On Thursday it was announced that all research conducted by Harper Adams University is of international quality and that more than 50 per cent is either world leading or internationally excellent.

The assessment of Harper Adams' output was conducted as part of a programme investigating the quality of research in the UK. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) has replaced the Research Assessment Exercise, which was last carried out in 2008. REF assessed research at over 150 higher education institutions and made the call on the Shropshire land-based college.

REF will be responsible for allocating funding from an annual pot of £2 billion to universities in Britain, based on the quality and volume of their research. The assessment is intended to provide accountability for public spending, and look at the impacts of public spending decisions on research.

The University's Vice-Chancellor, Dr David Llewellyn, said Harper Adams had boosted its position since the last assessment, by hiring more research staff and investing in interdisciplinary research centres. Dr Llewellyn said, "We are delighted to have made such significant progress... Conducting research of direct relevance to the agri-food sector, whilst also addressing new technological developments and the challenge of global food security, have been fundamental elements of our strategy. 

"We have clearly shown that our research is of international standing, with elements that are world leading, and this will further strengthen our research activities in the years ahead. Our overall rating also confirms our position as the leading specialist higher education institution for agricultural research in England."

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Mills, said the investment in research (including the founding of research centres focusing on precision farming, integrated pest management and soil and water management) "Has led to an increase of more than 800% in research income from diverse sources."

Prof Mills continued, "This income has allowed our academic staff to conduct essential research into exciting new areas such as biofumigation, waterproofing wheat crops and precision farming. Our top ten professorial staff have around 25,000 citations from other scientists around the world, clearly demonstrating the quality of the research undertaken by them."

"Today's announcement confirms the distance that Harper Adams has moved towards delivering internationally excellent research," the professor said.