Wild Campus Cirencester

10 Dec 2020

2020 saw the start of an exciting new project on campus. Wild Campus Cirencester is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Royal Agricultural University is lead partner working closing with the neighbouring Cirencester College and Deer Park School. Its aim is transformative habitat improvements across an area approximately half the size of Cirencester town.

James Hargreave joined us in November as Project Manager bringing over 20 years of project and environmental management experience.

New centre puts farmer priorities at heart of innovation research

04 Dec 2020

Leading universities team up to focus agricultural research where it can make most difference on the ground.

Farmers will have a bigger role in agricultural research and development that works for them, thanks to a new academic centre announced today.

Students contribute to rare arable wildflower field study

03 Dec 2020

RAU lecturers and students are studying the reintroduction of Spreading Hedge-parsley (Torilis arvensis), a rare plant that is associated with cultivated land.

New Chief Instructor and Equine Facility Manager takes the reins at RAU equestrian facility

01 Dec 2020

The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) has appointed Jake Bromley-Fowles as Chief Instructor and Equine Facility Manager at Fossehill – the University’s equestrian enterprise.

Jake, who starts in the new post at the beginning of December, has extensive experience in equine competition, training and breeding programmes.

He said: “I am delighted to be starting my new post at Fossehill. The yard has so much potential and I am excited to embrace the challenges of this role.

Next decade key for biodiversity, climate change and humanity, RAU’s Bledisloe Lecture hears

27 Nov 2020

The role that food, farming and forestry must play in meeting the challenges of climate disruption, nature depletion and human health was explored in an enlightening discussion at the Royal Agricultural University’s (RAU) annual Bledisloe Lecture.

Speaking to an online audience of 275 people, Chief Executive of the Soil Association Helen Browning, said: “We have certainly got to change the way we are farming.

RAU co-hosts Climate Smart Agriculture webinar with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

23 Nov 2020

Held on 3 November, the webinar provided a timely opportunity to share best practice and leading policy initiatives in both the Netherlands and the UK.

In his welcome, Dutch Ambassador Karel van Oosterom highlighted the threat climate change poses to our agrifood systems. Ambassador van Oosterom called attention to the commonalities in the UK and Dutch farming sectors and the potential for the exchange of knowledge and best practices between stakeholders in the UK and Dutch sectors.

Two RAU Students have been selected for a National Agricultural Award

07 Oct 2020

Elin Havard and Amelia Preston have each received a ‘Centenary Award’ bursary for their postgraduate agricultural studies from the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust.

The Centenary Award was launched by the UK’s leading rural insurer NFU Mutual to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2010. It provides annual bursaries to pay up to 75% of course fees for selected postgraduate students in agriculture, Elin and Amelia were two of only three students from across the UK to have been chosen for the award in 2020.

RAU shortlisted for Times Higher Education Award

29 Sep 2020

The Royal Agricultural University’s (RAU) growing reputation for entrepreneurial success has been recognised in the annual Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2020.

The University is one of only six finalists in the ‘Outstanding Entrepreneurial University’ category of the 16th THE Awards, widely known as the “Oscars of higher education.”

Lecturer shortlisted in global photo competition on soil biodiversity

23 Sep 2020

A lecturer from the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) is a finalist in a photo competition highlighting the importance of soil biodiversity from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

The photo and video competition from the FAO and its Global Soil Partnership was created to promote and give visibility to the importance of soil organisms and raise awareness on the urgency of protecting soil biodiversity.

RAU begins collaboration with the Organic Research Centre

21 Sep 2020

The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) has agreed a collaborative partnership with the Organic Research Centre in Cirencester (ORC) to expand industry links and research and teaching opportunities.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed virtually this week (17 September) by Jo Price, Vice-Chancellor of the RAU and Professor Neil Ravenscroft, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International), together with Dr Bruce Pearce, Director of Research and Innovation from the ORC and Lucy MacLennan, CEO.