Agronomy students are a top industry ASSET

Four crop science students have been awarded NIAB TAG’s ASSET prize for outstanding achievement in their studies.

Ben Burrows, Henry Ward, Mike Neaverson and Alex Turner each win a £3,000 bursary to assist them in their final year at university. The 2011 awards were presented to the students by Mike Warner, chairman of AICC, in front of delegates at the AICC Conference on 10th January 2012.

The ASSET (Agricultural Science Student Education Training) programme aims to encourage students into the plant science sector. A joint initiative between NIAB TAG and four leading crop science universities; Reading, Harper Adams, Newcastle and Nottingham, it is generously supported by the NIAB Trust and The Morley Agricultural Foundation charities.

NIAB TAG’s project leader, Juno McKee said: "We support crop science students in their studies by providing valuable agronomic information and leads, tailored to the curriculum of each university, as well as important networking links with the applied research and agronomy industry through NIAB TAG.

"The winners, one from each university, were chosen on the quality of specific second year project work, a recommendation from their tutors and an interview with our staff. We were particularly impressed by the initiative, knowledge and ambition of all our four worthy winners."

ASSET aims to inspire students to better understand how they might aim to make a difference to the UK agricultural industry in their future careers, and to encourage the best undergraduates into careers that will support applied research and knowledge transfer for the future benefit of the arable sector.

Mr Warner said: "The ASSET programme is a great example of how we can all encourage and support much-needed new entrants into our industry. Congratulations to Ben, Henry, Mike and Alex; it is a fantastic achievement. We wish them all well in their final year of study, and look forward to watching how their careers progress in the future."

The ASSET programme is available to second year students at a partner university enrolled in a specific crop based module. Students register their interest in participating in the programme with their course tutor, who puts forward candidates to NIAB TAG staff.