LINKS:

Related Websites
The Morley Agricultural Foundation provides links to other websites providing information about funding and research opportunities in the field of agriculture and the countryside which can be accessed by clicking on the entries listed below. The provision of a link does not necessarily constitute endorsement by the Morley Agricultural Foundation of the content of the linked site or the aims and objectives of the owners of that site.

Independent UK Funders
Selected providers of funding, other than the Morley Agricultural Foundation, of particular interest to students wishing to qualify in aspects of agriculture and the environment:

• The Chadacre Trust A Charitable Trust with the noble aim of promoting “the education of the public in all aspects of agriculture and farming by providing grants for training and research.” A Body of Governors meets regularly to assess grant applications and allocate funding, essentually for students and projects in Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire or Essex.

• The Perry Foundation The Perry Foundation was set up in 1970 in memory of Lord Perry, the first Chairman of the British Ford Motor Company, to administer his bequest by granting awards and postgraduate scholarships in agriculture and related subjects “that are of definable benefit to UK agriculture.” Candidates should be holders of 1st class or 2:1 honours degrees in appropriate subjects.

Leading UK Agricultural Science Research Facilities
The following list of organisations is not exclusive. It includes Institutes, Universities, Colleges and other research bodies engaged in various farming-related projects ranging from strategic to applied research:

• The Arable Group Provides independent agronomic advice using information derived from a large network of trials currently carried out at 23 centres across the UK. The trial programme, which is essentially applied research, is planned in conjunction with Technical Committees elected by local farmer members whose subscriptions are the main source of funding.

• PGRO Funded largely through crop levies, the Processors and Growers Research Organisation carries out an extensive programme of trials at its base at Thornhaugh near Peterborough and at other locations around the country, mainly covering variety testing and investigations of the husbandry requirements of peas, beans and lupins.

• Cranfield University A research-based university, wholly postgraduate (unique in the UK), with a global reputation for finding, through the exploitation of research, ingenious practical solutions for industrial problems. This often involves taking a multidiscipline approach, integrating science and engineering skills for example. Campuses in Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes.

• NIAB The National Institute of Agricultural Botany, a plant science research organisation developing parental plant breeding material, research, technical services and training in plant genetic resources for world-wide use. With over 80 years experience in the agricultural and food sectors, it has a reputation for independence, innovation and integrity. The traditional core activities are variety characterisation and evaluation, seed testing, operating official seed certification schemes and training.

• Scottish Agricultural College Formed by the amalgamation of former Agricultural Colleges at Aberdeen, Ayr and Edinburgh and research farm centres in Dumfries, Midlothian and Stirlingshire this multi-site education and research facility is expressly tasked “to help improve the sustainability of land-based industries”, working on crop and livestock systems and the wider rural economy in Scotland. There is an extensive applied research programme supported by levy, public and other funds.

• Harper Adams University College Tracing its origins back to Harper Adams Agricultural College established in 1901 the present University College is located in Shropshire and maintains agriculture and the rural economy as its core interest. Both strategic and applied research have become of increasing importance to the College. This is embodied in the mission statement and has led to the creation of the Centre for Rural Innovation which coordinates the various research and education programmes.

• Scottish Crop Research Institute The SCRI is financed by the Scottish Office and is part of the UK agriculture and food research service. The Institute, which is based in Dundee, has a co-ordinated programme of strategic and applied research to advance knowledge in the biological sciences, to improve the quality of crops and to improve the efficiency and predictability of crop production with due regard for the environment.

• IACR – Rothamsted Internationally renowned research station in Hertfordshire with a mission statement anticipating recognition “as a primary source of scientific research and new knowledge…to enhance the economic, environmental and societal value of agricultural land.” Carries out a largely government-funded programme of applied and strategic research to improve crop production within the constraints of a sustainable agriculture.

• IACR – Brooms Barn As part of Rothamsted Research, this research station near Newmarket, in Suffolk, carries out “strategic and applied research for the benefit of the UK beet sugar industry” which helps fund its work through levies.

• John Innes Centre A renowned international centre near Norwich for plant science and microbiology research. The main aim is “to carry out fundamental and strategic research, to train scientists and make their findings available to the public.” This involves a wide range of science disciplines, especially in biological and chemical sciences. Work there is funded by over 40 different organizations including the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Also on the JIC site:

• The Sainsbury Laboratory carrying out research in molecular plant pathology and genetics.

• Plant Bioscience Limited set up to exploit plant science discoveries for profit.

• The Norwich Bio-Incubator, providing facilities to encourage private and commercial interests to develop plant science ideas and technologies.

Universities Offering Agricultural Science Research Facilities

• University of Reading Long established university with strong faculties of agriculture and biological sciences at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

• University of Newcastle Long established university with strong faculties of agriculture, agronomy and biological sciences at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

• University of Nottingham Long established university with strong schools of agriculture, biological and environmental sciences at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

• University of East Anglia Internationally renowned university based in Norwich, with strong faculties of natural and biological sciences at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

• University of Essex Relatively new university based in Colchester with strong faculties of biological sciences and environmental studies at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Also closely associated with agricultural studies and research at Writtle College

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• University College, London Long established university with strong faculty of earth sciences at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

• University of Plymouth Internationally renowned university with a strong faculty of science which includes the world leading Terrestrial Ecology Research Group working at the postgraduate level.