An important part of keeping our business fresh and forward-thinking is to keep searching for the next innovation. We want our business to lead the development of new varieties in our products. We want it to be Thanet Earth that trials and recommends new packaging materials for our customers and which pioneers new growing techniques and sustainability initiatives in our greenhouses.
New varieties that offer even better flavour are always on our wishlist. But to run your own variety development programme is a very complex and costly operation, and to take this on as a challenge within our commercial greenhouse at Thanet Earth is a step too far for us at present. Thinking creatively around our need for a research programme and our desire to build closer relationships with the next generation of horticulturists training in the UK, we’ve invested in the Thanet Earth Discovery Fellowship.
Thanet Earth offered the Horticulture degree students at Hadlow College the opportunity to apply for a paid part-time research position. The successful applicant would train in the tomato greenhouse at Thanet Earth and apply their knowledge by planting and operating a greenhouse at Hadlow College dedicated to variety development trials.
This would allow Thanet Earth to assess new varieties in an environment designed to closely mirror conditions at Thanet Earth. It would also allow the successful student the opportunity to undertake paid work experience in a commercially-driven placement, mentored by industry experts.
Tom Pilcher is the 2012 Discovery Fellowship student. Read the press release here ›
