Crop and
Environment
Trials

With over 20 years of experience running trials at Harper Adams University, this sector provides independent trials for both academic and industry partners, whilst providing support for Harper Adams University students.

The sector works in cocert with academic services providing the highest level of care and commitment to education.

The sector also collaborates with the environmental sustainability (ES) Land and Soil Group, by establishing cereal trial plots for the group.

More Information:

An industry-class environment for academic research

As a research centre, we provide the facilities and expertise that fuels the research carried out by academic staff in the crop and environment disciplines. Research carried out by staff here includes:

Sustainable production of food and non-food crops
Crop protection (including forecasting, diagnostics, biocontrol, novel forms of control and the implications for food and environmental safety)
Post-harvest quality
Efficient use of water by plants
The impact of production systems on biodiversity

We also provide many of the crop demonstrations that underpin our degree programmes and continuing professional development training.

Our facilities and equipment

Along with access to the university’s farm, biotechnology laboratories, engineering workshops and national network of trial sites, our facilities and equipment include:

a purpose-built research building
walk-in cold storage
glasshouses
drying ovens
polytunnels
a range of trials-specific equipment and machinery

Student Support

Students are expected to complete an independent piece of research as part of their studies here. Whilst they can complete this on placement or on their own farms, many choose to use the facilities and expertise we have within the Future Farm team. Students benefit from utilising the equipment we require to conduct research and commercial trials, along with the experience and expertise of the academic and technical staff.

Commercial trials

Commercial Cropping and Farm Operation trials are hugely important to us. As an independent company we guarantee to conduct unbiased research, ensuring that the results of any trial work published by us are the actual results.

Due to our unique ability to draw on both academic and technical knowledge is a range of areas, we are able to grow almost any crop.

We also hold an ORETO licence from the Chemical Regulatory Directorate allowing test chemicals to be trialled.