Horticulture

Writtle College is one of the most famous and well-respected centres for horticultural technology and research. Postgraduate students from the College are highly regarded throughout this international industry, and often go on to work on major projects affecting the production, storage and supply of food and fuel crops across the globe.

Postgraduate study programmes

Writtle College offers taught horticulture awards on a full and part-time basis including International Horticulture, Horticulture (Crop Production), Postharvest Technology, Landscape Management and Historic Designed Landscapes.

Each award can be pursued by research, leading to an MSc, MPhil or PhD, and each can be studied on a full or part-time basis. Students considering working towards a PhD should allow a minimum of three years full-time or eight years part-time investigation. The Horticulture department will always endeavour to meet the needs of postgraduate students. For example, provided that suitable arrangements can be guaranteed, it may be possible for students to spend some or almost all of their study period at their own institution or organisation.

Horticulture research and consultancy

Research activity and consultancy work are significant aspects of postgraduate programmes within the Horticulture department, covering many aspects of crop production and fresh produce management.

A major research interest is the storage of fresh produce. Current investigations include bedding plants and cut flowers as well as sliced vegetables and tropical fruits. Staff research activity embraces techniques for storage and modified packaging as well as improvements in national and international transport.

Horticultural staff are committed to expanding research activity at Writtle College, which is why the College is always keen to look at new areas and topics. For example, the College is currently investigating the beneficial effects of extracted plant oils on animal and human health. First results from this exciting new area should be appearing in the near future.

Research partners

The Horticulture department enjoys excellent relations with the research sectors of several major international organisations and universities such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Egerton University in Kenya, the Rubber Research Institute in Sri Lanka and the Parks department in Bermuda. These are in addition to relations with universities in the UK, such as Cranfield University, University of Nottingham and University of Abertay. Additionally, the department carries out regular consultancy studies for international companies working in Central/Southern Africa, Egypt, Eastern Europe and South East Asia, who produce and trade in fresh produce.