Discover Sustainable Agri-Food Management at CAFRE, Loughry Campus.

November 28, 2025

Joshua Sloss, from Newmills Dungannon, grew up with a strong farming background, which sparked his interest in the agri-food industry. Joshua has recently commenced his studies at College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), Loughry Campus, studying BSc (Hons) in Sustainable Agri-Food Management.

When it came to choosing where to study, Joshua knew CAFRE was the right fit. “The agri-food industry is such a diverse sector,” he explains. “There are so many opportunities after graduation, from primary production to final processing. CAFRE equips you with the skills and knowledge to succeed in any of these areas.”

Students benefit from a mix of lectures, practical sessions, and industry visits. “We’ve visited Foyle Meats and White’s Oats so far,” Joshua says. “These visits really helped further develop my understanding of the agri-industry. I’ve been able to build on my knowledge of farming from our home farm and now understand more about the processing and retailing side of the agri-food industry. The BSc (Hons) Sustainable Agri-Food Management Degree  is very hands on at Loughry we learn by doing. I really enjoy the practical elements of the course which are applied within the Food Technology Centre and Food Innovation Centre. The food processing facilities offer us the chance to use equipment similar to that found in the industry.

Last week we were challenged to reformulate a product specification. Using the familiarity of scone making, we were set the task to adapt recipes and determine the proportions of ingredients required based on their functionalities. This activity provided us with the skills to scale recipes up for commercial production while maintaining product characteristics.”

The degree in Sustainable Agri-Food Management offers students the chance to combine practical farming knowledge with cutting-edge food production and sustainability practices, ensuring graduates are ready to commence leading roles in the agri-food sector. The programme provides an in depth understanding of the entire supply chain, addressing current and future challenges such as traceability, sustainability, and logistics. Exposing students to elements of agriculture and horticulture primary production; food manufacturing and food quality; and supply chain management.

When asked to sum up his time so far at CAFRE, Joshua described his experience as innovative, insightful and inspiring. Joshua has clear goals for the future: “After I graduate, I hope to pursue a career in the red meat processing sector alongside running my own beef farm at home.” With CAFRE’s practical approach and strong industry links, students like Joshua are well-prepared to turn their ambitions into reality.

If you or someone you know thrives in a team environment, seeks a non-desk-bound career, enjoys practical problem-solving, values travel opportunities, and desires a challenging, yet rewarding career with promising job prospects, consider studying at Loughry Campus.

With a growing need for skilled and qualified professionals to drive innovation and promote sustainability CAFRE has recently updated its full-time food degree offerings. These now include a BSc (Hons) Degree in Food Innovation Management with pathways in Technology and Nutrition, and a BSc (Hons) Degree in Sustainable Agri-Food Management, with apprenticeship opportunities also available.  Find out more at cafre.ac.uk/study/food