Thirteen students from across Tasmania have been awarded scholarships totalling almost $250,000 to study agriculture at the University of Tasmania.
Interim Director of the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) Professor Mike Rose said it was fantastic to see young people interested in pursuing a career in agriculture.
“TIA works closely with industry to conduct research, development, extension and education to support Tasmanian farmers and processers. Our research aims to help improve productivity in Tasmania’s agriculture and food sectors and ensure businesses are sustainable for the longer-term,” Professor Rose said.
“Highly skilled agricultural graduates are in strong demand in Tasmania. The training of Tasmania’s future agriculture workforce is one of the ways we are supporting industry to adapt to future challenges, including increased climate variability.
“These challenges are why so many of our students are drawn to the science behind agriculture and how they can help grow and improve the industry. We work closely with industry partners to ensure our students have practical, real-world experiences that equip them with the best possible start in their careers.”
Professor Rose said TIA was extremely grateful for the generous support of scholarship donors, including individuals, industry and community organisations.
“We are thankful for their support of our students and for choosing to invest in the future of agriculture in Tasmania,” Professor Rose said.
One of the scholarship recipients for 2020 is Miss Anna Mackintosh, from Hobart, who received the Costa Honours Scholarship in Agricultural Science.
The $10,000 award will support Miss Mackintosh’s honours research into the impact of powdery mildew disease on strawberries. Her research will provide vital information to industry by helping it to understand how the fungus spreads and how it can be mitigated.
“The scholarship, alongside support from the Costa strawberry farm in East Devonport, has allowed me to invest in a project that can directly benefit industry. I am extremely grateful to Costa for this opportunity,” Miss Mackintosh said.
Costa is one of the biggest employers of University of Tasmania agriculture graduates and works closely with TIA on many research projects for the horticulture sector.
Costa has been a strong supporter of the scholarship program since 2016, through the Costa North-West Scholarship in Agricultural Science and the Costa Honours Scholarship in Agricultural Science.
Mr Cameron Folder, Costa’s Regional Manager for Tasmania, said investing in education, particularly in the field of agriculture was critical.
“Agriculture is a key driver for the economy in the North-West of Tasmania, and we need to continue to invest in developing skills and expertise to support the ongoing sustainability of the industry,” Mr Folder said.
The agricultural scholarship recipients for 2020 are:
- Kara Devlin, Agriculture and Food Systems Scholarship;
- Caitlyn Badcock, Driscoll’s Scholarship in Agricultural Science;
- Hayley Doohan, Alice Baty, Nellie Gillespie, Jordan Burr, Give for Good Scholarship in Agriculture;
- Monique Maclaine, Hedley Lux Gregg Bursary in Agricultural Science;
- Zoe Byrne, John Turner Memorial Scholarship in Agricultural Science;
- Stuart Johnson, David McEwan Scholarship in Agriculture;
- Etienne DeKock, Neale Edwards Scholarship in Agricultural Science or Forestry;
- Dannielle Chandler, Tasmanian Beef Industry Trust Scholarship in Agricultural Science;
- Anna Mackintosh, Costa Honours Scholarship in Agricultural Science;
- Laura Febey, Costa North-West Scholarship in Agricultural Science.
TIA is a joint venture between the University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government.
Image: Costa Honours Scholarship recipient Anna Mackintosh, from Hobart.
