Agriculture students receive industry backing

Date published: 31 March 2026

The event showcased the powerful impact of long-standing industry partnerships and the generous financial support from companies who continue to invest in the next generation of agricultural professionals studying at Greenmount Campus.

The 2026 CAFRE Industry Support Programme awarded £39,000 to students studying Agriculture programmes at CAFRE. Students enrolled on the Ulster University validated BSc (Hons) Degree and Foundation Degree Agriculture programmes, and the Queen’s University Belfast BSc (Hons) Degree in Agricultural Technology programme were eligible to apply.

Industry partners

Twenty Bursary awards, valuing £31,500 were presented to first year Agriculture students. Bursaries were provided by Abbey Autoline, Ai Services, Bank of Ireland, Calor Gas Ltd, Dairy Council for Northern Ireland, Dale Farm, Danske Bank, Genus ABS, Gibson Trust, Irish Farmers’ Journal, John Thompson and Sons Ltd, Lakeland Dairies, Lantra, Livestock and Meat Commission, National Sheep Association NI, Tyrone Farming Society, Ulster Farmers’ Union, the Ulster Grassland Society and Yara.

Additionally, three second-year students were presented with Scholarship awards worth £7,500 from the ABP Food Group, Fane Valley Stores and Pilgrim’s Europe.

Speaking at the CAFRE combined Industry Support Programme Awards event, Mr Paul McHenry, interim CAFRE Director commented: “To secure the long-term success and competitiveness of Northern Ireland’s agriculture industry, it is essential to maintain a strong pipeline of professionally trained and highly motivated new entrants. The Industry Support programme allows Agriculture businesses to invest directly in the sector’s future by providing meaningful support to CAFRE students. Today, we celebrate the Bursary awards presented to our first-year students, while our second-year students look forward to engaging with industry partners during their placement year as they receive their Scholarship awards.”

Attendees heard a clear message: driving sustainability, competitiveness, innovation and resilience will be key to the agriculture sector’s future success. “There will, of course, be challenges ahead, but they also open the door to new opportunities. Armed with the knowledge, skills and attributes gained at CAFRE, our students are ready to step into the industry with confidence to build rewarding careers” concluded Mr McHenry. 

Thank you

Sharon McLaren, interim Head of Agriculture Education commented: “We are delighted to welcome new providers; Ai Services, Bank of Ireland, Dairy Council NI, Genus ABS and Lantra to the Bursary programme this year. We hope both the businesses and Bursary recipients will benefit from the rewards of these new connections. We are indebted to all the businesses and organisations who continue to support Agriculture education provision at CAFRE.”

CAFRE offers full-time and part-time Agriculture courses from Level 2 through to BSc (Honours) Degree. 

For further information on Agriculture courses and how to apply for a course starting in September, please visit the CAFRE website.