Francis Ferrada-Hartley – Agronomist T&G Covered Crops

How does someone who had almost completed his training to become a dentist decide instead to follow a career in Horticulture? Francis knew he liked horticulture, and he knew that he wanted to make a difference in the world, make a contribution. He wanted to be able to find ways to help produce food more sustainably. So, he decided to retrain into the Food Production industry.

When doing some research on the internet he found out about the Bachelor of Horticulture Science degree at Massey University and thought it was the perfect fit for where he wanted to go. He also noted its very good reputation overseas and within New Zealand. He believes that Horticulture is a meaningful pursuit, a way to produce food sustainably and to be able to use research and science in his studies.

Francis started his Bachelor of Horticulture Science degree during COVID which meant that he did all of his learning online.  However, Francis found that this method of learning suited him very well due to being a dad of a young child.  He says that he was able to use his time wisely during the day and could listen to lectures in a time that suited his lifestyle better.  He said it was a special time for him as he was able to balance his study and family life well and meant that he could have a special time with his new son and could help his wife. Financially it was also better for him as he did not have costs of transport or meals which meant that he spent less during the day.

As a distance student, Francis says he was required to visit Massey University in Palmerston North a few times each year. He always felt part of the campus community and developed a genuine sense of belonging. He loved the beautiful surroundings, finding the campus inviting and calming, and said that it was equipped with everything he needed. With the campus being slightly separate from the city, he found it easier to stay focused and less distracted. He also enjoyed the city itself, describing it as lovely, compact, and full of activities such as tramping, river walks, biking, and visiting the gardens.

Although his learning was online, Francis never felt isolated. Communication from Massey University staff and other students was excellent. He says there were regular weekly online meetings, and teachers were always happy to answer questions one-on-one if needed.

Francis says he has developed lifelong friends from his time at Massey University — not only from the horticulture degree but across other degrees as well. Working with students on projects helped build these friendships, and he feels very proud to be part of the Massey University community in Palmerston North.

Overall, he says that his time on campus offered important life lessons and helped make him a better person. 

During his visits, he was able to attend labs and workshops and spend time working in the glasshouses and orchards.  In his current role as an Agronomist, Francis has used much of what he learned while in his under graduate degree, such as plant biology, plant physiology, plant protection, crop production, post harvest and agribusiness.

Francis’ advice to High School Students is, ‘If you are looking for a meaningful life pathway, you enjoy nature, growing plants, producing food, you are into sustainability or you have a passion for the agriculture sector in general and you want to make a change, don’t second guess the industry, it has so much scope’.  He especially says that those with creative minds should think about studying horticulture, ‘we need a lot of people with fresh ideas, critical ideas to apply diƯerent technologies and methods to the way things are grown, no day is ever the same’.  Francis says that people have a perception that people who work in the Agriculture and Horticulture industry did not have a choice to work there.  He says that it is not like that, he is in the industry because he chose to be in there.

As a recipient of an Edward Turner scholarship through T&G, Francis is now studying his Masters through Massey University with a focus on plant health issues.  Francis is able to do his studies on line in Tuakau working directly with New Zealand’s largest commercial tomato producer, T&G.  T&G produces 40% of the tomatoes produced in NZ.  Francis loves his current role as he is able to work directly with T&G, Plant and Food and Massey. He is currently running an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) project using beneficial insects applying his knowledge of plant physiology and plant biology to come up with an understanding of why certain things happen in the glasshouse.  This is particularly good in a glasshouse as there is control over what is happening.  It is complex, he says that he has opportunities to try somethings that have not been done before. Critical thinking is used daily in his job and he uses tools and technology such as AI tools, Python for example, to create interactions and to better sense of the results.

See the wider picture — this work is more than sowing a seed. It’s the courage to try what hasn’t been tried, the curiosity to discover the unknown, and the spirit to pioneer knowledge that reshapes our future.