The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) held its annual Industry Support presentation event at Greenmount Campus. Industry partners, students, and families attended. Five bursary awards totaling £7,500 went to horticulture students.

Greenmount Campus has offered higher education programmes in horticulture for more than 25 years. Partnerships with sector businesses fund the awards through the Horticulture Industry Supporters Programme. The bursaries support students in foundation degree and honours degree courses.

Paul McHenry, interim CAFRE Director, spoke at the event. He praised sponsoring organisations for aiding students entering horticulture careers.

McHenry stated that the Northern Ireland horticulture sector covers roles from speciality crop production to garden design. It employs about 14,000 people directly and 6,000 indirectly. The sector addresses food security and climate change. Horticulturists advance peat-free compost use and enhance community environments via parks and landscaping work.