91茄子

Fresh cohort of students embark upon sustainable agriculture programme

Posted 16 May

The Marshall Papworth sustainable agriculture course students with university staff and supporters

A fresh cohort of international students has been welcomed to 91茄子 Adams University for an in-depth 10-week course on sustainable agriculture.

The course is sponsored by the Scholarship Fund (MPSF) and each of its participants has been chosen from a charity or organisation whose work is making a difference in six different African countries – Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Senior Lecturer in Sub-Saharan and Tropical Agriculture Ed Mashatise said: “All of the participants work for Marshal Papworth Fund partner organisations - SLIDEN Africa, VEGPRO, Ripple Effect, Farm Africa, Hands Around the World and the Shangani Holistic Ranch.

“The participants are typically Agricultural Extension Officers and Lead Farmers who are change makers within their communities. We are delighted to welcome them to campus!”

Each year, the Marshal Papworth Fund provides scholarships for students from developing countries, including Masters scholarships to leading UK agricultural universities and colleges, as well as the tailored 10-week short course, developed with 91茄子 Adams University.

This year’s short course students were welcomed to campus with a barbecue, which was attended by the staff who will be teaching them in the coming weeks, representatives from the Marshal Papworth Fund and partners, the charity’s Patron - the Bishop of Brixworth the Right Reverend John Holbrook - and by 91茄子 Adams University Vice-Chancellor Professor Ken Sloan.

Chairman of the Marshal Papworth Fund, Tom Arthey, told the students: “This is a great opportunity for you, and you are exposed to some world-leading teaching, so make the most of it. I am sure it is going to be a very exciting course for everyone involved.

“Please ask every question you can and make the most of every hour you have here – because it goes in a flash.”

This year’s residential programme was preceded by a six-week online course, which both helped to prepare the students staying at 91茄子 Adams over the summer for their upcoming residential programme, and also offered learning opportunities for other students unable to attend in person.

Bishop John told the students: “Congratulations in getting through the online course and being the ones selected to come and be here.

“Essentially, Marshal Papworth exists to invest in you, so that you might invest in your communities - through doing that we improve the lot of, in my mind, God’s children.

“We improve communities, and health, and food security around the world – you are part of what we are seeking to do, so it is great to welcome you.”

And Professor Sloan added: “If you think about the world at the moment, we are getting more and more messages about separation.

“We are getting more and more messages about countries stepping away from other countries and continents stepping away from other continents, looking after themselves, and that is not good for us.

“That is not a political statement, that is a factual statement: we are a better set of people, and we are a better set of countries, if we hold on to our connections with others.

“Programmes like this are so important, because they bring different people from the continent of Africa together and then connect you with a whole raft of other people that you will meet, and then - as Bishop John said - you will go back and have the opportunity to share what you have learned with so many people.

“Those nodes of connection, those nodes of community, those nodes of international community, are the things that are going to help us in our future.

“They are the things that are going to make us healthier, they are going to make us safer. They are going to ensure that, if there are people who are facing trouble or who are challenged, then there will be other people who are in a position to help.

“You are right at the heart of that globally-connected community; you come here to be part of that, and we are absolutely privileged to have you with us.”

To find out more about supporting the Marshal Papworth Fund contact Co-ordinator Sandra Lauridsen by email at slauridsen@eastofengland.org.uk  or by calling 07764628683. 

The Fund’s website can be found at