Growing up With growing: Spud trial plants seed for budding farmers

摘要

A FORMAL partnership between Sprent Primary School and Farmers Marketing Network has given pupils a chance to get a taste of real-life farming, Last week, in a national first, pupils were able to harvest Dutch cream potatoes they have nurtured since they were planted on September 3. This was part of a commercial trial to measure the best time to apply a particular supplement to the crop, Dr Mike Walker is a consultant plant physiologist for Farmers Marketing Network, a company that makes a range of natural products, and he also has a background in educational development, He said the idea behind the project came from concern about a lack of awareness of the reality of agriculture in the wider community, "There is a screaming shortage of trained people to go into agribusiness," he said.