Professor Michael Lee, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Harper Adams University, and Jordana Rivero of Promar International and Rothamsted Research delivered lectures to the 2025 cohort of Marshal Papworth students.

They discussed the workings and opportunities of the Global Farm Platform with the amazing Marshal Papworth Fund students at Harper Adams University, working to realise sustainable agricultural systems globally through research, education and knowledge exchange.

Prof Lee and Dr Rivero covered the major challenges facing global food security and how the GFP has been working since its inception in 2014 to support real change, focusing on:

– Feeding Livestock less human food
– Raising regionally appropriate Livestock
– Keeping animals healthy with the highest welfare
– Adopting smart supplements
– Eating animal-sourced foods focused on quality, not quantity
– Tailoring practices to local cultures
– Tracking costs and benefits
– Studying and sharing best practices across the network.

On the 5th of June, Prysor Williams of Bangor University and his team hosted the students’ visits delivering presentations and conducting a tour of the research facilities and experiments at Henfaes Research Centre.  
The Scholars were first given a welcome talk and overview of the facilities by Prof Prysor Williams, the Farm Manager.
They then went to one of the farm’s polytunnels, which is where Dr Tim Peters described a research study looking at sustainable production of tree saplings to meet afforestation needs is centred with one aim to develop an alternative to using peat-based compost as a growing medium.
Thereafter, Dr Katherine Steele and her PhD student, Elsie Olatunji, demonstrated their plant science work focused on breeding tomatoes resistant to early blight, and low phytate wheat and barley for the benefit of human health and the environment.
Dr Kara Marsden then explained her work in measuring GHG emissions from soils and livestock systems, using automated and manual samplers.
Students then heard from Dr Lucinda Kirkpatrick about their study focused on developing low-cost motion trackers for sheep to learn more about their behaviour and how the information can be used to improve breeding decisions and welfare.
Dr Adam Pinder then described a project looking at how separating cattle slurry impacts nutrient use efficiency in grassland, with measurements taken of ammonia and GHG emissions, impacts on grass yield and soil health.
Dr Miles Marshall and Prysor Williams then showed an ongoing trial monitoring how the use of plastic films to enhance the yield of maize is impacting on soil health and function, where a range of physical, chemical and biological measurements are taken. This was also an opportunity for students to hear about the long-term work at Henfaes focused on improving our knowledge of how biochar also affects soil and plant health and productivity.
Lastly, Drs Katherine Steele and David Shaw plus Mrs Sarah Vowles demonstrated their large trial focussed on breeding potatoes resistant to late blight as well as determining the success of different strategies to reduce the environmental costs of growing this important crop.