​BEMB Trust support new Post Graduate project  2018 - 2022
 
It is the policy of the BEMB Research and Education Trust to fund a Post Graduate Award every other year for research into projects relating to hen egg production.  Each Award is for a period of 4 years and sponsorship is based upon BBSRC rates.

The Trust has identified research towards the longer term control of infestations of poultry red mite (PRM), Gallinae dermanyssus, as a particular topic for study at the current time but also considers other topics it considers important to the UK egg industry. After a call for new projects during 2017, the Trustees are pleased to confirm that, rather than the usual one award, the Trust will be supporting 2 new PhD projects and students starting in October 2018. The first project will be supervised by Prof. Richard James Hopkins BSc(Hons) PhD, FRES at the University of Greenwich looking at 'Biological and Chemical Characterisation of Aggregation Pheromones and habitat seeking kairomones in Poultry Red Mites to enhance baited trapping control strategies.' The second PhD project will be supervised by Dr Erica Bickerton BSc PhD at the Pirbright Institute looking into 'Characterisation of the infectious bronchitis virus E protein for rational vaccine design'. by ke a project entitled "Understanding population, genetic and antigenic diversity of the poultry red mite to improve prospects for successful vaccine development".

The Trustees have also awarded pump priming funds to Dr Daniel Horton MA VetMB MSc PhD MRCVS at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey to look into the '​Poultry microbiome as a predictor of health and productivity'.
 

'What is the future for colony and caged egg production?' study topic for new Nuffield Farming Scholar

James Corbett is currently being sponsored by the BEMB to undertake his research study during 2017/18 into the future of colony and caged egg production. James is the 31st Nuffield Scholar to have been sponsored by the BEMB Trust. James grew up on a family farm where his parents have produced and sold eggs since he was born. He studied at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne for both his undergraduate degree and an MA in International Finance Analysis. After ten years working as an accountant James took a job with the UK's second largest egg packer and producer, working with producers and retail customers in growing that business and initiating new ideas and strategies. He currently works for a food company that produces and packs eggs as well as producing chicken. He is married with two children and lives in Wiltshire.
The Research
In the context of the growth of alternative egg production systems in the UK (as opposed to colony or caged egg systems) and the announcement by a number of UK retailers that they will not sell eggs from colony systems from 2025, the big question is, what is going to replace colony egg? Approximately 50% of the UK laying flock is in colony systems so the supply chain will need time to react and invest to meet retailer requirements and the customer will still expect value in the products it buys. James is keen to understand how other developed countries are reacting to similar change and how they see their markets evolving and to what alternative production methods? 

​James will report his findings at the end of 2018.