International Development at the University of Reading

The University of Reading has completed a circa £16 million purchase of land at Tanners Farm, Farley. The 635-acre site includes pasture, arable land and woodland, close to our existing farming facilities at Hall Farm, near Arborfield.

The purchase is a significant event that will extend our farming resources.

Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor said: “The study of food and farming has been at the heart of the University’s work for more than a century. This new strategy will secure the future of agriculture at Reading for the next century to come.“

Click here for the full story: https://ow.ly/TFIm50SusTm

Staff and students based here in the School recently gathered at “The Big Lunch” picnic to celebrate the end of another academic year and enjoy an afternoon of garden games and ice cream.

Reflecting on the event, Head of School, Simon Mortimer said: “The School places great importance on fostering a close-knit community. As such, events like these serve as a wonderful occasion for all of us to come together and celebrate the completion of yet another successful year”.

The national survey of PGT students (PTES) helps us continue to improve the study experience, and academic life of postgrad students at Reading. It only takes 15 minutes, so why not take this final chance to tell us what you love. The survey closes today!

Share your opinions now at reading.ac.uk/surveys

Calling all PGT students! There’s just one week left to tell us about your experience of studying at Reading. Please complete your Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey by 13 June.

Share your opinions now at reading.ac.uk/surveys

The School recently bid a fond farewell to Professor Ian Givens, Director of the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health (IFNH), who retired after almost 20 years.

During his time in the School and in collaboration with Food and Nutritional Sciences, Ian led a research programme on human health aspects of animal-derived foods, contributed to teaching nutrition-related topics and supervised various PhD students.

Commenting on his work, he said: ‘My greatest achievement is being in the group that obtained major funding from the Medical Research Council to assess the effects of changing the fatty acid composition of milk fat; possibly one of the most interesting topics of recent work in India concerning reducing anaemia in children and young women’.

Calling all nature lovers – we need your help as the University of Reading embraces “The Biodiversity Challenge 2024”.

Colleagues here in the School, Lecturer, Alice Haughan and Technician, Louise Hutchinson have signed us up for a Bioblitz, led by the Association for European Life Science Universities (ICA), designed to organise simultaneous monitoring of biodiversity across ICA member campuses, conducted by university staff and students.

The challenge started in May and finishes on Friday 28th June. Louise said: “We hope to gain a better understanding of biodiversity on campus, and to encourage staff and students to connect with nature. To get involved, simply record the animals and plants that you see on campus via the ObsIdentify app, or on the Observation.org website.”

https://observation.org/

Thank you to everyone who has completed the nationwide Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey so far. We know some of you are yet to give us your feedback, so if you’re studying for a PGT, please complete the annual PTES survey today reading.ac.uk/surveys.

This time last week scientists from Reading joined Waitrose & Partners to launch Farming For Nature, its new commitment to supporting British farmers to move to nature-friendly farming. 🌏

Waitrose, Leaf and the University of Reading will establish a three-year Knowledge Transfer Programme, backed by a grant from UK Research and Innovation. This partnership will aim to bridge the gap between cutting-edge agricultural research and practical farming applications, giving farmers a direct resource to information to implement on their own farms. 💚

Watch for more

Farming for Nature | Waitrose This time last week we launched Farming For Nature, our new commitment to supporting our British farmers to move to nature-friendly farming 🌱🌍 We all need ...

A study in Nature Food, co-authored by Professor Giacomo Zanello, based here in the School, calls for a transformation of global food systems to enhance nutrition and sustainability. Supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the research highlights the need for systemic changes to ensure access to nutritious, affordable food.

The study identifies nine critical areas, including improving trade policies, enhancing market infrastructure, and innovating food safety measures, as well as integration of scientific evidence with local knowledge.

"Food systems are powerful platforms for improving global health and must be optimised for this purpose," Professor Zanello notes. The research advocates for collaborative efforts to make food systems equitable and sustainable.

See article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-023-00896-6

Tell us what you love and what we still need to work on in the annual Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey. The survey is a national, independent survey which will help us continue to shape the student experience for PGT students at the University of Reading.

Complete yours by 13 June at reading.ac.uk/surveys

Happy Easter to all our students and staff from the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, we hope you have a wonderful break!

We are looking forward to welcoming students back on Monday 15th April 2024 for the start of the summer term.

The University will be closed from Thursday 28th March to Wednesday 3rd April 2024.

The School of Agriculture, Policy and Development is recruiting a Research Placement, as part of its Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP).

This six week, paid post, will explore the key factors influencing farmers' adoption of renewable energy systems and aims to understand how age, education, location, and farm characteristics drive this adoption.

Follow this link for further information: https://ow.ly/gRxa50QYu7f

Come and join our amazing team at the University of Reading in the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development.

We’re looking for a Marketing Coordinator to join our dedicated team.

Click here for further information: https://jobs.reading.ac.uk/

We know that no two experiences of studying in the School is the same. That’s why we need to hear from every student studying for a PGT at Reading in this years Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey.

Share your opinions now at reading.ac.uk/surveys

This year’s Edith Mary Gayton lecture is titled: Smart Farming Management Practices to revolutionise agriculture, featuring speakers, David Christensen, Dairy farmer, Kingston Hill Farm and David Exwood, Farmer and Vice President of the National Farmers Union (NFU).

The pair will share their insights on the management practices that could revolutionise the way we farm and produce our food.

The Lecture will be held on Wednesday 13th March 2024, at the Nike Lecture theatre, here in the School, starting at 18:00.
To register for the event, email: Teresa Hicks: [email protected] or telephone: 0118 378 8152.

Happy New Year to all staff and students; we hope you have had a lovely break and wish you a great start to the new term!

The university will close during the festive period from Friday, 22nd December 2023, and will reopen on Tuesday, 2nd January 2024.

We hope all our students have a restful break and look forward to welcoming them back on Monday, 8th January 2024.

As the University of Reading is ranked number one in the People & Planet University League, recognising our environmental and ethical performance, Head of School, Professor Simon Mortimer says: “Our School’s teaching and research is focussed on addressing global issues of sustainable development, including tackling the twin challenges of climate change and the biodiversity crisis for land use and food production.

It’s great to be part of a University that is modelling sustainability, not only through its teaching and research, but also through its management of carbon emissions, resource use, employment, procurement and investment policies.”
Read more: https://rdg.ac/46ZhNNj

School doctoral researcher Alex Biss and Richard Ellis, Professor of Crop Science, were recently featured in Vineyard Magazine (https://ow.ly/tS3s50QilnV). They compared the mean quality predicted for still Chardonnay wine vintages produced in SE and S England from 1994 to 2023 using a model of the effect of weather on Chablis vintage ratings.

Richard says: “Climate change is challenging farming. One UK adaptation has been the successful move to viticulture to produce sparkling wines. Whilst high-quality still wines are more difficult in our climate, modelling suggests that the 2018 (especially), 2020, and 2022 vintages of Chardonnay still wine produced from grapes grown in South-East and Central South England were of high quality; more high-quality UK vintages are expected in future years.”

A quick reminder to all current UG and Masters students studying within the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development - applications for our six subject area student Digital Media Ambassador roles (advertised on Campus Jobs) close tomorrow!

Apply today and be a part of the School’s marketing team!

Find out more on Campus Jobs: https://campusjobs.reading.ac.uk/home.html

** Annual Hugh Bunting Memorial Lecture – Tuesday 24th October 7pm **

We are delighted that Professor Zeremiriam Fre, University of Reading graduate and founding director of the Pastoral and Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa (PENHA), will deliver the 17th Hugh Bunting Memorial Lecture in the School’s Madejski Lecture Theatre on Tuesday, 24th October at 7pm.

He will explore the history and livelihood systems in the Horn of Africa and the significance of pastoralism in ensuring food security and environmental protection, as well as the role of indigenous knowledge systems in promoting sustainable development that prioritises people’s needs.

To reserve your seat, please email Teresa Hicks at [email protected]

Aulia Oktadino Azre, MSc Agriculture and Development student, recently benefitted from receiving the Stanley Howard Hodgkin Scholarship, supporting his placement in Indonesia as he gained expertise in developing Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) .

Aulia says:

“This invaluable placement experience enriched my knowledge, benefitting my dissertation. Through brainstorming ideas and harvesting crops with the team, I gained a better understanding of agricultural practices and learned the process of creating CSA, which can improve farmers' livelihoods. I learned that implementing CSA in Indonesia requires collaboration between various sectors, including the government, farmers, community, and young generation. I credit the University of Reading as the best place to learn about Agriculture, and it is where I’ve made friends who encourage me towards my goals”.

Calling all current UG and Masters students studying within the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development…do you love writing for social media and are you passionate about sharing your experiences at the University of Reading with others?

If so, we have six job opportunities for subject area Student Digital Media Ambassadors, advertised on Campus Jobs that may interest you!

Be quick as applications close on Monday 23rd October.

Find out more on Campus Jobs: https://campusjobs.reading.ac.uk/home.html

Obianujunwa Umahi, MSc Applied International Development student, shares the benefits of receiving the Stanley Howard Hodgkin Scholarship as she returns from her internship at the Commonwealth Secretariat, London.

Obianujunwa says: “The University of Reading prepared me well for my internship through engaging in conversations, debates, and self-reflection, which I found most helpful in this role where I had the responsibility of supporting two crucial teams. The experience has given me a deeper understanding of contextual dynamics, and their resources were incredibly helpful for my dissertation.

This holistic experience combined my course modules and gave me the chance to network with industry professionals and learn from their expertise and experiences”.

This scholarship facilitates Industrial placements and research in Agriculture or Horticulture.

Guest speaker Guilherme Brady, Head of the Unit for Family Farming Engagement and Parliamentary Networks within FAO partnerships and the UN Collaboration Division, is visiting the School on Friday 29th September to talk about: “Delivering the UN Decade of Family Farming: the FAO perspective”.

The talk, hosted by the Department of International Development, based here in the School, starts at 4pm, in Room 1L04 of the Agriculture Building, and seeks to educate people about family farming in a world that is changing quickly. It emphasises the vital role family farmers play in ending hunger and shaping the future of food. Family farming is essential for promoting food security, enhancing livelihoods, effectively managing natural resources, preserving the environment, and achieving sustainable development.

Join us for a book tour of, and discussion about "Foreign Aid and Its Unintended Consequences" by Dirk-Jan Koch, Professor of International Trade and Development Cooperation at Radboud University and Chief Science Officer at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign affairs.

This is an ideal opportunity to enhance your knowledge and gain a better understanding of global development through a broad examination of the positives and negatives of foreign aid as we delve into its complexity, the repercussions and how it affects society.

The event takes place on Thursday, 28th September 2023, at 16:00 (BST) in the Frank Parkinson Room, School of Agriculture Policy and Development.

Registration is required - Click here to reserve your place, https://forms.office.com/e/H24Hz75TCr or join us online:
https://rdg.ac/3t2sbFD

MSc Agriculture and Development student, Eliud Ngeno, recently received a Stanley Howard Hodgkin scholarship to assist with his field research on coping with food insecurity and poverty through maise production in Bomet and Tranzoia County, in Kenya.

He says: “My visit enabled me to observe and interact with local farmers and communities, gaining knowledge about innovative agricultural techniques and their impact on local livelihoods. It has deepened my understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the agricultural sector and sustainable development.

It has also enhanced my academic journey at the University of Reading, which provided a supportive environment, exceptional faculty, and diverse learning opportunities, which have been pivotal in shaping my academic and personal growth.”

Furqat Usmanov, MSc Food Security and Development student and Chevening scholar here in the School, shares the benefits of studying at the University of Reading.

He said: “Receiving the fully funded Chevening Scholarship enabled me to pursue a master’s degree in the UK, which matched my academic and career interests. During my time at Reading, I have benefitted from a wide range of opportunities in a supportive environment, including optional modules like Agriculture Project Planning and Re-thinking Agriculture. This has enhanced my knowledge, which I believe will help my future career as I work towards my goal of reducing poverty through sustainable agricultural practices”.

Thomas Leicester, MSc Agriculture and Development student, was awarded the Stanley Howard Hodgkin scholarship to support his thesis research. He shares the benefits of his recent visit to Extremadura, Spain, where he studied the agroecosystem of Dehesa - an oak savannah sustained by grazing livestock.

He said: “The experience allowed me to apply theory from my degree and learn from the livestock farmers facing unique challenges in this complex environment. This taught me how the Dehesa functions, the challenges of raising animals in an arid environment, and the impact of climate change on water scarcity. The knowledge gained will enable me to contribute to the fields of agriculture and development significantly. It was an enjoyable and enriching cross-cultural experience”.

Lamin Dibba, MSc Agriculture and Development student, shares the advantages of studying at the University of Reading, thanks to a fully funded Chevening Scholarship.

He says: “This programme has given me a deeper understanding of sustainable food production systems and global agricultural issues. My experience at Reading has been transformative, opening diverse opportunities to enhance my teaching, research expertise and employability skills. The knowledge and skills that I have acquired will be valuable for my career advancement in entering an increasingly competitive job market back home”.