Written by: Sam Cusworth.  The use of plastics in agriculture is well established. Within the UK, plastics are used for a range of agricultural applications, ranging from propagation trays to greenhouse covers. However, the use of plastic in the UK agricultural system is poorly documented. Existing estimates are outdated by a decade and are crudely […]

Written by Catherine Walsh.  Upon starting my second year as a WCTP student, it was time for me to start thinking about a non-project related work placement. Fortunately for me, I didn’t have to think about it too long before the ideal position presented itself. I had already decided that a local, weekly position would […]

Written by Lucy Crowther.  Nematodes are a hugely diverse group of microscopic, unsegmented threadworms that are found all over the globe. Although harmless to humans, these nematodes are used for organic biological pest control in our vegetable patches. While some nematodes are serious pests in their own right, such as the potato cyst nematode, other species […]

Written by: Jamie Pike.  Over the past week, I have had several conversations about classification and taxonomy and something I have become quite familiar with throughout my PhD are the challenges surrounding banana and Fusarium classification. My PhD focuses on developing diagnostic tools for the disease Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) […]

Written by Dominic Hill:  My PhD project – investigating the effects of drought on potato phenotypes – involves the use of a very large, very heavy, multispectral imaging sensor. This sensor weighs around 150 kg and is, for all intents and purposes, a totally immovable object. Thus, I am unable to conduct my research on potato […]

Written by Ellie Barbrook: As the first year of my PhD is coming to a close I am rounding up my first experiment. Comparing methods for quantifying mineralizable/ plant available nitrogen (N) in soils. My PhD is focused on finding ways of retaining N in soils, in both plant available and non-available forms. This experiment […]

Written by: Keira Dymond. Pollinators are known to contribute significantly to human wellbeing.  They are responsible for about 1/3 of the food we eat, and they are also vital for other wild plant species, thereby helping to maintain the natural environment and functioning ecosystems. It is commonly assumed that most of these pollination services are […]

Written by Nick Kuht:  During last winter I was fortunate enough to be able to complete a 3-month placement with KTN, an organisation which seeks to connect and support business, government, research and the third sector in responding to challenges across a range of sectors, driving positive change through innovation. Specifically, I spent my placement […]

Written by: Mandy Stoker My farmer’s survey reveals the current state of play and provides an insight into views of this increasingly popular options for soil preservation. Agriculture is undergoing a green revolution.  Priorities are shifting away from greater yields at any cost, and towards a more compassionate system that invests in the environment and […]