was appointed head of the Department of Economics. He led a move to broaden the college's interest in land use and explored alternatives to a farming first philosophy, sometimes causing conflict with the national agricultural establishment and colleagues promoting Wye's agricultural chemistry tradition. With associate Robin Best who for the first time accurately measured urban land area and loss of farmland, Wibberley drew particular early ire in the garden controversy, an exploration of capacity for food security from productive modern farming; the role of domestic gardens, and the potential for releasing farmland to other purposes. Alongside his roles at the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas, and as expert witness to public inquiries into large scale planning applications, Wibberley continued at the college until 1985. His work led to expansion of social science research and teaching at Wye with new Rural Environmental Studies and Landscape Ecology, Design and Maintenance courses, and ultimately business management options. The Wye Double Digger was developed at Wye College in the 1970s, for experimental evaluation of comprehensive subsoil loosening akin to the traditional horticultural practise of double digging. It incorporates a conventional mouldboard plough with rotary cultivator operating in the open furrow, and can break up soil compaction layers below plough depth; mix topsoil with subsoil, and deeply incorporate soil nutrients. The powered blades help provide forward propulsion for the share. Wye's Double Digger was tested around the world, notably at Purdue University. A business was established to market it, and commercial two furrow version built, before development ceased. In 1977, the college appointed Ian Lucas as principal to replace Harry Darling. Darling's departure was marked by a farewell above Wye village, on the Crown slope painted in weedkiller for all to see across the Stour Valley. Lucas had extensive experience of overseas agriculture and arrived from the University College of North Wales where he had been Professor of Agriculture. During his 11 years at Wye student enrollment increased 40%. During the early 1980s, Government spending cuts led to a series of mergers between University of London colleges. In spite of Wye being amongst the very smallest, and persistent concerns that agriculture was not "a fit subject to study at university", it was spared a merger because of physical isolation outside the capital and the absence of course overlap / potential cost savings with sister London colleges. In 1996, Natural Resources International Ltd was