A HEREFORDSHIRE college of agriculture is set to become Europe's leading centre for the future of the farming industry.

Holme Lacy College has joined forces with the Bulmer Foundation to lead the way in sustainable farming.

The foundation, created by members of the Bulmer cider-making family, aims to make Herefordshire a benchmark region in Europe for economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Its first project is to transform the college into the first centre for excellence, specialising in self-sufficiency, organic produce and land management.

Holme Lacy, part of the Pershore Group of Colleges, will be redeveloped to create a multi-million-pound campus using eco-friendly building techniques.

"We want to see Holme Lacy built into a centre of excellence dedicated to improving the quality of our food through an enlightened approach to farming," said Esmond Bulmer, former chairman of Bulmers.

"The defining images of Herefordshire used to be its white-faced cattle, the River Wye and the cider apple.

"In the future I hope it will be recognised for the lead it has given in finding a way through the problems that now so beset farming and the countryside."

The plan was discussed at a conference organised by Bulmers earlier this month to discuss sustainability, the environment and organic agriculture.

West Midlands regional development agency Advantage West Midlands has given a grant of £750,000 to Holme Lacy College to help start the project.

"The Pershore Group of Colleges is thrilled to be involved in this project, which adds a new, but complimentary, dimension to its on-going support for land-based industries," said Peter Savidge, director of Holme Lacy College.

Students will focus on subjects such as sustainable land management, entrepreneurship and business planning.

"If there is to be a second 'agricultural revolution', then agriculture needs to be redefined," said Mr Savidge.