Ballance scholarships support ag industry future

Ballance scholarships support ag industry future

Students considering their career path could have their study to become part of one of the nation’s most secure industries supported as Ballance Agri-Nutrients offers up to four more scholarships valued at $4,000 a year to immediate family members of any Ballance shareholder or company employee.

Interested parties have until close of business on Friday 29 October to apply for the scholarship, which is aimed at encouraging people to enter the agricultural industry.
Ballance Head of Research and Environment, Warwick Catto, says that New Zealand can lead the world in sustainable, high-quality food production, but a key step to achieving this vision is education and capability building for the primary sector.
‘The Government has signalled the importance of innovation, science and technology to the wider agriculture sector for it to remain internationally competitive. Education is the key to building this capability and creating that future both on and off farm.

‘The Ballance Scholarship programme offers up-and-coming agricultural recruits the chance to take advantage of the training on offer in this country.’

Since the scholarship programme began in 2002, 47 scholarships worth up to $12,000 each have been awarded, and the company has employed two previous scholarship winners as full-time staff, as well as several others on temporary contract basis.

Each scholarship can be held for a maximum of three years. The awards are made to assist study at tertiary level in either the general primary industry field or in process engineering. For more details or to apply visit www.ballance.co.nz

Winners will be notified in early December 2010 and results will be announced in early January 2011.

ENDS

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