The Duchy Discussion Group recently welcomed Becky Willson to talk about Soils, Carbon and Climate. Increased focus on reducing emissions within agriculture has created a lot of negativity towards the sector, at a time where the industry is already volatile and has become susceptible to a lot of bad publicity.

Becky is Research Leader for The Soil Carbon Project at the Rural Business School, In 2017 Becky completed a Nuffield Scholarship and travelled around the world looking at agricultural emissions, soils and meeting global scientists within the industry. Becky has an unambiguous passion for areas related to soils, emissions and science and her knowledge around these topics is influential.

The group were provided with a very interesting talk that enabled everyone to have a clear understanding of the scientific and environmental factors that have been associated with agricultural emissions, and how we should be looking after our precious soils to enable better returns. Becky enabled the group to understand the various ways on how the industry can sustainably reduce theimpacts of farming on the environment, international and national targets to lower emissions and showed the group examples of work that Becky is involved in.

The group would like to thank Becky for taking the time to provide us with such an interesting and educational evening.

Duchy Discussion Group was set up in 2016 by an enthusiastic group of graduating students, who wished to join, or develop their own, progressive farming–related businesses. Their aim was to establish a dynamic forum to build on the motivation they developed during their time at Duchy College. Their activities have included visits to the Houses of Parliament, meetings with MPs George Eustice, the farming minister and Neil Parish, chair of the Efra Select Committee and various visits to leading farms. More recently the group has become the Young Innovators’ Forum, being joined by early–stage researchers from the partner organisations in the Agritech Cornwall project. New members are very welcome.
Please contact Rachel Abrahall at – rachel.abrahall@duchy.ac.uk or 07970985914.

A college in Devon is launching an apprenticeship aimed at those wanting a career in agricultural business management.

Bicton College and Duchy College have revealed details of the Level 4 Agricultural Business Management apprenticeship, which will be delivered at Bicton College from September, alongside the successful delivery from The Business Space at Launceston.

Programme Manager at Bicton College and Duchy College, Peter Reed, said that students will analyse data from their place of work and “interact with the expert deliverers on how things could be tweaked to enhance their business”.

“Apprentices will also create a full business plan for a rent tendering application and pitch to the banks for capital as if it were a real life scenario,” he continued.

“It might sound a little scary, but it’s of huge benefit to those apprentices and farms who would like to take a closer look at the way they do things and move their businesses forward.”

Aimed at those who have already successfully completed a Level 3 qualification or are looking to up skill, this next step is great for those working in agriculture who are looking to take on some management responsibility.

This work-based qualification is 100% delivered by industry experts, meaning that apprentices will receive high quality, relevant information and skills for sustainable farming, in a part-time programme focussing on their current job role.

The modules covered include nutrition, breeding and fertility; health and disease; environmental management and energy efficiency; analysing and improving financial performance; planning, budgeting and managing cash flow; tenancy applications plus leadership and management.

Completed over a two year period and requiring college attendance just one day per week, businesses putting an apprentice forward for this qualification will benefit from increased performance, tighter financial control, improved responsiveness to changes in the market, identification of new opportunities and improved profitability.

The programme includes two residential trips to look at excellence across the country, and assessment will be mainly farm-based and ongoing throughout the two years, with regular visits from as assessor.

For more information on the Level 4 Agricultural Business Management apprenticeship, please visit 0330 123 4785 www.cornwall.ac.uk