MSc by Research Agricultural Science and Technology MSc by Research Agricultural Science and Technology

The Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology (LIAT) is a leading UK research organisation recognised for its world-leading multi-disciplinary research and collaboration with key academic and industrial partners in the agricultural sector – the largest industry in Lincolnshire.

The rapid growth of the institute benefits from strategic UK government funding granted to establish Lincoln as the national centre for excellence in agri-food technology. This includes significant grants from Research England to fund the Lincoln Agri-robotics Centre and from EPSRC for the Centre of Doctoral Training in Agri-food Robotics. LIAT has a growing reputation in crop and soil science research with access to an excellent 400 ha research farm at the Riseholme campus constituting arable, livestock, woodland and watercourses.

The team is actively working towards net-zero agriculture, and reducing chemical inputs in farming through precision agriculture and non-chemical weed control. Crop phenotyping, soil and irrigation management, and selective harvesting of strawberries are just some of the examples demonstrating the LIAT’s offering of practical sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions for improving farming practices.

This programme offers an opportunity to gain an MSc by Research in a multi-disciplinary setting, combining the strength of agricultural science with technology in particular social contexts. Whether a student wants to study solely agricultural topics in crops, soils, water or ecology or have these areas combined with technology namely remote sensing, computer vision, or precision agriculture.

The programme offers opportunities to develop skills and knowledge to tackle the problems facing agriculture today. This programme also integrates a social dimension to technology, to enhance technology design, development and deployment and increase its impact.

The Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology has a strong focus on industry-relevant research and education, delivering agronomy training (BASIS) to the agri-food sector, and hosting regular industry events such as Breakfast Briefings, with many of our research projects including industry partners. This provides students with an excellent opportunity to engage with key stakeholders in the agri-food sector.

To support your experience within the postgraduate research community, new students are encouraged to enrol in October, February, or May. In addition to meeting peers across the University who are starting their research programme at the same time, there is access to a central training programme designed around the first three months of study, and targeted support aligned to each stage of the postgraduate research journey. Alternative enrolment dates may be agreed with your supervisor on an individual basis.

With a clear focus on improving productivity, efficiency, and sustainability through innovation, researchers at the Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology (LIAT) are engaged in impactful research designed to make a difference across the food chain. The flexible nature of this Master’s enables students to undertake research in an area that interests them or is relevant to their current employment.