Challenged to raise the farming bar and succeed in the age of a ’perfect storm’, 19 new applicants have been announced winners of a 2011 Nuffield Farming Scholarship.
Soon to be outward bound to all corners of the globe, the newly awarded Scholars are impatient to travel, to meet industry experts at the top of their fields and bring back groundbreaking information that can help steer UK farming’s future.
"To coin the phrase used by Caroline Spellman at the Oxford Farming Conference, our Nuffield ’storm riders’ are facing uncertain times and will be challenged to find solutions to the predicted food crisis brought on by a growing population and declining resources," said Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust (NFST) Chairman, Jack Ward. "Given the enterprise and determination shown by former Scholars, I am confident they will rise to the challenge and come back with valuable answers.
"Our 60-year-old Scholarship scheme has long played an important role in generating the talent and new knowledge to raise standards and promote excellence within a wide range of farming and rural industries. It has also gained the reputation of developing people and new leaders of tomorrow who are able to drive our industry forward.
"The pressure is on over the next decade. If there was ever a moment to stand up and shout about the importance of Nuffield, along with its ability to shape and define key figures for an agriculture of the future, then it is now," he added.
Sending a message of congratulations to all of this year’s award winners, Jack Ward announced: "It is reassuring to see once again the enthusiasm and drive of so many young and older people in the industry. The standard of applications this year was very high and to succeed in winning an award has been a real achievement. Those who did not succeed will undoubtedly be disappointed, but will be encouraged to apply again."
2011 Scholars
The newly awarded 2011 Scholars include farmers and farm managers, consultants and advisers. There is also a forester and a cider apple grower.
Sharing a passion to study a topic that they feel strongly about, this year’s study themes major on sustainability of production, food marketing and finance, with chosen topics and study outcomes highly geared towards UK farmers and how they can benefit UK agriculture.
Under the heading of sustainability, study topics include: ’The importance of soil carbon with regard to soil fertility and yield potential’, ’Maximising returns through reducing methane emissions’, ’The importance of soil carbon with regard to soil fertility and yield potential’, ’Maximising timber value for woodland owners’ and ’The adoption of commercial agro-forestry’.
Focusing on food marketing, studies include: ’How to turn a small, local niche product into a nationwide niche product’, ’How to market sustainable food hubs to their advantage’, ’How to remain competitive within the UK top fruit industry’, and the ’Opportunities for the fresh produce sector through innovation, brand development and provenance’.
Under the heading of finance, Scholars will be studying: ’Commodity and futures markets - with a specific reference to the threats and opportunities for the UK dairy sector’, ’The City and agriculture’ and ’Understanding the factors affecting land values’.
A £200,000 investment
Together with its many sponsors, the NFST will be investing over £200,000 in its new Scholars in 2011. Received by Scholars in the form of a travel bursary and training, the money goes towards individual overseas travel and to group activities which includes a prestigious international conference to kick start their learning journey.
Based in New Zealand, in Wellington and Canterbury, the 2011 conference is a truly international gathering where UK award winners will be joined by Nuffield Scholars from Australia, Canada, France, Ireland and New Zealand – along with delegates from like-minded associations from around the world, including India, Brazil and China.
"The focus of this year’s event is the ’global food crisis’, with Scholars being challenged to think about world food production, its uncertainties and its interdependencies, and understand how agriculture fits within in the jigsaw of world politics, energy supplies and population growth," said John Stones, NFST Director.
"Forming part of an ambitious international learning programme run by Nuffield, the conference will help strengthen Scholar’s understanding of the global food system and help them understand the implications for UK farming patterns. But, just as important, it will also provide our Scholars with an exceptional forum for exchanging their ideas and building new networks.
"Our new Scholars will soon get a feel for the bigger picture and their new contacts are bound to bring a global dimension to their future studies."
Nuffield Scholarships
A Nuffield Scholarship can open doors and provides opportunities for both life-long learning and self-improvement. For many a Scholarship experience has changed their lives. It has opened their eyes, ears and their minds to the wider world, giving them the confidence to develop their management and business skills, to pursue their personal goals, as well as to become active leaders within UK agriculture.
Information on Nuffield Farming Scholarship Awards - and how to apply - can be found at www.nuffieldscholar.org. Individuals interested in applying, but requiring further information, are also invited to contact the NFST Director, John Stones, on Tel. 01858 555544 (Email. nuffielddirector@aol.com).
Applications for the 2012 Nuffield Farming Scholarship programme will be taken up to the 15th November 2011 (latest), with shortlisted candidates being invited to attend an interview in London in late January 2012.
A list of the 2011 Nuffield Scholarship winners – including their award sponsor, study title and contact details – is shown below.
2011 NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARS BY REGION
England
Stephen Briggs (Farcet, Peterborough)
Thomas Bradshaw (Colchester, Essex)
Dr Zoe Davies (Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire)
Tom Chapman (Hitchen, Herts)
Philip Darke (Kingsbridge, Devon)
Mark Falkingham (Goole, East Yorkshire)
Kirstin Glendinning (Kippax, West Yorks)
David Helliar (Warminster, Wiltshire)
Alec Mercer (Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire)
Tim May (Basingstoke, Hants)
Ian Pye (Preston, Lancashire)
Jeremy Ralph (Gunnislake, Cornwall)
Robert Richmond (Cheltenham, Glos)
Nick Rowsell (Winchester, Hampshire)
Stephen Ware (Weobley, Hereford)
Wales
Catherine Nakielny (Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire)
Scotland
Steven Jack (Nairn, Inverness-shire)
Laura Stewart (Douglas, South Lanarkshire)
Northern Ireland
John Martin (Newtonairds, Co Down)
