Wednesday, 25 April 2007
Wye this?
The battle for Wye has been won.
Plans by Imperial College and Kent County Council to develop a large part of the Wye College campus in the village of Wye for housing, have been shelved after an intense and concerted campaign by residents.
The battle for Wye College has been lost.
Wye College, once a centre of excellence in agriculture and renowned throughout the world for its research and postgraduate programs is no more. Now, home to applied business management programs, its agricultural role has been expunged.
Wye College was caught between the funding trap that smaller university departments face and indifference by government and media towards agriculture. But that was five years ago. How times change.
A recent warning by Prof Bill McKelvey that the UK may face food shortages within 25 years has again highlighted the necessity for a viable and productive agriculture in the UK. Meanwhile, wider warnings about the impact of global warming, particularly to many 3rd world countries, provide a stark reminder of just how important agriculture remains to the world.
Wye College used to cost a few £ million to run each year. Many of its overseas students returned home where they applied their learning to help some of the poorest nations on earth to develop their own agriculture, advancing the wealth and wellbeing or their peoples. More than ever we are all going to miss Wye College.
Education, education, education?
Replies:
24 May 2007
Chris: Mankind could not exist without agriculture. Mechnaized farming is one of the greatest achievments of man of all time. This world needs to refocus and realize how important agriculture is to our future. Especially local supported agriculture. That is why I am proud that we at Salem Farm Supply, Inc support local ag and local students by taking in high schools students on "internships" to give them a jump start on agricultural engineering education.
4 May 2007
Katie Owens: As an ex agricuture student from Wye i couldnt agree more.
