scholarship and form the structure for the rest of the course.
The remainder of the year will include site visits and a creativity and networking event to bring together farmers, key academics, and industrial partners.
Judith Batchelar, director of Sainsbury’s Brand, said: 'We’re delighted to launch our scholarship for farmers and growers which is a first of its kind for a retailer.
“It’s exciting that some of the country’s best scientists, practitioners and researchers are coming together to share their knowledge and expertise with some of the brightest farmers and growers in our supply chain.”
The course sits alongside the retailer’s previously-introduced agricultural graduate scheme, which has so far been completed by seven farmers, as well as its agriculture and horticulture apprentice scheme, which began in September 2014 with initial placements in the fresh produce sector.
Dr Laura Barter, research fellow at Imperial College, said: “I am looking forward to seeing how, through multi-disciplinary engagement, some of the challenges in soil health and management faced by the scholarship farmers today, can be addressed with innovative tools, technologies and methods being developed by researchers.
“Discussions between the scholarship farmers, academics and industrial partners are likely to stimulate the genesis of wholly new ideas, which will lead to the development of next generation solutions in the field.”
