Food for thought

Academics at Nottingham Trent University have been sowing the seeds for international agricultural research links by offering a unique training programme for key figures from Indian agriculture and food manufacturing.

The six-week programme has enabled ten delegates from the states of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh to develop their knowledge of agri-business systems in the United Kingdom and explore how these could be used to improve the infrastructure of Indian food production.

The initiative has received funding from the Indo-British Partnership, which is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry. It was devised jointly by the university's Nottingham Business School and department of land-based studies, at Brackenhurst, Southwell, with a view to developing future research links between India and the UK.

Coordinator, Raj Shirole of Nottingham Business School, said: "This initiative provides an opportunity for the farming community of both nations to share experiences and learn from one another."

Details: www.ntu.ac.uk