17 June 2011

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.

Until now the lack of a clear career path and necessary training program has failed to attract people into the industry, this will all change with the first intake starting in October 2011.

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 MDS’s 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 PGRO’s 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”