Leading agronomic collaboration launches new Agronomy Succession Training Partnership at Cereals
An innovative and industry leading collaboration between industry partners, Association of Independent Crop Consultants (AICC), Syngenta, PGRO (Processors and Growers Research Organisation), is delighted to introduce Management Development Services (MDS) at CEREALS, who will be providing a new training programme in response to the growing problem of the shortage of graduates considering agronomy as a career.
MDS, a leading recruitment and training organisation, has been running a successful post-graduate development programme for the fresh produce industry for nearly twenty five years: Based on the success of this programme, discussions with industry partners have lead us to develop a more arable focussed option, says MDS Chairman, Doug Henderson.
The aim of the new program will be to recruit agronomy trainees and provide them with a more practical route through the first two years offering more agronomy, plant breeding and research placements. They will meet the challenges of various roles including crop protection, quality control, farm & harvest management, research and field trials, commercial sales, technical development and agronomy. The third year will provide much more specific agronomy placements as well as Facts and BASIS training, delivered by MDSs academic partner, Harper Adams University College.
In essence the course has been designed to ensure that our future agronomists are equipped with a wide level of skill, experience, knowledge and qualifications so that they provide member companies with agronomists who have demonstrated their capability and potential, he says.
We are delighted to take on this new opportunity with three leading organisations in the arable sector. Our own fresh produce members too have identified agronomy skills as a priority for the future, as technology demands increase.
Sarah Cowlrick CEO on behalf of AICC is delighted to be a key player in driving this initiative forward: This is the first stage of a very exciting venture which is hoped will gain a wider audience over time. AICC is fully committed to addressing the succession issue within independent agronomy and the industry as a whole, and our members will be actively involved in providing vital work experience to agronomy graduates.
Commenting for Syngenta, Gary Mills-Thomas, commercial head of the company for UK and Ireland, said: The need to produce more food from less land as we move forward is going to require not only innovative technology, but also well-trained and highly-motivated people. At Syngenta we recognise the importance of attracting and nurturing talented individuals within the agri-science industry, and welcome the opportunity to provide graduates with a step on their career ladders.
Managing succession and attracting skilled new staff into crucial technical roles is a constant challenge for organisations like ours, says PGROs Salvador Potter. We are pleased to be able to help deliver the research and trials experience for these trainees which will be so crucial to the wider industry
The New Agronomy Programme:
- MDS is a non-profit making recruitment and training organisation with approximately 26 members specialising in the fresh food, produce, horticultural and arable supply chain.
- The MDS work based training programme has been in existence for 25 years, has trained over 250 trainees and was accredited by Harper Adams University College in 2007 to deliver a Postgraduate certificate.
- The three-year programme includes 6 six-month secondments where trainees take responsibilities across the arable, horticulture and fresh produce supply chain in MDS member organisations.
- AICC celebrates its 30 year anniversary this year. Since its inception in 1981 it has developed into the largest group of independent crop consultants in the EU with members advising on over 1.4m hectares.
- Syngenta is one of the worlds leading companies with more than 26,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Our Crop Protection and Seeds products help growers increase crop yields and productivity. We contribute to meeting the growing global demand for food, feed and fuel and are committed to protecting the environment, promoting health and improving the quality of life.
- PGRO is the non-statutory levy body responsible for providing independent research and advice to processors, agronomists and growers of protein crops in the UK.
- Harper Adams University College is the leading provider of university education to the rural economy. It has pioneered many novel workforce development projects, building on its expertise in higher education, research and reach-out work. Not least amongst these projects has been the MDS Postgraduate Certificate in Food and Fresh Produce Management, the first programme of its type.