MSc Crop Production

Why ARU?

• Writtle was first established in 1893 and has been producing leaders in the land-based industries for over 130 years.
• Our campus is located in the beautiful Essex countryside, set on a rural 150-hectare farm and gardens.
• You will have access to our research glasshouses and regenerative agriculture demonstration areas.
• Explore our tropical greenhouse and ornamental gardens, offering a diverse and hands-on learning environment.

With rising populations, climate change, and increasing pressure on land use, the need for sustainable crop production has never been more urgent. The production industry continues to evolve, embracing new technologies, production techniques, and alternative crops that can be grown sustainably. Our MSc Crop Production course at ARU Writtle is designed to equip you with the advanced knowledge and practical skills needed to address these global challenges.

You will explore modern growing systems and innovative approaches that help maintain and enhance the environment. On campus, you'll benefit from specialist facilities including a research glasshouse and our working campus farm. You will also network with commercial growers and postharvest operations, learning from real-world applications of what you study.

On successful completion of this MSc Crop Production degree, you'll possess the knowledge and skills to gain employment with crop producers and in management positions with major import/export organisations. There are also opportunities to undertake further research.

We offer several examples of dissertation projects completed in collaboration with industry, highlighting the practical applications of the research:

• APS Salads: As one of our key industry partners, APS Salads (the second-largest tomato producer in the UK) worked with MSc students on addressing industry-specific questions, which led to invaluable hands-on experience and publication contributions. This collaboration not only resulted in peer-reviewed papers but also facilitated further research with APS Salads, which continues to support and collaborate on student projects.
• Everris: Through our work with Everris, students have had the opportunity to undertake dissertation projects that investigate sustainable agricultural practices and innovations in fertiliser application, leading to further collaboration in both academic and commercial settings.
• Palmstead Nurseries: Our collaboration with Palmstead Nurseries has provided MSc students with the opportunity to engage in research on plant production systems and sustainable horticultural practices, resulting in valuable insights that benefit both academic research and industry practices.
• Tozer Seeds: Tozer Seeds, a leader in seed production, has partnered with us to offer students dissertation projects on plant breeding and seed production, providing practical research opportunities that contribute to industry innovation.
• iGrowing: A strategic collaboration with iGrowing, a leader in vertical farming technology, enabled MSc students to engage in research on sustainable farming practices and technology integration. This partnership led to real-world applications and substantial industry input into dissertation projects.
• Syngenta: Collaboration with Syngenta, a global leader in crop protection and seed production, has provided students with industry-led research opportunities, particularly in the areas of crop management, pest control, and sustainable practices in agriculture.

Currently, we have students advancing to PhDs, with three graduates from previous cohorts having progressed to PhD programmes at institutions such as Essex University, University of Reading, and The Open University. Additionally, Ruvini Ranasingha, one of our graduates, has now been employed as a lecturer, showcasing the career progression our MSc program supports.

Past students’ dissertation work has also played a significant role in furthering research, with some being named as authors on published papers:

• Ranasingha, R., et al. (2024). Amino acid-based biostimulants and microbial biostimulants promote the growth, yield, and resilience of strawberries in soilless glasshouse cultivation. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment, 3(3), p. e12113. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12113
• Wai, M.M., et al. (2024). Enhancing lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) propagation in vertical farming systems: Investigating the impact of LED red-to-blue ratios and subsequent post-potting growth dynamics. Industrial Crops and Products, 219, pp. 119107-. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.119107
• Lorch-Schierning, E., Perera, A., & Baghalian, K. (2024). Using vertical farming systems for propagating everbearing strawberry: Physiological and technological feasibility assessment. Journal of Berry Research, 14(2), 105-126. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3233/JBR-230051