Introduction

Rural and allied businesses in the Yorkshire region and beyond will benefit from cutting-edge research and a pool of industry expertise which will prepare them for the issues posed by climate change, population growth and increasing government legislation thanks to the Bishop Burton Centre for Agricultural Innovation.

The Centre has been established to draw together all strands of land-based research currently carried out by staff and students at the College.

By establishing a Centre such as this, the results of valuable applied research can be used, built upon and promoted effectively to the betterment of agricultural and allied industries. 

This in turn will create knowledge transfer between the College, other academic organisations and industry partners, which can then be shared with food producers and other areas of industry.

Over the past four years Bishop Burton College has conducted, or been involved in many research projects and trials including:

• Slurry treatment, in order to reduce ammonia levels in pig houses and reduce leaching and volatolisation when spreading slurry to land, in conjunction with Plocher
• A comparison of growth rates and eating quality of conventional and traditional pig breeds
• Reduction/elimination of tail biting in growing pigs, in conjunction with FAI Farms, Bristol University
• Farrowing crate free systems, in conjunction with the RSPCA
• Maize under plastic vs. conventional growing techniques, in conjunction with Thompsons Feeds
• Yeast as a means of enhancing dairy cow rumen function, in conjunction with KW
• Research into seed transfer by a range of farm machinery, in conjunction with FERA
• Growth rate trials on a range of swards in conjunction with EBLEX
• Minimal cultivations, in conjunction with Sumo Engineering

By continuing and increasing the excellent research and trials work and industry partnering already undertaken by the College, Bishop Burton will be in a position to aid the Government in its plans to ensure that the nation’s food producers and rural businesses are prepared for the challenges as they arise.

“As educators, we must take the lead in preparing farmers and land-based industry for climate change and the introduction of new technologies and legislation and make sure they are working in line with the Government strategy.”

Bishop Burton College Principal Jeanette Dawson OBE