14th February 2012
 Twenty year old Thomas (Tom) Pilcher, in his second year studying for a BSc (Hons) in Commercial Horticulture at Hadlow College, has been awarded the first Thanet Earth Discovery Fellowship.
This innovative award will involve Tom in working on new product development (NPD), something that is crucially important in the fresh produce industry.
NPD is a very significant element for Thanet Earth as the business aims to give customers a sweeter tomato, fruit that stays fresh longer – and other important advances.
Robert James, technical manager at Thanet Earth, explains ‘NPD can be pretty complicated, particularly in relation to tomatoes. We have identified NPD as a clear opportunity for Thanet Earth to help provide a student with new skills and genuine commercial experience – something that can be very hard to provide in a college setting’.
Tom will be paid to spend nine months working in a dedicated glasshouse environment at the college equipped with a growing system comparable to a commercial glasshouse. He will also spend time with commercial growers at Kaaij Greenhouses UK - tomato grower at Thanet Earth - and with the technical and commercial teams at Thanet Earth Marketing Ltd.
It is hoped that the Discovery Fellowship will yield some exciting new varieties for Thanet Earth to take forward to commercial greenhouse trials and ultimately onto retailers’ shelves.
Tom took part in a selection process which involved a number of high calibre candidates who each gave a presentation and underwent an interview.
The selection panel was made up of horticulturists including personnel from Thanet Earth and was chaired by Robert James who devised the Fellowship.
Hadlow, one of the UK’s elite land-based colleges, offers one of the very few degree programmes in production horticulture available in this country. The programme attracts students from all parts of Britain.
Shortage of courses is concerning at a time when production horticulture is destined to become one of the most important industries in light of predicted global population growth. (The UN’s projections indicate world population will have reached in excess of 9 billion by 2041.)
Thanet Earth is a state-of-the-art greenhouse development in Kent. When completed the site will include seven enormous greenhouses producing tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Crops, sold into UK supermarkets, will make a valuable contribution towards this country becoming more self-sufficient in relation to food security.
Commenting on his award, Tom said ‘Through studying for my degree I have developed an interest in glasshouse growing and the Discovery Fellowship provides me with an excellent opportunity to enhance my future prospects in the industry. I am very grateful to the Thanet Earth team for entrusting this position to me and to my wonderful tutors at Hadlow College for their encouragement’.
Last year at Hadlow College’s annual prize-giving Tom was presented with the Institute of Horticulture award for best 1st year BSc horticulture student. On his way to this prize Tom obtained 100% in his chemistry examination, believed the first time this has ever been achieved.
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