BEMB Trust support new Post Graduate project  2016 - 2020

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 the sole priority for funding at the current time.  Thus, after a call for projects during 2015, the Trustees are pleased to confirm that the Trust will be supporting a PhD student supervised by Dr Damer Blake at the Royal Veterinary College to undertake a project entitled "Understanding population, genetic and antigenic diversity of the poultry red mite to improve prospects for successful vaccine development" .

Free Range focus for new Nuffield Farming Scholar

A Nuffield Farming Scholarship to study "Improving  bird welfare on free range systems" has been awarded to Gordon Whiteford of Clochan in Morayshire, making him the 30th Nuffield Scholar to have been sponsored by the BEMB Trust. 33 year old Gordon is owner and sole manager of Highland Eggs, a company he started from scratch in 2005 producing organic eggs. Since then he has diversified into free range and packing/distribution of eggs locally. He took on a farm tenancy in 2012 and cereals are now grown for home mixed feed. In addition Gordon undertakes some agricultural contracting. 

He started his business by receiving a start-up loan from The Prince's Trust and was runner-up for the Farmers Weekly Poultry Farmer of the Year in 2012. He hopes to travel to Holland, Germany, Austria and up through Scandinavia before a later trip to the USA.

Gordon's report will be published towards the end of 2016.

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