2022 Nuffield Farming Annual Report

YEARS AND COUNTING

ANNUAL REPORT 2022

‘Leading positive change in agriculture’

Cover Photograph:

Scholar Liz Cresswell NSch looks out over land managed by Jake Freestone NSch while on a trip to Overbury Estate at the start of her 2022 Scholarship. (Photo courtesy of Toby Simpson NSch)

2022 marks Nuffield Farming’s 75th year of providing life-changing Scholarships to deserving people working in farming, food, horticulture, and other land-based industries. After 75 years of enabling big ideas, exploration, self-discovery and positive change in agriculture, we look forward to continuing our mission for many decades in the future.

NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS TRUST

In1913ayoungEnglishmanboardedashipatLiverpoolandsailedtotheUnited StatesofAmerica.There,hetravelledtoDetroitandsawhowHenryFordwasmass producingautomobileenginesatafractionoftheircostintheUnitedKingdom.He broughttheseideasbackhomeandputthemintopracticeinhisfactoryatCowley, Oxford.HisnamewasWilliamMorris,doyenoftheBritishmotorindustryduringits goldenera,whowaslatermadeapeer,asLordNuffield,in1934.In1943hegave £10milliontofoundtheNuffieldFoundationwhichin1947,recognisingthelinkage betweenhealthandgoodagriculturalpractices,begantofundscholarshipsfor BritishfarmerstotravelinthefootstepsofWilliamMorris...

“VISION STATEMENT”

Inspirepassioninpeopleanddeveloptheirpotentialtoleadpositivechangeinfarmingandfood

OUR MISSION

Leadingpositivechangeinagriculture-inspiringpassionandpotentialinpeople

• Building knowledge through global experience

• Sharing brilliant ideas

• Making things happen

• Developing tomorrow’s leaders

• Inspiring commitment

NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS

Each year Nuffield Farming Scholarships are awarded to deserving individuals working in farming, horticulture, forestry or any other countryside and ancillary industry - or are in a position to influence those who do - and are resident in the United Kingdom. They will have spent at least two years working in their current appointment, be at least three years since leaving full time education or study and be no more than 45 years old. Applications are made electronically by 31st July each year via the website: www.nuffieldscholar.org.

FOR

FURTHER

Mike Vacher, Director

INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Telephone: 01460 234012 Email: Director@NuffieldScholar.org

Copyright © Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust

ISBN: 978-1-912059-29-4

Published by The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust Southill Farmhouse, Staple Fitzpaine, Taunton, TA3 5SH Registered Charity Number 1098519 www.nuffieldscholar.org

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the 2022 edition of our Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust Annual Report. You will recognise many similarities in the format to previous years, although, you will also notice a number of changes.

I hope that you will find that it continues to provide a ‘ready reference’ of all our many sponsors and supporters, along with a record of personalities and lists of those achieving special awards over the years. You will find ‘bumper’ sections on our recent activities and reports from many of the Country, Regional and Study Groups.

Your attention is drawn, especially, to the report on the 2022 Contemporary Scholars Conference (CSC) which was a very successful Nuffield International event hosted in Norfolk and London by the Trust. It was unique and ground-breaking in many ways.

This year we have a small number of presenting scholars who have completed their study travels –looking forwards, next year there will be many more!

I very much hope that you will enjoy the whole 2022 Annual Report and that it provides a useful reference and record. Please do contact me in case you have any ideas on how we can develop it further.

Mike Vacher Director Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust

INDEX

Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust 1

Introduction 2 Index 3

Acknowledgements 4

Personalities 6

Appointments & Special Awards 8

Chairman’s Report 10

Director’s Report 14

Mentoring Report 16

2022 Contemporary Scholars Conference (CSC) Overview 18

2022 CSC The ‘Design Sprint’ 22

2022 CSC Business Hack 24

Nuffield Farming Finances – Update and Explanation 28

Governance – an unofficial aide mémoire 30

2021 Steven and Gillian Bullock Award 32

2021 HSBC Salver and John Stewart Shield 33

Alumni Officer’s Report for 2022 34

Communication Report: ‘A year of milestones for Nuffield’ 36

COUNTRY, REGIONAL & STUDY GROUP REPORTS:

Poultry Group 39

Pig Group 40

East Midlands Region 40

Welsh Region 41

Northern Region 42

Anglian Region 42

Horticulture Group 43

ReGen Group 43

Central Region 43

Dairy Group 44

South East Region 44

Beckett Scholar Group 45

Arable Group 46

Beef & Sheep Group 47

West Midlands Region 48

Nuffield at the Palace 48

Business Group 49 Scottish Region 50 Golf Society 53

Friends of Nuffield Farming 54

NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDS:

DAVID BUTLER 2020 NSch: Biodiversity for the future of fruit farming 56

GEOFF GUY 2021 NSch: Landscape scale management of wild deer to combat impacts on habitats and rural enterprises and produce sustainable venison in the UK 58

EDWARD JONES 2020 NSch: Are we investigating in the right agriculture technology and innovation? 60

LUCY MACLENNAN 2020 NSch: The impact of corporate business on agricultural transition 62

TERESA MEADOWS 2020 NSch: Increasing the uptake of integrated pest management in UK arable farming 64

NAVARATNAM PARTHEEBAN 2021 NSch: Encouraging and supporting black and people of colour in agriculture 66

HANNAH SENIOR 2020 NSch: Innovating AgTech entrepreneurship 68

ALASTAIR TRICKETT 2020 NSch: The role of brands in scaling regenerative agriculture 70

CURRENT SCHOLARSHIP YEAR GROUPS:

2020 Nuffield Farming Scholars 72

2021 Nuffield Farming Scholars 74 2022 Nuffield Farming Scholars 76

2023 Nuffield Farming New Scholars 78

Nuffield Farming 2023 Diary Dates 80 Nuffield Farming’s 2023 Annual Conference 81

The Farmers Club & Saffery Champness 82

Nuffield Farming Legacy Inside back cover

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

SCHOLAR SPONSORS

The Nuffield Farming Scholars presently embarking on and engaged in their studies wish to express their sincere appreciation to all those who are supporting them on their travels and making their ‘Nuffield Journey’ possible, especially their Scholar Sponsors listed below.

2021 SCHOLARSHIPS

AHDB

Alan and Anne Beckett Awaard

BEMB Trust

East Sussex NFU

Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust (a Clyde Higgs Scholarship)

John Oldacre Foundation

MacRobert Trust

Malcolm Isaac NSch

McDonald’s UK & Ireland

NFU Mutual Charitable Trust Richard Lawes Foundation

Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland

The Studley College Trust

The Thomas Henry Foundation

The Trehane Trust

Worshipful Company of Butchers

Worshipful Company of Farmers and Savills

Worshipful Company of Fruiterers

Young Nuffield Award

2022 SCHOLARSHIPS

AHDB

Alan & Anne Beckett Award

BEMB Trust

Central Region Farmers Trust

Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust

Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust (a Clyde Higgs Scholarship)

John Oldacre Foundation

MacRobert Trust

McDonald’s UK and Ireland

NFU Mutual Charitable Trust Richard Lawes Foundation

Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland

Royal Welsh Agricultural Society

The Trehane Trust

Worshipful Company of Butchers

Worshipful Company of Farmers and Savills

Worshipful Company of Gardeners

Yorkshire Agricultural Society

Young Nuffield Award

2023 SCHOLARSHIPS

AHDB

Alan and Anne Beckett NSchs

BEMB Research and Education Trust

Central Region Farmers Trust

East Sussex NFU

Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust (a Clyde Higgs Scholarship)

Food Chain Scholarship

John Oldacre Foundation MacRobert Trust

McDonald’s UK and Ireland

NFU Mutual Charitable Trust Richard Lawes Foundation

Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland

Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association

The Poultry Meat Award: Aviagen, Cobb Europe & Hubbard

The Trehane Trust

Thomas Henry Foundation

Worshipful Company of Farmers with Savills

Worshipful Company of Fruiterers

Yorkshire Agricultural Society

2022 SCHOLAR

BRIEFINGS

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO

(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER) :

Alex Price, Video Coach

Anna Jones NSch

Chris Padfield NSch

Ges Ray, Public Speaking Coach

Guy Smith NSch

James Thompson, Head of Farming Dyson Farming Ltd

Richard Swallow, Media Coach

Robbie Moore MP NSch

Roger Mercer NSch

Sir Peter Kendall

Tom Chapman NSch

The Trust also wishes to thank the following individuals and organisations who generously support the awards and activities of the trust.

AHDB

John Alvis NSch

Alan & Anne Beckett NSchs

Gillian Bullock Hon NSch

Sir John Campbell NSch

Canterbury Farmers Club

Farmers Guardian

Farmers Weekly

Frank Arden Memorial Scholarship Fund

HSBC Institute of Agricultural Management

Julian Darling NSch

Kevin Green NSch

Natural England

NFU for England & Wales

NSF Agriculture

Richard Chantler Memorial Fund

Royal Smithfield Club

Royal Ulster Agricultural Society Saffery Champness

Savills

The Farmers Club

The Kennel Club

THE ‘FRIENDS OF NUFFIELD FARMING’

Dyson Farming Research

Genus ABS

Lohmann GB Ltd

Mercer Family Charitable Foundation

Mole Valley Farmers Tilhill

PERSONALITIES

NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS TRUST 2021 - 2022

Patron HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO

Vice Patrons

Alan & Ann Beckett NSchs

Gillian Bullock Hon NSch

Julian Darling NSch

Kevin Green NSch

John Hunt NSch

Malcolm Isaac NSch

Julie Mate NSch

Roger Mercer NSch

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2021 - 2022

Chairman Chris Graf Grote NSch

Vice-Chairman Wyn Owen NSch

Trustees

Jim Baird NSch

Sean Beer NSch

David Gardner NSch

Mary Munro NSch

Richard Percy Tom Rawson NSch

Vicky Robinson NSch

David Rose NSch

Angus Selby NSch

Nic Snell NSch

Jo Speed NSch

2021 - 2022 SELECTION COMMITTEE

Chris Graf Grote NSch (Chairman)

Wyn Owen NSch (Vice-Chairman)

Matthew Currie NSch

Christine Snell

Richard Soffe

DIRECTOR

Mike Vacher

CHAIRS OF COUNTRY & REGIONAL GROUPS 2021 - 2022

Anglian Tom Chapman 07717 505287 tgvc@hotmail.co.uk

Central Patrick Hook 07860 394206 patrick_hook@pdhook.co.uk

East Midlands Andrew Scoley 07836 349111 andrewscoley@btconnect.com

Northern Jo Speed 07900 502860 jo.speed@yahoo.com

Northern Ireland Greg Sommerville 07815 614784 gregg-s@hotmail.co.uk

Scotland Neil McGowan 07788 100010 neil@incheochfarm.co.uk

South East Post Vacant

South West Richard Counsell 07984 277871 Richard@stableprice.com

Wales Iwan Vaughan 07947 617307 Iwan.vaughan12@gmail.com

West Midlands Rob Burtonshaw 07813 064615 rob@farmservicesltd.co.uk

SCHOLARS REPRESENTING STUDY GROUPS 2021 - 2022

Arable Guy Smith 07740 048995 gsmith2692@aol.com

Beckett James Drummond 07824 388352 lemmingtonhillhead@gmail.com

Beef & Sheep Arwyn Owen 07824 597829 arwyn.owen@nationaltrust.org.uk

Business Matt Swain 07957 867632 farmbusiness@aol.com

Dairy Tim Downes 07740 782247 tim.downes1@virgin.net

Horticultural Margaret Herbert 01386 751196 margaretH@reddeerherbs.co.uk

Pigs Caroline Mitchell 07989 326106 caroline.mitchell@fqmglobal.co.uk

Poultry Mick Tyers 07768 444198 mike.tyers@stonegate.co.uk

Regenerative Agriculture Tom Chapman 07717 505287 tgvc@hotmail.co.uk

Post nominals are only included in full for The Patron. The identification NSch is only included where it is appropriate to differentiate between others in that group (e.g. External Trustees)

NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS

APPOINTMENTS & SPECIAL AWARDS

NUFFIELD FARMING CHAIRMEN

(With year of appointment)

1970 - John Cyster 1985 - Charles Wharton 1991 - Chris Older 1994 - Richard Holland 1997 - Stephen Fell 2000 - John Alvis 2003 - Wynne Jones 2005 - Campbell Tweed 2007 - Tony Pexton 2009 - Jack Ward 2011 - Stephen Watkins 2014 - Wallace Hendrie 2016 - Julian Darling 2018 - Helen Woolley 2020 - Chris Graf Grote

NUFFIELD FARMING DIRECTORS (With year of appointment)

1968 - John Stewart (as Secretary and later Director) 1989 - Steven Bullock 2001 - John Stones 2013 - Mike Vacher

HONORARY UK NUFFIELD SCHOLARS (Past and Present)

Anne Beckett

Alison Blackburn

Allan Buckwell

Gillian Bullock

Richard Butler

Hazel Byford

Douglas Carter

Eric Carter

Norman Coward

Henry Fell

Tony Harris

Jim Harrison

Edward W Owens

Henry Plumb

Richard Trehane

Meryl Ward

Charles Wharton

David Yonge

JOHN STEWART SHIELD (Given for the Best Presentation at the Annual Conference)

1991 - George Russell 1992 - Ambrose Fowler 1993 - Kate Kerr 1994 - Emma Leonard 1995 - Guy Smith 1996 - Gwyn Jones 1997 - Mark Buckingham 1998 - Tim O’Leary 1999 - Gary Naylor 2000 - Ger Bergin 2001 - Kevin Green 2002 - Belinda Clarke 2003 - Paul Fox 2004 - John Strawson 2005 - Robert Lasseter 2006 - Matthew Naylor 2007 - John Yeomans 2008 - Mike Tyers 2009 - Peter Gresty 2010 - Jim Shanks 2011 - Michael Blanche 2012 - Ian Pye 2013 - Joe Delves 2014 - Liam Stokes 2015 - David Walston 2016 - Aled Jones 2017 – Peter Wiggins-Davies 2018 - Alex Brewster 2019 - Angus Selby 2020 - Not awarded 2021 - Vicky Robinson

HSBC SALVER FOR THE BEST STUDY REPORT

1999 - Julian Madeley

2000 - Cormac McKervey

2001 - Chris Lloyd

2002 - Philip Hughes 2003 - Donald MacPherson 2004 - Liz Bowles

2005 - Geoff Sansome 2006 - Juno McKee 2007 - Diana Allen 2008 – No award 2009 - Charlie Walker 2010 - David Alvis 2011 - Jim Shanks

2012 - Jo Franklin 2013 - Jez Ralph 2014 – Amy Jackson 2015 - Ali Capper

2016 - Werner Strydom

2017 - Neil McGowan

2018 - Richard Counsell

2019 - Jude McCann 2020 - Jenna Ross

2021 - Dan Burdett

FRANK ARDEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS

1997 - John Alliston (as the preceding ‘Jubilee Scholarship’)

2000 - Guy Smith

2002 - Tony Pexton

2005 - Will Taylor

2007 - David Hugill, Jiggy Lloyd, Julian Morgan, Chris Pollock

2009 - Lindsay Hargreaves, David Gardner

2011 - Nik Johnson, Mark Tucker

2013 - Caroline Drummond, David Northcroft

REDESIGNATED

NUFFIELD FARMING LECTURE

2018 - Michael Winter

2020 - Andrew Fearne

REDESIGNATED NUFFIELD FARMING FRANK ARDEN LEADERSHIP AWARD

2021 - Caroline Drummond

STEVEN AND GILLIAN BULLOCK INNOVATION AWARD

2007 - Jo Scammel

2008 - Andrew Dyke

2009 - Lyndon Edwards 2010 - Matthew Dobbs

2011 - Ian Pigott 2012 - David Rose 2013 - Donald MacPherson 2014 - Neil Perkins 2015 - John Yeomans 2016 - Martin Thatcher 2017 – Andy Gage 2018 - Michael Dart 2019 - Jim Shanks

2020 - Stephen Briggs 2021 - Caroline Millar

UNRESTRICTED DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

John Green

Richard Matson

Jill Willows

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT FOR 2022

CHRIS GRAF GROTE NSCH

It has been another eventful year for Nuffield and although Covid kept following us round every corner until recently, we succeeded in much of what we had planned. We have survived and indeed prospered. I don’t think I need remind you, but international travel scholarships are Armageddon in a pandemic. This put considerable strain on our resources and meant a lot of extra work for the office team and Mike Vacher, as well as disrupting scholar travel plans. I would like to thank them all for their patience, endurance and hard work in making the best of a difficult period and would like to include in this all our sponsors and scholars.

Having zoomed in 2020, we managed at some risk to slip in a full conference at Silverstone just between restrictions last November. I think everybody enjoyed it and particularly, because it was the very first real get-together for many after a long period of isolation.

A highlight for me was the 2022 CSC held in Norfolk and London. Planning began in May 2019, as it was the UK’s turn for 2021, but the CSC could only finally take place in March this year with 2 years of scholars and country executives totalling nearly 150. It was a bit of a roller coaster to get there and even in January this year it was doubtful whether we could go ahead. Could we keep the venue, agenda and sponsors together and could all the scholars come? Fortunately, New Zealand opened up for travel 2 weeks before the start and the Kenyans got their Visa’s the week before, to mention but a few issues.

We had a great time and you might have heard about it on BBC’s Radio 4 early morning farming programme. From getting to know each other, the programme went from 2 days at the Norwich Research Park doing a ‘Design Sprint’ to a ‘Business Hack’ day at the Food Enterprise Park. We had a morning at Houghton Hall and an afternoon at Holkham Hall with the Earl of Leicester and family giving us a drinks reception, followed by a festive dinner. The week ended with a tour of the Houses of Parliament, orchestrated by our NSch MP Robbie Moore and a 2 hours discussion in the 1922 Committee Room of George Eustice MP and Lord Curry with 137 of us. At the farewell dinner in the Carpenter’s Hall Tom Heap entertained us with his ‘39 Ways to Save the Planet’.

Nuffield International is doing well. We are on a sound footing and International scholarships are rising. A number of new countries are developing, for example Brazil, Japan, Chile, Germany and maybe Poland. The Chris Reichstein Foundation in the Southern Hemisphere and the new restrictive Nuffield UK fund in the Northern Hemisphere will help much to keep up the momentum.

Progress on Nuffield 100, explained in last year’s report, has been slower then I had hoped. However, both our partners, the Henry Plumb Foundation and in particular the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust, are very supportive and you might see the first scholars coming through next year.

The postgraduate points accreditation of scholar reports with Aberystwyth University, masterminded by Wyn Owen NSch, is going well with the first certificates now awarded and almost a quarter of the 2022 scholars are taking this route. Similarly, trustees Sean Bear and Jo Speed have assessed CPD point’s values for all NFST activities. Please make use of them by asking the office to provide the certificates.

The scholar reports have been changed to take account of the times. They are now not 10,000, but 5,000 words; but in addition 2 videos have been introduced. One of 30 seconds to introduce the scholar and study subject and

one of 3 minutes to introduce and discuss the report findings. Our website takes you directly to YouTube and also the reports library. There are also the very good ‘I am Nuffield’ stories.

All scholars are now provided with professional training in report writing, video and other media production, interviewing, as well as presentation skills - all as part of their scholarship. Almost every new scholar is taking up our mentoring programme. We have a pool of some 40 plus trained Nuffield Scholars as our volunteer mentors. This scheme was set up originally by Julie Mate NSch with Wyn Owen as trainer and is now ably overseen by Jo Speed and coordinated by Charlotte Merson, our Alumni Officer.

Charlotte is heavily involved in our recruitment process, encouraging potential applicants towards a successful submission. She runs seminars between January and July each year to help potential scholars with their applications and to raise interest. The quality and rising number of applications this year are ample proof of her success. She also helps with our regional and study group events, which post pandemic look very encouraging with the new Regen Group and expanding Business Groups in particular.

During the year, Trustees have reviewed our Memorandum and Articles, which need updating from time to time. The proposed

NuffieldInternationalDirectorsandExecutivesat2022CSC

changes at the EGM on the first day of this year’s conference are small but important and I would urge you to attend.

We introduced our ‘Friends of Nuffield’ fundraising scheme at last year’s conference and it is now well off the ground. You will find many of them on the following pages, but the involvement of Tillhill Forestry, Genus plc, Dyson Farming, Lohmann, Mole Valley Farmers and others show that our industry values Nuffield scholars and what they stand for. Our finances are strong and more secure than ever, but despite prudence, running costs don’t stand still.

In September, to celebrate our 75th anniversary with our sponsors, we held a luncheon at the Kennel Club in London to thank them for their unstinting support over the years and also welcomed a number of new sponsors to the fold. I think it was well received, as well as the past Chairmen’s visit and luncheon to Malcolm Isaac’s NSch vineyard ‘Exton Park’. Malcolm is a most generous scholarship sponsor and very kindly also sponsored this event at his vineyard.

We will celebrate our 75th anniversary at the conference in Cardiff, where the Welsh region, very ably led by scholar Aled Jones and his team, is laying on a fabulous programme with most of the proceedings staged in Cardiff City Hall, a magnificent building. Aled is really getting all of Wales to pull the stops out.

In times of ‘austerity’, inflation and general tightening of the belt, I am very humbled by all the support Nuffield is getting. We had great local support for the CSC in Norfolk from many businesses, making it all possible, likewise the conference, our title sponsor ECCT, Friends of Nuffield and the continued support of our great

scholarship sponsors. It is all from our industry for our industry and the Trust lives through our scholars giving back. Quality, Character and Commitment in its scholars is what the Trust stands for.

We live in a climate conscious and changing world and our traveling scholarships have a considerable carbon footprint. Can we justify this? As part of the results of their studies our scholars are expected to bring home carbon savings going forwards that far out-way their initial travel footprint, which, of course, should also be carefully planned in this respect.

At the conference this year we will launch the first ‘Nuffield Farming Greener Future Award’ which has been kindly supported by LEAF in memory of Caroline Drummond MBE NSch. This award is given to a Nuffield Scholar, who demonstrates a significant focus on the environment and sustainability and has demonstrated the passion and drive to make a real difference.

This is my last report. At the conference, Wyn Owen will take my place and I wish him all the best in taking the Trust forward. I have had a great time and hope to have left things in good order. The board of Trustees have been a privilege to work with. They are a great group, their commitment to Nuffield is second to none and I sincerely thank them all. However, little could we have achieved without the well-oiled machine at the office in the background; all of them are infected with the Nuffield spirit, always more than helpful and most ably led by Mike Vacher, our director. The Trust is fortunate to have them all and I am most grateful for the support they have given me.

I look forward to seeing you at the conference.

Sponsors’LuncheonattheKennelClub

Chairman’stourofExtonPark

PEOPLE PLANET PROFIT

PROUD SUPPORTERS

Mercer Farming, through the Mercer Family Charitable Foundation, is proud to support the Nuffield Farming Scholorship Trust in their 'Friends of Nuffield Farming' initiative.

The Mercer family are fourth generation farmers, and believe in farming in a way that increases regeneration and biodiversity, all having a positive impact on the land and on the animals.

Packington pigs and chickens are given large, green and lush pastures to roam, and time to mature. This is not only best for the animals’ welfare, but it also results in first class meat. A fact recognised not only by their customers and numerous industry awards but also by celebrity chefs.

Packington Free Range is a leader when it comes to freerange meat and ethical farming. Their chicken and pork products can be found in butchers and farm shops nationwide, as well as via Ocado and their own website – where they deliver chicken all year round as well as free-range Cockerels at Christmas and Easter.

100 YEARS OF FAMILY FARMING - 1922-2022 www.mercerfarming.co.uk

MERCER FARMING & PACKINGTON FREE RANGE

Blakenhall Park, Bar Lane, Barton-under-Needwood Staffordshire, DE13 8AJ

DIRECTOR’S JOTTINGS FOR

MIKE VACHER

I begin by wholeheartedly echoing our Chairman’s report. Chris’s report has captured so many aspects of Nuffield Farming so well. I would encourage you to digest it thoroughly. My own jottings may not be so eloquent, but, I hope they will be Appreciative, Reflective, Proud of others efforts, Encouraging – as well as Summarising our Achievements, Forward thinking and Realistic. I hope they don’t produce grammatical indigestion!

Nuffield Farming is on a roll and long may it continue to be so! Four Year Groups of Scholars are now engaged in their scholarship programme – some eighty scholars at the time of writing and there will be at least the same number at this time next year. Normally the ‘steady state would be half this amount. A vibrant, imaginative and innovative Trustee Board serves a passionate, active and voluble Alumni. We are fortunate to have a steadily increasing number of generous and committed Sponsors, along with an equally committed experienced and knowledgeable Office Team providing essential guidance, coordination and administration – AND WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR 75th ANNIVERSARY!

Just ten years ago I attended my first Nuffield Farming Conference at Stratford-upon-Avon at a hotel which our annual gatherings have long outgrown. We have nearly quadrupled our ‘Net Assets’ and are getting on for quintupling our investment holdings from £¾ million to £3.4 million. More importantly, we have awarded over 200 Nuffield Farming Scholarships in the same period and past the ‘1000th Scholarship’ marker. We have given our Scholars an increasingly sophisticated experience, over and above most other comparable scholarships. Who else provides such support to applicants, such

thorough briefings, possible accreditation, introduction to a global network at a top quality international conference attended by nationally recognised experts and officials, not to mention the training, support and editing towards promoting the results of their studies at a large, industry recognised, conference? Along with, above all, life-long membership of the unique Nuffield Family on which to lean for years to come.

Sowherearewegoing? In simple terms we will do yet more and do it even better! Our core scholarships will, of course, continue – and we will support as many as meet the quality required. Furthermore, Trustees will always seek to further improve and enhance our Scholars’ experience. Separately, however, Trustees have committed to provide new awards within the Nuffield 100 Strategy. This will give opportunities to

younger farmers to benefit from homestay with Nuffield Scholars in other countries so enabling them to gain from having their ‘eyes opened’ to new opportunities. In addition, tying in with emerging science, new Academic Scholarships will enable more senior PhD/ MSc students studying suitable agricultural topics to broaden their understanding by study travel abroad. Closer to home, greater support will be provided to our twenty plus Country, Regional and Study Groups to help them more easily and efficiently organise their events as well as complying with the essential statutory regulations.

Chairmen who, especially, put in endless hours of careful thought, planning, meetings and provide the benefit of their considerable experience. However, the most special mention has to be made to the stalwarts of our Nuffield Farming Office Team: Claire, Charlotte, Lindsay and Poey who have clocked up many years’ of commitment to the Trust. THEY make things happen and it is so easy to take them for granted…

Howwillwegetthere?First and foremost we will get there because of the commitment and enthusiasm of all those, paid and unpaid, who put in the extra time needed to take Nuffield Farming forwards. We could not achieve anything like the success we have had without the efforts of so many individuals. Our Trustees, Selectors, Editors, Accreditors, Sponsors and Supporters, Group Organisers, Event Hosts, as well as every active member of the Alumni. All play their important part. Nevertheless, there are a few who must be singled out for special mention. First are our

Two years ago, I began to ponder over what has been achieved, what we want to do in the future and how best to recommend to Trustees how to enable it all to happen. Sadly, I cannot hope to go on forever! It is right to make plans for a smooth succession. However, I also realised that, just like so many family farming businesses, the risks associated with a completely clean break should not be underestimated. Having consulted others, what seemed best was to make plans that enable a gradual evolution to a new team by retaining the knowledge and experience of the current Office Team, as we welcome on board new members. To that end, I have volunteered to continue in a lesser, supportive capacity working to a new Director. I do hope that the benefits of this approach will be recognised and the pitfalls of a more traditional route not underestimated. Nuffield Farming demands much more than other organisations – too much has been achieved, and too much is beckoning for the future to get this wrong…

Mike Vacher

MENTORING REPORT

In its 8th year of success, the Nuffield mentoring programme has continued to go from strength to strength. This year, the whole of the 2022 Scholar group have elected to take advantage of a Mentor to support them throughout their studies, which is great news, and the programme continues to gain momentum.

Initially set up as a three-year pilot, the Nuffield Mentoring Programme was developed and launched by Julie Mate NSch in 2015. The programme was really well received, successfully training 32 Mentors who mentored 28 newly awarded scholars over the three-year trial period. The programme has grown from 8 Mentors in 2015 through to 44 mentors in 2022, and a further 33 scholars will be attending this year’s Mentor training day immediately prior to the 2022 Annual Conference in Cardiff.

This expanding pool of Mentors has continued to support newly awarded scholars throughout their Nuffield journey, and continues to grow with the passion, commitment and drive from both Mentors and Mentees.

What makes the Nuffield Mentoring Programme special? Nuffield Mentors have both experience of travelling and completing their Scholarship; as well as an understanding of the basic principles of performance coaching

through the Mentor training they receive. As time has progressed, we now have Nuffield Mentors who have themselves been mentored during their own scholarship, and this brings an added dimension to the programme.

Mentor Training: The training which Mentors are offered is valuable in its own right, and many Mentors have expressed how they have found it useful in other areas of their lives too. The training is very practical and informal. Our aim is that delegates can discuss, practice and experience for themselves some elements such as:

• Listening and questioning without prejudice

• Verbal and non-verbal communication cues

• What it means to be a “thinking partner”

• The value of a walk ’n’ talk

• Developing the relationship and supporting the scholar

2022 CONTEMPORARY SCHOLARS CONFERENCE

Nuffield UK hosted this year’s international Contemporary Scholars Conference (CSC) from 7th to 15th March in Norfolk and London. 9 days, 130 scholars and delegates, from 15 countries! Our thanks go to all the generous Sponsors along with all our Speakers and Hosts for their time, energy, inspiration and advice.

Below are thoughts on the whole event from some of our Scholars that attended…

JAMES WRIGHT 2022 NSch

Attending the 2022 CSC was a fantastic start to my Nuffield Journey, with a jam packed itinerary thoughtfully put together by the UK Nuffield office, the nine day CSC was so beneficial to me on a number of levels. The opportunity to network and socialise with over 120 scholars from all over the world was incredible. I have made connections that will not only serve me well for the duration of my travels but also friendships that will certainly be long lasting.

The insightful training and speaker sessions led by Wyn Owen and the team revisited much of the leadership training I have been lucky to have over the years and really pulled it all together. A great refresher which upon returning to the business post CSC has given me clarity and certainly helped with my time management and the all-important skills required to delegate during my time away travelling.

Our stay in Norfolk was aptly rounded off by a visit to Holkham Hall, hosted kindly by the Earl of Leicester, learning about the Coke of Norfolk and the history of Agricultural reform –what an inspiration!

Our CSC then concluded in London, hosted in the Houses of Parliament by Nuffield scholar Robbie Moore. Following a tour round Parliament it was a great honour to have an audience with Lord Currie and The Right Honourable George Eustice MP where we had the opportunity to present on a variety of international agricultural challenges focussed around climate change and food security. Robbie is a true inspiration with infectious passion and enthusiasm, I’m sure one day we may see our first ‘Nuffield’ Prime Minister! Thank you to all at Nuffield for a truly memorable start to my Journey.

VIC BALLANTYNE 2022 NSch

I’d been warned about the intensity of the CSC and having now had time to reflect I am still blown away by the experience of being in a room with so many interesting people from around the globe.

It was a unique opportunity to meet people, many with experiences and views different from my own, yet all with the same goal of improving and changing the way we produce food and fibre.

Our first day coincided with International Women’s Day and it was wonderful to see so many strong and capable women representing all areas of agriculture from across the world.

MIRANDA TIMMERMAN 2022 NSch

Scholars from all across the globe from Canada to Chile, from Kenya and Zimbabwe to Australia and New Zealand a conflation of ideas, ambitions and experiences came together to attend the 2022 CSC. Having been postponed due to COVID two years worth of scholars were able to attend, making it fascinating and overwhelming all at once!

A brief introduction to the farming history of Norfolk led by our UK chair, Chris Graf Grote introduced one of the liveliest speakers, David Hughes, the pink whirlwind that is Professor Food. He took us seamlessly through the ups and downs of the World’s food economy, its history and future and trends and projections. It was a great all encompassing talk which really spring boarded our attitudes for the rest of the CSC thinking about areas outside of our comfort zones and pushing us to consider the ultimate consumer.

The day followed on with a discussion by Berry Marttin of Rabobank and a swift turn of pace and perspective led by Wyn Owen and Geraint Hughes to start a series throughout the week of workshops on leadership and resilience. A first full on day summed up by our after dinner speaker, Minette Batters, a fitting end for International Women’s Day!

ANNA BOWEN 2021 NSch

The developing situation in Ukraine throughout the week was a reminder of the volatility of market prices and pressures. Combined with increasing changes in climate, discussions were very much focussed on input costs, availability and what the future might look like.

The leadership sessions led by Wyn Owen challenged us to question ourselves and those around us. Robbie Moore MP (Nuffield 2016) generously hosted us at Westminster, giving us the chance to put these skills to the test during a session with George Eustice MP.

I would like to thank the organising team for the work they put in to pulling this off under difficult circumstances. Hosting not just one, but two years worth of scholars, was no easy feat and the resounding opinion was that it was a huge success.

The CSC was a long awaited experience, as my cohort lost our own conference in 2021 as one of many events lost to the pandemic. The wait only made it better, as did having the opportunity to mix with not only our own year group but also the 2022 scholars.

Minette Batters’s after dinner speech was as always inspiring and hugely interesting. She is a brilliant person to have representing the industry, and an excellent public speakershe had the whole room intently listening and then fielded lots of questions from passionate scholars. Minette is also a great ambassador for women in agriculture, and this representation can’t be downplayed.

It’s hard to pick out a particular speaker or session as all were challenging and thought provoking, but the morning we spent on farm safety was one that stayed with me. We all know that our industry has an appalling

Scholar’scelebratingInternationalWomen’sDay

health and safety record but hearing the stark statistics from James Chapman about his own farm accident really reinforced the message. Table discussions afterwards allowed scholars to share their own experiences, and I think it will make us approach both our scholarship visits and our own farming careers with a heightened awareness of what we can and should be doing. I’ll finish by thanking the organisers who put on a fantastic event. It was well worth the wait! Thank you!

OLIVIA CHAMPION 2022 NSch

Our Nuffield journey started with the CSC at which all scholars from around the world came together to learn about each-others agricultural systems, leadership and how to implement positive change. The scholars bonded in an extraordinary way and the energy in the group was phenomenal. Perhaps it was due to the shared experience and collective trauma of the pandemic over the past couple of years, the lack of social

interaction and heightened awareness of how unpredictable life can be, but the atmosphere at the CSC was electric. Scholars were encouraged to mingle and aim to speak to everyone in the room, which was a challenge with such a large group, but the activities provided us with plenty of opportunity.

The activities planned for the CSC led us on a journey through the scientific research that is being carried out to support Agriculture; at the Norwich Research Park we learnt about gene editing technology, soil microbiota and the challenges of climate change. We visited and learnt about a diverse range of agricultural businesses, and the challenges they face, on the Norfolk food enterprise Centre, including vertical farms, mills and agricultural buying groups. We toured farms and learnt about dairy and arable farming in Norfolk. The conference culminated in a trip to Westminster, where Agricultural policy is made. This carefully crafted journey through the different aspects of Agriculture showcased British Agriculture, architecture, enterprise, innovation and hospitality at its very best.

Scholars‘mingle’at2022CSC

Topic-led research delivered via in-person and virt ual events, a dedicated online resource port al, and via direct support from our team of expert s in the areas of:

2022 CSC: THE ‘DESIGN SPRINT’

The 2022 CSC had three underlining themes: Food, Climate and Health. And nowhere better to hold this than the ‘farming county’ of Norfolk in East Anglia. Amongst the many attractions for International Nuffield Scholars was Norwich Research Park.

Norwich Research Park (NRP) is a unique cluster of world class institutions and brings together four independent, internationallyrenowned research institutes: John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute, Earlham Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory; with University of East Anglia (UEA) and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH), supported and funded by The John Innes Foundation and UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

As one of the largest single-site concentrations of research in food, genomics and health in Europe, the Park has world-leading credentials and as Nuffield Scholars, we were extremely fortunate to gain unrestricted access to the NRP as part of the 2022 CSC.

The NRP’s vision is to ‘change lives and rethink society’. Bold words indeed, and day two of the conference saw scholars embark on an ambitious project introduced by Norwich University’s Business Innovation Manager, William Taitt as a ‘Design Sprint’.

The concept of a Design Sprint was developed more than twenty years ago by tech-giant Google with the focus of developing products or solving problems in a short period of time by exploring and discussing ideas with the result being a strong, effective solution to a problem.

The 2022 CSC Design Sprint consisted of eight groups, each tackling different challenges, which ranged from subjects like ‘Meat-Free Monday’ to ‘Antibiotic Resistance’. Each team had to deliver a solution and outline how this solution could be implemented, which would be presented to George Eustace MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in Westminster alongside a written report. More information can be found online in the ‘CSC Book’ at www.nuffieldscholar.org/about/ what-nuffield-international

DesignSprintBookCover

The workshops ran through several phases to explore the numerous factors, considerations and options that would achieve our brief. There was one simple rule during this stage, we were not to use the word ‘No’ as this may stifle innovation. This explorative session led to some great innovative thinking and sharing of ideas in a comfortable and safe environment.

The secondary phase of the workshops was then to narrow our thought process to focus on the end goal and how this may be achieved realistically, utilising the ‘blue sky thinking’ that had been inspired during the initial phase.

The final stages were how we could effectively communicate our messages that we had derived from the Design Sprint. The time limit for this was short, so a concise and coherent message was required that captured the essence of our conclusions.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: ROB HOWE 2021 NSch

Our group scenario transported us to 2050, where biomethane of dairy origin, is more valuable than milk. It was our task to define what the dairy cow of the future would look like and develop solutions to the issue of biogenic methane emissions from the dairy sector.

Brakes off, the teams launched into the ‘no no’s’ process that we were encouraged to follow. Creativity flourished in this environment, leading to the ludicrous moment we found a child’s sketch in front of us of a genetically modified cow, with rhino horns growing in a stegosaurus-like dorsolateral pattern, ready for profitable harvesting and with the obvious side benefit of saving the rhino from extinction… This particular idea was cut from our pitches during the second phases of the process, which involved reigning ideas back in, to define the problem and later solutions.

However, the process which created such an abhorrent animal of anarchic abomination, fomented trust, generated both laughter and productivity within the group and was a great way of getting to know everyone in a new team, while exploring a subject without limits. A rare experience! Many of us felt it was a process with potential value and application within our own, varied businesses.

In the end, perhaps the toughest part was combining two separate groups of fired up Nuffield Scholars and delegates, having separately agreed on the same subject, into one presentable and punchy pitch worthy of the occasion.

We concluded that in the future a dairy cow would and should be valued for more than just her milk. We framed a “suitcase of benefits” including harvested biomethane, meat, her crucial role in biodiversity within and without agro-ecological systems, green spaces enjoyed by people and in soil health.

Our pitch to the Secretary of State called for government support to enable tech innovation and financial incentives to harvest enteric methane for local renewable energy generation on farm, as well as provide for education to bring the public closer to farming and embrace the crucial and wider benefits of ruminants in biodiversity, soil health and food production systems less reliant upon fossil fuel inputs.

Teams then presented each of the Design Sprint ‘pitches’ to George Eustace MP, which was a great opportunity and experience. All of us would have relished even more time with him to follow up on answers to our various and wide-ranging questions, and to hone our own questioning and debating skills, but what time we did have was extremely beneficial to scholar development.

One of the strongest take-aways from the experience was the wish to be better able to influence our government’s thinking and action within agriculture, at such a critical moment where agriculture is under enormous and sometimes conflicting pressures in a time of unprecedented challenge and change.

RobHowepresentingwithhisteam

2022 CSC: BUSINESS HACK

On day four of the CSC, Scholars visited four businesses at the Food Enterprise Park, each with a unique challenge in need of creative solutions. During each visit, we were introduced to the business then were left to analyse their problem, generate ideas and create a proposal to pitch our solution.

WHO DID WE VISIT?

• AF Group - the largest memberowned farm buying group in the UK with a turnover of over £250 million

• Condimentum – Created by mustard and mint growers who came together to protect English-grown ingredients, including building a state-of-the-art mill outside Norwich

• Fischer Farms – Revolutionising vertical farming using scalable, next generation systems with a focus on agri-science, big data and environmental activism

• The Goat Shed - A farm shop stocking the very best of Norfolk’s artisan producers,

FISCHER FARMS

Fischer Farms is creating a revolution in farming with its scalable, next generation vertical farms. Fischer has begun works on a £25m project to build the world’s largest vertical farm on the Food Enterprise Park in Norfolk. We started our business hack session with a presentation from Tristan Fischer, Founder and CEO, whose background and interests are in agri-tech and carbon markets. For his business hack, Tristan asked Scholars to put forward potential ways that ‘horizontal farmers’ may feel threatened by vertical farming and how his business might address these concerns proactively.

We spent time in our groups discussing whether or not vertical farming is a threat to horizontal farming. This became quite an emotive and vibrant debate between groups. This allowed us to discuss future farming

practices and how we are going to tackle the big issues facing many farmers including the effects of climate change and labour shortages.

THE GOAT SHED

2020 Nuffield Farming Scholar Sam Steggles, founder of Fielding Cottage Goat’s Cheese, set up his wonderful farm shop during the first COVID-19 lockdown. The farm shop and kitchen offer a friendly shopping experience, boasting a fantastic selection of fresh local fruit, vegetables, meats, fish, bread and dairy products. They proudly support local, stocking the very best of Norfolk’s artisan producers. Sam challenged Scholars to find ways to build loyalty with existing customers and attract new people to the shop.

The winning team pitched a ‘Billy Box’ scheme, similar to a traditional loyalty card but instead of receiving ‘money off’ vouchers the reward would be a box of items. With the feel of a gift, the box would vary in value depending on monthly spend, including the shopper’s favourite items as well as new products and seasonal specials. The idea would promote loyalty by making customers feel valued and looking forward to receiving their ‘Billy Box’ each month. This could also be extended to feature in local holiday cottages as a welcome pack of items to promote the shop and encourage holidaying visitors.

founded by 2020 Nuffield Scholar Sam Steggles.

SamStegglesgivinganoverviewofhisbusinessbeforestartingthe BusinessHack

EMILY AITCHISON 2021 NS ch & KENDRA HALL 2022 NS ch

Formerly known as Anglia Farmers, AF Group is the largest member-owned farm buying group in the UK and boasts £250 million in turnover every year. With a vast product range including fuel, machinery, mobile and internet services, energy, seed and feed, the business is looking for new ways to make buying easier and more convenient for their members. A mobile app is one such option being considered, and AF Group asked Scholars to help them explore app design and functionality that would both bring value to farmers and encourage sales.

Excited by the challenge, there was a palpable buzz in the room as creative juices flowed and markers were put to easel paper. Scholars presented a plethora of ideas using a combination of colourful sticky notes and drawn designs to members of AF Group’s management team:

• Integration with other farm programmes to bring resource data into one place

• Commodity market predictions

• Weather displays

• “Matchmaking” services connecting farmers and suppliers

• Reminders when certain products due to be refilled such as fuel or animal feed

• User friendly design requiring little effort to make purchases including stored banking details, minimal clicks and “Favourites” lists

• Dashboard with key data points, including purchasing history, price trackers, and account reminders

• Easy access to purchased product info like safety regulations, storage requirements and user manuals

CONDIMENTUM

Condimentum was born out of a desire to keep traditional English mustard and mint production at home. Now with their own state-of-the-art mill on site (only one of three in the world!), the group were looking for creative and economical ways to use by-products of mustard processing. After providing Scholars with relevant processing details, they set us to work exploring what was possible…

From a pool of both high value and commodity options, the winning idea chosen by the Condimentum team was a mustard flavoured cocktail mix made from the oils left in the seed husk!

TobySimpson2022NSchgivespresentationfornewmobileapp

IntroductiontoCondimentumandtheirBusinessHack

Tilhill is delighted to be supporting The Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust

Tilhill is the UK’s leading woodland creation, forest management, timber harvesting, and landscaping company Tilhill is part of the BSW Group, the largest integrated forestry business in the UK, and a member of binderholz, Europe’s leading timber processing operation BSW Group is a rapidly developing multi site business with a turnover in excess of £650m and operations spanning forestry, sawmilling, timber manufactur ing and energy

Tilhill has, over the last 70+ years, planted more than 1 billion trees and, as a private company, has the greatest number of professionally qualified managers We specialise in woodland creation and management, timber harvesting and buying, and landscaping We strive at all times to provide an unrivalled service to our clients and customers

People are our greatest asset and we take growing our people as seriously as we grow our trees We offer an industry leading graduate

programme that provides a visible structure to aid and reward success We look for employees with drive, enthusiasm, and passion to join us. A graduate has the opportunity to learn every facet of a business stream They shadow colleagues who involve them in every aspect of their work, enabling our graduate employees to build up their k nowledge We also offer mentoring, pairing each graduate with a company manager for the duration of their training period

It is a very exciting time to join the forest industry, with woodland creation playing an increasingly important role in climate change mitigation Our years of experience in planting trees and creating woodlands and forests, coupled with our new business venture, CarbonStore, make Tilhill a cutting edge company, playing a significant role in the climate change aspirations Tilhill is a superb company to work for with a wide variety of roles across the UK on offer

NUFFIELD FINANCES

…..ThisarticleprovidesanupdateandexplanationofourlatestFinances–andsomepartsareretainedfrom previousversionstoprovideanongoingreference.Weareveryfortunatethatourfinancescontinuetobe strongandenableTrusteestofundnewinitiativestotakeforwardtheworkoftheTrustdespitethecurrent volatilefinancialsituation.Whatismore,thesupportofourloyalsponsorshascontinuedandNuffield Farmingcontinuestoattractnewsupporters.Longmaythissituationcontinue…..

AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE…

Since 1947, when our scholarships were first awarded and funded by the Nuffield Foundation, the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust has assumed, firstly responsibility for scholarships costs (in 1956) and later all finances (in 1968). The organisation became a registered charity and company limited by guarantee in 2003 and since then has been run under the legally binding rules and regulations of these bodies. The Trustees are responsible for setting strategic objectives, ensuring that the Trust complies with its formal obligations and authorising the annual budget for the Director to implement.

Currently, Nuffield Farming is fortunate to receive sponsorship for all scholarships awarded. Indeed, more organisations have promised support than the number of scholarships available – notwithstanding the geographical and specialist restrictions of some. In general terms, annual donations are used to fund a proportion of overheads (currently approximately 30%) with the balance being made up by general sponsorship along with investment income, donations and a small amount of scholar sponsorship funds. In recent years, until 2018-19, this has provided a small operating surplus (after deduction of major donations) in the order of 5% of normal income. However, again this year, additional costs have meant that an operating deficit approximately equivalent to 10% of normal income was incurred – although, slightly smaller than last year. More general sponsorship would be welcomed! Nevertheless, it is emphasised that the statutory accounts continue to show a healthy surplus of approximately £130k in 2021-22 – although, this is less than last year.

In addition, over the years the Trust has built up a portfolio of investments that provides reserves for the short and long term. Despite the ongoing volatility in global finances, these have continued to provide for a continued overall surplus during this 2021-22 financial year.

HEADLINES FROM RECENT YEARS 2013 – 2022

2012-13 2021-22 Trend

Total Net Assets: £835,100 £3,332,966 <Quadrupled Investment Holdings: £735,300 £3,406,817 >Quadrupled

Expenditure less Scholarships: £164,500 £264,386 +61%

Cost of Administration & Overheads: £114,000 £165,463 +45%

Note: ‘!’ indicates significant reduction from last year, due, in the main, to the impact of covid restrictions.

FINANCIAL OBJECTIVES, RESERVES ALLOCATIONS AND INVESTMENT STRATEGY

(From the Policy updated by Trustees in December 2021)

The strategic management of Trust’s finances are run according to the policy setting out the overarching Financial Objectives, Reserves Allocations and Investment Strategy for the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust. The Financial Objectives of the Trust are now to: maximise the return on investments, both in capital growth and income, within the agreed level of risk; provide stable and consistent levels of investment income for the Charity to pursue its charitable objectives and always maintain cash fund equivalent to two years’ expenditure in reserve.

The Reserves Policy divides the Charitable funds into three reserves:

Long Term Reserve. This reserve will be invested with the objective to accrue capital growth and provide income. Donations of capital in lump sums, such as legacies, will be invested in this fund which will comprise of unrestricted and restricted funds where the intention is to hold a lump sum for the long term with income used to provide scholarships.

Liquidity Reserve. A cash fund on deposit equivalent to two years’ expenditure or some other sum endorsed by Trustee Board. The Board has authorised the minimum sum of £400,000 be held on deposit with sums in excess of this minimum transferred to the Long Term Reserve.

Operating Bank Account. This account receives investment income and is the operating bank account managed by the Director. This account is expected to operate between £nil and £200,000 in credit and also includes an operating deposit account.

The Board of Trustees want to see capital growth which is in excess of inflation over the long term and reliable and consistent investment income. The detailed management of investments will be the responsibility of the appointed professional managers, but representatives of the Finance Committee will meet the fund managers annually to review performance and plans which take account of:

Risk. The investment risks of volatility in capital values and reliable investment income are managed by the investment managers. However, the risk has been mitigated by holding cash on deposit to smooth the charity past difficult investment conditions and allow adjustment for unfavourable market circumstances.

Ethical investment. Both investment managers have ethical investment policies approved by the finance committee members. These policies do develop and change and are discussed during the annual meeting. The Finance Committee reports to the Board if it is felt that there is a disparity between the ethical strategy of the managers and the joint view of the committee.

Benchmark. The two managers use their own benchmarks and the Finance Committee makes its own comparison between the investment companies to assess their relative performance.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

2021-22 2020-21 2019-20 2018-19 2017-18

Operating Surplus: -£71k -£90k -£60k £18k £32k

Unrealised Investment Gains: £239k £433k -£133k £79k £7k

Donations Restricted/Unrestricted Funds: £6k £55k £522k £1,156k £91k

Net Movement in Funds: £131k £343k £229k £1,175k £122k

Net Assets/Balance Carried Forward: £3,333k £3,202k £2,858k £2,630k £1,455k Investments: £3,407k £3,068k £2,618k £2,865k £1,520k

NOTES ON RECENT PERFORMANCE FIGURES:

• Operating Surplus. In recent years, until 2018-19, Trustees have set a budget with an operating surplus in the order of £25,000 – including investment income. This has not been sustained as explained above.

• Unrealised Investment Gains/Losses. This is sometimes referred to as ‘investment growth’ (or decline) and for which there are no fixed targets. Rather the movement in funds reflects changes in the stock market with a negative figure indicating a reduction in value. The growth of investments in 2017-18 was less than we had become used to but returned to ‘normal’ in 2018-19. In 2019-20, however, we suffered a decline of -£133k, only for this to ‘bounce back’ in 2020-21. This year gains are less, although, still sufficient to maintain a positive ‘Net Movement in Funds’.

• Donations to Restricted/Unrestricted Funds. The Trust continues to benefit by the generosity of charitable and private donors to establish ‘restricted funds’ to be used specifically for their scholarships. In the 2017-18 financial year major legacies were received totalling £91k. In 2018-19 financial year donations were received for a John Oldacre Restricted Fund of £1,100k as well as a further legacy from the Jill Willows Estate of £162k. In 2019-20 major donations totalling £522k were received or formally promised, but, in 2020-21 the amount was £55k and this year significantly less at £6k.

• Net Movement in Funds. This figure shows the final, overall, increase or decrease in funds.

• Balance Carried Forward. This is the Net Worth of the Trust and reflects that of the previous year plus or minus the net movement in funds. Readers will appreciate that, whatever else has occurred, the effective doubling of the Trust’s worth over 3 years (2017 – 2020) and the continued steady growth since must be considered good news!

SUMMARY

The Nuffield Farming finances continue to be reassuringly strong. The overall annual increase in the value of the Trust is satisfactory and reflects the generous support of our sponsors and benefactors without which free reserves would have to be used to fund our activities.

Even though the continued operating deficit is disappointing and may well be repeated again next year the overall, final result as set out in the Statutory Accounts is still satisfactory. The amount of free reserves, along with the security of major legacies, enables Trustees to confidently allocate monies towards new initiatives as these occur - whilst being sure that funds will still be available to carry the Trust over any downturn in its fortunes.

It is reiterated again this year, that whilst Trustees continue to bear down on administrative costs, they also recognise that increased levels of operational performance may need additional funding. Going forwards, it must be recognised that new initiatives are likely to need increased expenditure. This will only be possible if new sources of funds are identified or some funds from the free reserves are realised …..

Mike Vacher

GOVERNANCE OF THE NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS TRUST

- an unofficial aide mémoire Subject to change following amendments to be considered at the EGM on 24th November 2022

INTRODUCTION

This note is provided on the direction of the Trustees as an aide mémoire of the governance of the Trust. It should not be considered an authoritative document, although, it is hoped that it will provide a helpful ready reference.

OVERVIEW

The ‘Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust’ (NFST) is a registered charity (No. 1098519) and a company limited by guarantee (No. 04787639). All its activities are governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 4th June 2003 as amended by special resolution dated 21st November 2014. The Trustee Board controls the Trust and is responsible for overseeing its activities on behalf of the Members to whom it reports at general meetings, with an annual general meeting being held annually. The Trustee Board must meet at least twice a year and has terms of reference to cover its activities and those of its three sub-committees: the NFST Finance, Communications and Nominations Committees. The Trust is promoted and fostered by a network of countrywide regional and study groups.

MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

The Memorandum is the document which governs the relationship between the company and the outside world and sets out, in particular, the core objects of the Trust, eligibility for a scholarship, and the powers which may be exercised to promote its objects. The Articles describe how the Trust is run, governed and owned. These: define membership; set out how general meetings will be run; describe the organisation, proceedings and powers of the Trustee Board; set the parameters for the Selection Committee and scholars’ obligations;

and outline the administration of the Trust. The full Memorandum and Articles of Association are available from the NFST Office.

OBJECTS

All activities of the Trust must be towards promotion of its Objects which are: “…to promote agricultural, horticultural, forestry and countryside management education in the United Kingdom and abroad and to advance the standard of farming (including the food supply chain, horticulture, forestry and countryside management and associated topics) in the United Kingdom by the provision of Scholarships to [eligible] persons to enable them to study the practices and techniques employed anywhere in the world.”

MEMBERS

A Member of the Trust is a Nuffield Scholar, an Honorary Nuffield Scholar or a Recognised Sponsor/Sponsor’s Representative who pays at least the qualifying subscription or sponsorship as approved by the Trustees.

TRUSTEE BOARD

The Trustee Board is formed by 6 – 13 elected individuals of whom at least 75% must be Nuffield Scholars. Each year one quarter of Trustees retire (excluding Chair and Vice Chair) as at the AGM and are eligible for re-election

until they have served for six years, excluding any period served as a Returning Scholar Trustee.

Presently (as at November 2022) the Trustee Board is formed by: 10 Nuffield Scholars; 2 Returning Scholar Trustees representing the most recently completed year groups(2018 and 2019), and 1 External Trustee. The 11 Nuffield Scholars and External Trustees are elected/ re-elected at the AGM, the Returning Scholar Trustees are initially elected by their year groups and formally confirmed at the AGM. The Chair and Vice Chair each serve for two years in that office unless the AGM decides that there are exceptional circumstances which justify one additional year. Their retirement in accordance with the six year rule is postponed whilst in office.

The Trustee Board has the powers to:

• appoint additional Trustees up to the maximum of 13 until the next AGM;

• appoint and remove the Director;

• nominate the Chair and Vice Chair from the Nuffield Scholars on the Board;

• recommend Trustee Board Members for re-election.

and make other administrative arrangements including forming sub-committees, making standing orders, rules, procedures and arrangements to promote the good governance of the Trust and its wider success. The Trustee Board currently meets four times each year.

SELECTION COMMITTEE

The Selection Committee consists of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Trust and three others decided by the Trustees. Currently, the others consist of two external and one Nuffield Scholar members and their appointment is endorsed at the AGM. Members serve for a maximum of two terms of three years. Applications for scholarships are submitted electronically by 31st July each year. The Selection Committee meets to shortlist applicants for interview in October. Before their interview it is normal for the

applicants to have the opportunity to meet with representatives of their Country or Regional Group as coordinated by the Alumni Officer.

SUB-COMMITTEES

The Trustee Board has currently established three committees /sub-committees:

• Communications Committee. To consider all matters relating to communication with scholars and to the world outside the Trust on the work and purpose of the Trust to enhance its performance and reputation, and to advise and make recommendations to the Trustee Board. It currently meets four times each year before the corresponding Trustee Board meeting.

• Finance Committee. To advise the Trustee Board on matters relating to finance and financial procedures. It regularly reviews financial policy, reserves and investment policies, monitors in year financial progress and recommends an annual budget. It currently meets four times each year before the corresponding Trustee Board meeting and is led by the Vice Chair.

• Nominations Committee. To propose nominations to the Trustee Board of those to be recommended to the AGM to fill vacancies or appointments on the Trustee Board. It is currently formed by the Chair, Vice Chair and Chair of the Communications Committee and meets once each year prior to the AGM.

Mike Vacher

2021 STEVEN AND GILLIAN BULLOCK AWARD

The winner of the 2021 Bullock award, Caroline Millar, has been able to effect change to her own business in the last decade but has also had a significant impact at a regional and national level.

She has weathered the impact of covid at home, but also found time to support other businesses who have been hard-hit as well.

Her on-farm tourism venture welcomes couples who want to ‘get away from it all’ in luxury cabins near Dundee.

But Caroline has done plenty of travelling too, starting of course with their study tour.

This took her to Italy, the world leaders in agritourism, and she left with a burning desire to emulate the success they had seen in Italy.

After her Nuffield presentation she was invited to speak to the Oxford Farming Conference in 2014, after which there was a stint as an Oxford Farming Conference director, which culminated in her chairing the conference in 2018.

More recently she has become one of the first two women to be elected to the NFU Scotland board after becoming chair of the East Central Scotland region.

But throughout this time, at every level, she has campaigned tirelessly for a greater profile for agri-tourism, holding meetings with farmers, tourism leaders, councillors and members of the Scottish parliament.

This diligence has finally been rewarded with the recent publication of the Scottish government’s first ever agri-tourism strategy.

It seeks to form a virtuous circle between agri-tourism and Scotland’s wonderful food and drink, already enjoyed the world over, and has the potential to build on the fine work that farmers already do to promote the countryside and homegrown food.

Ladies and Gentlemen, for all the work that has stemmed from her Nuffield already, and for championing a strategy that will help farming businesses of the future flourish, the judges had no hesitation in awarding the 2021 Steven and Gill Bullock Award to Caroline Millar.

Stephen Fell NSch

Dan Burdett 2019 NSch receiving the Salver for the Best Study Report of his Nuffield year group from Chris Graf Grote NSch Chairman. His report is titled ‘RegenerativeAgriculture:MakingtheChange Happen’

2021 JOHN STEWART SHIELD

Vicky Robinson 2019 NSch receiving the Shield for the Best Presentation by a Presenting Scholar during the Conference from Chris Graf Grote NSch Chairman. Her presentation was entitled ‘Farmerto farmerknowledgeexchange:Relevanceandchallengesduringchange’.

ALUMNI OFFICER’S REPORT FOR 2022

CHARLOTTE MERSON

It has been so lovely to finally get back to in person events and meetings, the new Scholars, Regional and Study Groups have had a bumper year in terms of events and I thoroughly enjoyed the ones I attended.

The year started off with a fantastic open evening on zoom, Jenna Ross was our guest speaker and shared her Nuffield experiences with potential Scholars and then joined the Q&A session. Running an open evening the day applications went live ensured a good number of potentials immediately signing up allowing increased contact, I then went on to run 2 sets of drop in sessions for potential Scholars. The support offered to those applying proved very beneficial, we had a great number of applicants with a member of the selection panel commenting that they are an “excellentbunchofapplicationsin numbersandqualityandtheconsistency ofapplicationsIthinkthisyeariscertainly secondtononeinmytimeandImuchlook forwardtotheinterviews”. At the time of writing interviews are yet to happen but given the quality of the applications I am sure we will have a fantastic year group of Scholars joining us. Detailed feedback is also provided at each stage to those who request it.

The 2022 Scholars were treated to an inciteful, thought provoking and intense few days for their Pre CSC in London in March, we were joined by many brilliant speakers with James Thompson of Dyson Farming providing a standout session giving the Scholars an opportunity to see how the business is run. The CSC immediately followed the Pre CSC this year and was hosted on home soil in Norfolk, due to covid two year groups attended; 2021 and 2022. This bumper group allowed for extensive networking and the Scholars worked together in small groups on various tasks, again we were spoilt with the high quality of all speakers, I would like to extend my thanks to all involved with the CSC.

Due to delays caused by Covid we will have four year groups of current Scholars to look after, not only does this mean an exceptionally busy couple of years for the office but it also means a very busy time for our mentors. Because of this we are set to welcome a new group of mentors, they are going to receive their training at the conference in November and will be allocated 2023 Scholars. Mentoring is incredibly popular with the Scholars with all of the 2022 Scholars requesting a mentor and nearly all of the 2021 Scholars. All of our mentors are volunteers, both the Scholars and the office are very grateful for the time they give and I look forward to catching up with and meeting our new mentors shortly.

The Regional and Study groups have also had a busy year, I would like to use this opportunity to thank the Group Chairs for all of the hard work they do supporting applicants, running mock interviews and all of the events they run. The feedback I received from the events was excellent, from the Alumni and potential Scholars and as always the quality of guest speakers and farms to visit was exceptional.

Looking forward to 2023 I will be running the open evening in January and am currently in the process of organising an action packed Pre CSC for our new 2023 Scholars before they fly to Canada for their CSC and as always I will be working closely with the Regional and Study groups to assist with events and anything else they require. A particular focus will be on Health and Safety at our events in 2023 and I will appreciate help and support with this.

A YEAR OF MILESTONES FOR NUFFIELD

KENDRA HALL NSch & FRANKIE HARDING: REVERBERATE PR

2022 has been a bumper year full of highlights: three Scholar year groups traveling (finally!), the UK hosting a CSC in Norfolk, regional and sector groups back up and running, and agricultural events around the country bringing the industry together. All of this has happened just as Nuffield celebrates 75 years of leading positive change in British agriculture – what a year!

Amidst all of this activity Nuffield’s brand continues to grow as we manage an active and vibrant social media presence, enjoy press coverage, and share the inspiring work and learnings of both veteran and new Scholars.

Online, our social media channels continue to grow both in follower numbers and the reach of our messages. In the last 12 months, Nuffield earned more than 2,700 new followers across our pages, with our LinkedIn following growing by nearly 50% and Instagram by 33%. However, Twitter remains the heavy hitter at more than 11,000 followers. In an average month, Nuffield tweets will be seen around 35,000 times but in March during the CSC, this rose to more than 186,000 times!

Nuffield Farming continues to be of interest in the press both regionally and nationally, seeing ample coverage of announcements, events, and wider Scholar activity in a wide range of outlets, from local papers to BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today. The Nuffield section of Direct Driller has continued, and we now also have a dedicated Nuffield Resource page on TheFarmingForum.co.uk, under the “Research” section, where users can find Scholar report summaries and download them from our website.

TAKING THE CSC DIGITAL…

The 2022 Contemporary Scholars Conference (CSC) was unique in a lot of ways, particularly because it was attended by two years’ worth of international Scholars, with more than 120 delegates traveling to Norfolk for the occasion. Adding to the challenge of holding such a huge event was the possibility of COVID-19 affecting plans or procedures unexpectedly.

To ensure we could update all attendees easily and quickly, we used a digital event app called “Whova” in lieu of a traditional paper programme. With every CSC detail on their phone, attendees could access up-to-date policies, view venue maps, see the schedule of events and speaker info, communicate with fellow Scholars, and receive live announcements before, during, and after the event.

UK Scholar volunteers also shared their day-to-day experiences and learnings at the CSC on Nuffield social media channels, which proved hugely popular and brought the Scholar experience to life.

To commemorate the Scholars’ visit to the Norwich Research Park, a booklet was created with photos and a summary of the challenges they were given, which can be found on the Nuffield International page of the NuffieldScholar.org website!

POULTRY GROUP GROUP REPORTS

Back to a full programme of activities, the last 12 months has allowed the poultry group, chaired by Mike Tyers, to meet up with old friends and welcome new scholars to the group.

We welcome James Wright who will be investigating biomass heat and climate change mitigation; Alex Eivers who tackles Irish egg production efficiency and David Throup who dives into poultry manure (not literally) regarding its bi-product capabilities through the sustainability lens.

Last year’s addition to the group, Adrian Marshall, is heavily involved in his travels and we look forward to hearing all about them at next year’s poultry group AGM.

A number of us attended the November’s winter conference in Northampton which was enjoyed by all, especially the session including participation by poultry scholars Hannah Eastaugh and James Smaldon.

On March 10th 2022, following liaison with Harper Adams by Karen Simpson, we had a very interesting presentation and discussion followed by a meal at The Farmers Club with Professor Michael Lee on “The role of sustainable livestock systems in securing global food security at the same time as protecting environmental health, for the sake of people and the planet.”

Our May Spring Weekend meeting was held in Kent and kindly hosted by poultry scholar Doug Wanstall and his wife Stephanie.

Doug farms in the garden of England and is heavily involved in, and an advocate for, regenerative farming.

We were blessed with great weather, a facinating visit, great hospitality and food.

A tour of Canterbury Cathedral was a wonderful way to end the weekend.

This year’s study tour will take place in November and will find 13 scholars in Israel where they will visit technology companies involved in solving the issue of male chicks in layer production and artificial meat production as well as farm, feed, equipment, hatchery and processing visits. Lastly we look forward to the Winter conference where will have at least one table at the conference dinner.

Simon Carlton

Douginvitingthegrouptoenjoylunchinhistraditional Kentbarn

Doug’sFoodvendingequipmentsellinglocalproducedfood

TalkingtoaGinproducerinoneDoug’sformerfarm buildings.

PIG GROUP GROUP REPORTS

It doesn’t need stating that this year has been particularly difficult for UK pig producers and as Nuffielders we feel that collectively we should help each other and the wider pig industry to weather this storm. It goes without saying, that if anyone needs assistance in any way possible – please let us or fellow pig group members know and we shall do our best to support you.

to try and improve community spirit and communications.

Despite the short notice we had a good, if small, group attend the Anpario dinner after the Pig & Poultry fair. We would like to send our thanks to Anpario for hosting us.

Despite several emails having been circulated and a call for members to update contact details being sent out in the regular Nuffield Newsletter, we have received very little response from Nuffield Scholars with a Pig interest. If you are interested in joining the Pig Group, please could you forward your contact details to Caroline or Heidi so that you can be added to the mailing list. If you could also provide a mobile number that would be great as we hope to set up a Pig WhatsApp Group

Heidi and I are already making plans for visits and events for the Pig Group, the first of which will hopefully be a meeting with McDonalds and a tour around their OSI supplying site. If anybody has any suggestions of trips they would like to do, or topics they wish to cover – please let us know and we will do our best to arrange events accordingly.

Caroline & Heidi caroline.mitchell@fqmglobal.co.uk heidi.hall@anpario.com

EAST MIDLANDS

Another quiet year but with some visits on the horizon. I’ve been a bit hesitant with organising anything whilst the threat of Covid still lingers.

With Cereals being held in Cambridgeshire this year we weren’t involved with running the stand but with the show returning to the region albeit in a different location at the Thoresby Estate, Nottinghamshire on 13th and 14th June 2023, no doubt we’ll be helping with this and endeavouring to encourage people to apply for a Scholarship. We continue to combine with the Anglian group with mock interviews and have some good candidates coming through I’m pleased to say.

Andrew Scoley

WELSH REGION

It’s been an exciting an eventful year with Nuffield Cymru. It was great to have the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show held for the first time since 2019. Nuffield Cymru organised a reception and refreshments at the NFU stand on the Wednesday morning of the show. It was good to meet with Scholars after a lengthy spell with no face to face meetings and it was fantastic to see prospective scholars coming along to enquire more about the scholarship. We look forward to working again with NFU to make this an annual reception destination at the show.

In late-September 2022, Nuffield Cymru collaborated with the Nuffield Beef and Sheep group in organising 2 days of farm tours across Montgomeryshire, Mid Wales. This turned into a successful few day seeing many familiar and new faces. We visited John and Sarah Yeomans at Llwyn y Brain, John was named Grassland Manager of the Year in 2022 at the inaugural National Arable & Grassland Awards and we saw during our visit the grassland trails they are conducting as well as the conservation work that is still undergoing at Llwyn y Brain.

The second farm we visited was Marc Jones at Trefnant Hall. Marc, a beef and sheep farmer rearing and finishing autumn born dairy bred angus calves to finish at 20-24 months off grass and wintered on fodder beet, whilst also running Romney x ewes. Farming on a steep, dry, south facing farm, Marc shared the challenges he was facing with the dry summer. On the second day we visited Rhydian Glyn at Rhiwgriafol, a new entrant to the industry, started farming 9 years ago and built up an astound reputation as a quality stockman with a recorded flock of improved Welsh mountain ewes alongside rearing dairy youngstock either on contract or to be sold on.

The last farm we visited was the Tudor family at Llysun in Llanerfyl. The Tudor family converted to dairy and started milking in the spring of 2020. Everyone in the farming and Nuffield community were greatly saddened to hear of the loss of Richard in a tragic accident shortly after this, however it was fantastic to see during the visit how son Morgan, the family and his team had driven the farm

forward and making a huge success of the new dairy venture.

The destination of the Annual Nuffield Farming Conference for 2022 is of course Cardiff. As a Nuffield Cymru committee, we look forward to welcoming you all to Wales and we are excited to show you what our small nation has to offer!! Edrychwn ymlaen at eich croesawu chi gyd ir gynhadledd yng Nghaerdydd yn Mis Tachwedd! Diolch yn fawr

Iwan Vaughan

NORTHERN REGION GROUP REPORTS

In July this year, scholars in the northern region were once again invited to the annual Nuffield Reception generously hosted by the CLA at the 2022 Great Yorkshire Show.

This years’ event saw a good attendance from Future Farmers of Yorkshire supported by the Yorkshire Agriculture Society (YAS); Nuffield alumni and potential scholars meeting at the CLA pavilion.

Many thanks to Elizabeth Hudson and the Yorkshire Agricultural Society for their continued help and continued support for Nuffield Farming, as well as to Charlotte Merson who organised the event behind the scenes. Thank you also to our sponsors, without whom this event would not have been possible; the CLA, Yorkshire Agricultural society, Evolution farming Ltd, Lindum Turf and Nun Monkton Estate. The reception heard three excellent presentations from Heidi Hall 2019 NSch, David Throup 2022 NSch and Miles Middleton 2022 NSch who shared their experiences of their scholarship journey, including the application process, the GFP and travel experiences, and the event proved to be a great networking opportunity. The event was very well attended, and attendees enjoyed a glass of Pimm’s and a cream scone, whilst scholars shared their Nuffield journeys and experiences with the audience.

ANGLIAN REGION

In June this year, Ian Pye 2001 NSch kindly hosted a northwest recruitment event, on his farm near Preston. Many thanks to Ian for hosting and speaking at the evening meeting alongside Robert Craig 2012 NSch. Ian and Robert shared with attendees their Nuffield experiences both during their travels and afterwards, alongside a light supper and refreshments kindly provided by Ian.

Plans are underway for further events in the northwest and Yorkshire and the northeast for 2023.

Jo Speed

I would like to start by congratulating Toby Simpson and Tom Young who became the latest scholars from the Anglia region. Well done to both of you and I hope your studies are progressing satisfactorily.

In February this year we held a ‘Meet the Scholars’ evening via Zoom. Toby joined us to tell us about his study topic – he’s looking at catch- and cover-cropping (unfortunately Tom was away so unable to dial in). We were also joined by recent scholars Adrian Marshall, Theeb Partheeban, Jamie Lockhart, Teresa Meadows and Sam Steggles who all gave an update on their – sadly covid-disrupted – scholarship travels. It was a well-attended evening and thank you to all those who contributed.

Once again we are Andrew Scoley (Chair, East Midlands region) and I are holding mock interviews for the 8 applicants in our joint regions who have been called for interview. Sam Steggles has kindly agreed to join the interview panel and Mike Mack has offered to help entertain the interviewees whilst they await their turn! Thank you to you both for your offer of help.

Tom Chapman

HORTICULTURE GROUP GROUP REPORTS

Angus Davison 1991 NSch and Tim Crossman 2002 NSch are inviting the Horticultural Group and other interested Scholars to Haygrove Ltd, Ledbury, Herefordshire on Friday 28th April 2023, to look around the various enterprises that Haygrove Ltd encompasses. We will also include another visit locally on the Saturday morning. We would welcome anyone with an interest in production, protected growing, tunnel manufacturing and marketing to join us in what is sure to be a fascinating and informative day at this dynamic enterprise. Look out for more details next year…

REGEN GROUP

Firstly, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Lucy MacLennan who has joined me as co-chair of the Nuffield Regen group. Already she has come up with some great ideas and suggestions for the future and will help to drive the group to new heights.

We have held quarterly meetings over the past 12 months: three were via zoom whilst the fourth was a get-together face-to-face for the first time as a group at the 2022 Groundswell show. It was a great turnout and lovely to meet so many members of the group.

Thanks to all those who have spoken to the group. We’ve heard about the regenerative journeys of some of the big-hitters in the

CENTRAL REGION

regenerative field, including Jake Freestone, David Walston, Stephen Briggs, Dan Burdett, Tom Sewell, David Millet, Robert Thornhill, Tim May, Jo Franklin, Philip Hughes and Andrew Scoley.

Future meetings will prove to be equally informative and interesting. If you would like to join the group, please do drop Lucy or me an email.

Tom Chapman

Firstly, many thanks to Oliver Surman for his sterling work and enthusiastic leadership as past Central Region Chairman.

With all the changes in COVID restrictions, we spent much of 2020 and 2021 organising the Annual Nuffield Conference, which was held at Whittlebury Hall Hotel in Northamptonshire. Many thanks to Oliver, Joe, the rest of the organising committee and volunteers at the Conference who made the event so successful. In addition, many thanks to the generous sponsorship we received from all of our supporters, without this, the event would not be possible.

We had a successful and informative farm walk in June for past, present and potential scholars at FarmED in Oxfordshire. Many thanks to 2015 Nuffield Scholar Jonty Brunyee

for hosting us. It was a very interesting farm tour, in a picturesque Cotswold location and lots of good discussion and debate around Regenerative Farming!

DAIRY GROUP

The Dairy Study Group are glad to report on another very successful and enjoyable study trip, this time around South West Scotland at the beginning of June. A good bus load of past, present and prospective scholars were treated to a range of fascinating and informative visits and presentations. Huge credit is due to this years’ organiser Michael Kyle, and also enormous gratitude to all our speakers and hosts for their openness and hospitality.

Without doubt the dairy industry’s environmental sustainability was the theme of the week. Our study began with a presentation by Richard Lane who introduced the findings of his Trehane Fellowship report on the ‘Roadmap to Net Zero for the Dairy Industry’. The rest of the week seamlessly explored and developed this topic. We had presentations from the Woodlands Trust, ARLA and First Milk, and we visited a dairy farmer owned AD plant. All, as you would expect, prompting vigorous discussions.

Our farm visits took us from Stranraer to Dumfries and beyond, and covered a refreshing range of systems. All highlighted different

business facets and challenges. Hopefully all our hosts benefited from their openness in sharing their figures and facing the scrutiny and positive challenge from the group. Appropriately, our trip finished with what was a return visit to Michael’s own farm. It was great to see how things had developed over the years and where they are heading now.

All in all, another cracking trip. Great to catch up with old friends and make a few new ones. Always leaves you with a shot in the arm and a hunger to go home and see where we can do things better.

SOUTH EAST GROUP

The South East region is delighted to be hosting the 2023 conference and the office team has been able to secure the prestigious Grand Hotel in Brighton. We can be sure of a few glorious days by the seaside (paddling, eating ice cream and dodging seagulls are not mandatory but a favourite local sport!).

We have seen an uplift in applicants for Scholarships this year, I have really enjoyed learning about the diversity of businesses and areas for development proposed by our candidates and we had a great time interviewing candidates. Congratulations to

those that got through, we’re already looking forward to hearing your reports!

Sadly, this was my last crop of scholars as I need to stand down as Chair of the region. To my successor, you’ll love it, being a regional chair is Nuffield +! See you all in Brighton…

BECKETT SCHOLAR GROUP

The Beckett Group’s 2020 annual meeting planned for April of that year was an early victim of Covid closure restrictions. It had been timed to coincide with the 90th birthday celebrations of the sponsor and founder of the Group, Alan Beckett. It might have been possible to reschedule in 2021 but most of the Group trade so comparatively near market that their businesses were more affected than those of commodity Scholars by the country’s economic background – so were deemed simply too busy to spare the time.

So it was with great enthusiasm that as many of the Group and their partners as possible – those not affected by weddings, new babies, lambing, birthdays or other anniversaries - met up in April 2022 for a Weekend hosted by the Becketts and an opportunity to offer belated congratulations to Alan.

The theme of the Weekend’s programme was Farming on the Edge of a City. Simon Beckett gave a comprehensive and confidential overview of the direction the Becketts Farm business had taken, and was going to take, to keep it modern and competitive in the present day. Location, population and geography affected farming business wherever it was situated. One had to develop within the parameters of the local demand, population and councils. Scholars were shown round the Farm Shop and given a coach tour of some of the Becketts Farm developments.

After lunch, as light relief and an apposite appreciation of how the local economy and manufacturing management had changed, Scholars took a tour of the Needle Museum. This celebrated the fact that Redditch in the 1800s was manufacturing and supplying 90% of the world’s requirement for needles for every conceivable use. Yet this business has completely fallen away and the town has needed to reinvent its economy.

Then a local entrepreneur told the Group of his struggles and ambitions as he came from a council house background in the city, via egg retailing from his bicycle as a schoolboy,

to building up a truly large egg production and packing business. His current largest enterprise is a beautifully constructed Farm Park, employing several members of his family as well as external employees, where all sorts of animals and activities are provided as amenity for families from the surrounding conurbations. This entrepreneur was totally candid with the Group as he confided details of how financiers and advisers had tried to swindle and ruin his developing business. This candour was greatly appreciated by the Group and echoed one of Simon Beckett’s themes that the greatest threat to managing a growing business was that posed by wider financial and legislative themes.

At the Group’s AGM the next day it was emphasised that, excellent programmes nonetheless, the greatest benefit of attending a Group Weekend was the interaction between Scholars: particularly as the Beckett Group are all trading in slightly different businesses and with different financial backgrounds. All participants were given copies of a booklet, specially written and printed to celebrate Alan’s 90th birthday, which detailed the Story of Becketts Farm – personnel and finances – as far back as the original Beckett could be traced.

The 2023 Weekend will be in Northumberland – a total contrast in venues - hosted by James and Amy Drummond and in particular demonstrating latest sheep management techniques.

ARABLE GROUP

A combined Nuffield Arable and Addington Trust group met on Wednesday lunchtime, September 28th, at Launceston Cricket Club, situated on former NFU County Chairman Jon Perry’s Farm to start the Group Tour of Cornwall. How else could we start than with a Cornish pasty? Inspiring presentations by Jon Perry, Rob Halliday, the current NFU Chairman, and local consultant Will Iliffe were followed by Becky Wilson from Farm Net Zero who was her usual gregarious self and gave a very good talk on net zero and some of the farms involved with trial programmes in Cornwall. A short farm walk looking over some beautiful countryside followed.

Wednesday evening supper was at Carlyon Golf Club where Chris Hoskins of Hutchinsons, our group sponsors, gave an insightful talk on the Omnia Mapping and sampling system. This was followed by Chris Riddle, secretary of the Royal Cornwall Show, who talked about the successful rebooting of the show following covid.

Thursday started wet and windy but didn’t deter us in our visit to Nansledan, a Duchy of Cornwall led development of a modern small town adjoining Newquay. We were guided by Ben Murphy a director of the Duchy, who gave us an excellent overview of the project. The wide streets, noticeable lack of street furniture, efficient housing, a school with a difference and excellent retail facilities were very impressive. The Addington Trust will also have some housing within the development for retired farmers.

Then onto to the Cornish Food hall standing alongside and a part of the Truro Waitrose. There we met up with Jonathon Jones who then led us to the Tregothnan Estate which has remained in the same family ownership since 1334. Many of you will know Jonathon as the English Tea grower and his enthusiasm and knowledge of his subject shone through. An excellent lunch at Coombe by the river Fal followed.

As we couldn’t cross the river at this point we had quite a detour to reach Fentongollan Estate tenanted by James and Jeremy Hoskins. Their enterprises consist of an arable rotation, sheep, bulbs and vegetable and salad propagating. Jeremy’s niece Francis and her partner Jake accompanied us and are lining up to take over from Jeremy in the future.

Thursday evening was spent at the Addington Fund Farm Business Awards at the Eden project. Following a minute’s silence in memory of our dear friend Caroline Drummond, a sumptuous dinner was followed by the awards presentations. The Hoskings

won the Best Commercial Farmer as well as Cornwall’s Farmer of the Year, David Hichens Best Dairy Farmer, and Felicity Richards and Jonathon Jones were worthy finalists.

On the final morning we visited Felicity and John Richard’s Green Waste Company composting local authority and garden waste on two sites. Following a tour of the site we heard from three young people who are using the compost for cattle bedding, a small market gardening enterprise and a bulb growing business, all very inspiring growers. How else could we finish but with a Cornish pasty? Just the job for the long wet drive home.

My thanks to Bill Young, Hutchinsons and all our wonderful hosts for a terrific two days in the southwest.

Andrew Scoley

After three years of not seeing many people, the Nuffield Beef and Sheep Group were very pleased to join with Nuffield Cymru for two days of visits to three very enterprising young farmers, and us. Our proposed gathering date was postponed for a couple of weeks out of respect for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Ian and Bridget Howie were unable to make the second date so conducted their own mini tour and we were very glad to host them.

It was really good to meet up after so long and we were encouraged by the number of prospective Nuffield Scholars who came along on both days Not everyone was able to make the two days, but some did and it was very interesting to catch up with old friends and meet some new faces. We were so glad that Aled Griffiths who has had a very challenging time over the last twelve months or so, made the huge effort to attend. With Ian and Aled, we had Nuffield Royalty along, not forgetting Mike Evans and Rees Roberts of course!

Iwan Vaughan, Nuffield Cymru Chair, has written a good round up in his report of the farms we visited, but other than our place it was really encouraging to see such enthusiasm and drive from the three other young farmers we visited. Both Rhidian Glyn at Rhiwgriafol, and Marc Jones at Trefnant Hall are tenants on their beef and sheep farms. Morgan Tudor, after losing his father tragically at just 17 stepped up to run the newly established forage based dairy herd back in 2020. We saw some top notch forage management on what must be one of the most challenging years in most people’s memory. We are very grateful to all of our hosts for their openness and how they see the challenges and opportunities for our future.

This will be my last report as Chair and I would like to thank everyone for their help, advice and support with the Beef and Sheep Group, particularly Arwyn Owen who will now take over the reins. The group will now be looking for a new vice chair so if you are interested, please get in touch with Arwyn.

Best wishes to you all and despite the many challenges, I believe that the grazing of

livestock will have a huge role to play in the future, saving the planet, enhancing the environment and feeding the ever growing population.

John Yeomans NSch 2006

WEST MIDLANDS REGION

The Nuffield West Midlands Region has been active this year with a Farm visit and attendance at a number of Farm shows.

In June we headed to Cheshire to visit both Barnston Estates and Grosvenor Estates. The day started with Ed Barnston NSch explaining his business philosophy and showing us around the highly diverse Estate. We saw cutting edge industry, a gym and a natural burial ground, and of course some beautiful Farmland on a whistlestop tour.

In the afternoon we headed over to Grosvenor Estate and Charlie Steer NSch showed us around Lea Manor Farm where over 3,000 head of cattle are milked three times a day in a state of the art rotary milking parlour. After that it was over to Hatton Heath the estates brand new saw mill and extensive drying facilities. I would like to take the opportunity to once again thank Ed and Charlie for hosting us and for putting on such a memorable and interesting day.

Scholars from the region also organised and attended both Cereals 2022 and the Kenilworth Show. These events proved to be great opportunities to meet potential new scholars and promote the wonderful world of Nuffield!

NUFFIELD AT THE PALACE

Six Nuffield Scholars (including myself) received the enviable invite to Her Majesties Jubilee Platinum Party. Along with thousands of other guests drawn from a people’s ballot, keyworkers and community volunteers, we took our seats on The Mall on a beautiful early-summers evening. The crowd’s atmosphere, like the setting sun, was radiant. I don’t think any of us knew what to expect but, from the moment Paddington Bear appeared, we were as one; partisans, revelling in patriotism. Brian May rose into the lap of the Queen Victoria Memorial, Adam

Lambert sang ‘we will rock you,’ and Jo Speed and I grinned at each other. Singers old and new, assisted by tech old and new, gave it their all and I think we were as much moved as entertained. Certainly, I was entranced by the Opera which is the only excuse I can think of for me singing loudly along to Rod Stewart. Luckily, I, like Rod, was drowned out by the crowd. The events of September were still in the future and so for a glorious, unapologetic moment we were all part of a shared history.

For the party invite Nuffield must thank His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester but for the reason for having the party we must thank the 70-year selfless service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Matt Swain

ScholarsandpotentialscholarslisteningtoEdBarnston

HattonHeathSawMilll

The Nuffield Business Groups all met in 2022; the No 1 group in Notts courtesy of David and Jill Rose, the No 2 group met in Fife courtesy of Caroline and Ross Millar, and the newly formed No 3 group held its inaugural day courtesy of David and Sabrina Walston’s at the family farm in Cambs. All hosts went the extra mile welcoming scholars into living rooms, kitchens, and their busy lives.

The presentations, 54 in total, were as diverse as the scholars who gave them. Sitting through all of them I count myself lucky indeed to receive 54 moments of inspiration. An example of which were the government lockdowns, which members took in their stride, no whinging just action. Whether as providers of products/services to, or leaders of, the community; scholars flourished.

In the meetings business conundrums were met with practical solutions and family dilemmas with understanding. Back in 2005 it’s fair to say the hope was we’d become each other’s quasi-non-execs. It has gone so far beyond that now. Friendship has formed, the friendship that allows for critical feedback as opposed to just ‘a slap on the’ back. And I’m pleased to report that members have even moved beyond meetings, with breakouts of members own volition, both inter and intra group.

I think I’m getting old though. I was heading for bed as David and Jills woodland extravaganza was just getting warmed up. I was also heading for bed as the No 2 group were heading for the Hot tubs. God knows what the No 3 group will be like.

Matt Swain

Davidwhybitterisbetterthancider

SCOTTISH REGION

Our food systems face major challenges, and now, more than ever, the role of Nuffield Farming Scholarships is vital in delivering positive change to our industry. Within Nuffield Scotland, we are proud to pick up this baton and help champion this life changing opportunity to new potential scholars based in Scotland, and we also celebrate past and present scholars who are making a significant impact on our industry.

Our Nuffield calendar year kicked off with a bang at the 2021 conference, which saw Caroline Millar 2012 NSch lift the Steven and Gillian Bullock Award, and on behalf of the entire Nuffield Scotland Group, I would like to congratulate Caroline on this well and truly deserved success. At the conference, we also welcomed 2 new scholars, Vic Ballantyne and Ali Cook, into the Nuffield Scotland family.

The next big event was our virtual Nuffield Scotland AGM that took place on the 17th March 2022. This included presentations from Rob Hodgkins 2012 NSch of Kaiapoi who gave an overview of his business in a presentation entitled ‘Sheep Farming in the Land of the Combine’. This was followed by a virtual tour and overview by Graeme Jarron of Ogilvy Spirits who also conducted a tasting and mixology session with their very tasty Scottish potato vodkas. The evening was concluded with a lighthearted summary of 2021/22 by Jimmy Dick of Northton Farm and current President of the Royal Northern Agricultural Society.

The new year also brought the opening of the 2022/23 NFST applications. Nuffield Scotland continued to host monthly 1-2-1 drop-in and coaching sessions for all potential scholars based in Scotland, which ran from January right through to the closing date in July, and myself and the team thoroughly enjoyed working with each and every applicant.

I am proud to announce that we had 13 applications in from potential scholars based in Scotland, with a high proportion through for interview, the highest ever recorded from Scotland, and the highest across all the regional groups for 2022/23.

2022 also saw the much-awaited return of the in person agricultural shows. 2022 was a special year in Scotland with the 200th Anniversary of the Royal Highland Show, and with that, we decided to celebrate in style with a ‘fizz reception’ kindly sponsored and hosted by Marks and Spencer. We welcomed past, present and potential scholars to the ringside venue, and had excellent presentations from Head of Agriculture and Fisheries at Marks and Spencer, Steve McLean, and from 2021 and

2022 scholars, John Gray, Ranald Angus, Vic Ballantyne and Ali Cook. Many thanks to all the aforementioned speakers for being involved and to everyone who came along. Special thanks to Marks and Spencer for kindly hosting the group. We also held a silent auction at the event, raising over £800, which will help support future events. Again, thank you to all those who donated prizes.

Garden Party in Edinburgh. The delegation that attended the event included the current Nuffield Scotland leadership team, namely Neil McGowan (Vice Chair), Jamie McIntosh (Secretariat) and myself (Jenna Ross, Chair), and we were accompanied by immediate past Chair, Jim Shanks, and 2019 scholars, Claire Hodge and Richard Walker. The group thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon, with a lovely afternoon tea, great weather, and 1-2-1 discussions with His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex.

During the Royal Highland Show, a number of Nuffield Scotland scholars were also involved with hosting the RHASS International VIP event, with visitors joining from all over the world, viewing everything from Scottish innovations through to champion livestock. Many thanks to all those who participated.

On the 29th June 2022, Nuffield Scotland were invited by His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester to the Palace of Holyroodhouse

The following week, in my capacity as Nuffield Scotland Chair, I was fortunate to join Vicky Robinson, David Rose, Joanna Speed, Christine Snelll and Matthew Swain to attend Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Party held at Buckingham Palace. Many thanks again to His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester for this very kind invitation. This really was a once in a lifetime experience!

Last month, the Nuffield Scotland Group took to the road for a magnificent tour of Angus. We had a jam-packed informative day which included:

• A demonstration of SKAi from Jim Wilson 2003 NSch of Soil Essentials

• Tour of the luxurious adult only The Hideaway Experience by Caroline Millar 2012 NSch

• Tour of the Intelligent Growth Solutions innovative towers

• Presentation, tour and tasting of delicious berries at Angus Soft Fruits by John Gray 2021 NSch

• Grand finale meal at The Carnoustie Golf Hotel

We saw, we learned, we questioned….exactly what Nuffield Farming Scholarships are all about. It was also a fantastic opportunity to catch up with past, present and potential scholars. Thank you to all who attended and special thanks to each of our hosts!

The next stage for the Nuffield Scotland leadership team is preparation for the faceto-face mock interviews in September at Ingliston House. We wish all those who have applied for a scholarship the very best of luck and look forward to meeting those invited for interviews in Edinburgh.

Finally, I just wanted to say that it has been an absolute honour to Chair the Nuffield Scotland group over the last two years. I can’t quite believe my time is up, but I know the group will be in fantastic hands with the new Nuffield Scotland Chair, Neil McGowan, and Vice Chair, Jamie McIntosh, who will take over the reins following the 2022 NFST annual conference in November. Neil and Jamie have been a fantastic support to me over the last few years, and the success of the group really is a team effort. I just want to finish by saying a massive thank you to Neil and Jamie, and I wish you the very best of luck for the future.

Best wishes

Dr Jenna Ross OBE

GOLF SOCIETY

2022 Nuffield Golf started in April in Hunstanton by kind invitation of John and Janine Strawson. We started with a wonderful get together for Sunday lunch at Brancaster to remember the life of Jill Willows who sadly died 5 years previously.

The Golf game was at the beautiful links course at Hunstanton where a Nuffield team took on a Hunstanton members team made up of local farmers. A very close game saw the members winning with a narrow margin. The day was made very special when we were all invited back to the Strawson’s for a BBQ. The evening was everything I wanted from the Nuffield Golf Society, mixing with Scholars from all ages and socialising with friends new and old, a day to remember.

The following day we visited Sam Steggles NSch at his Goat Shed Farm Shop near Honingham, set in the heart of the beautiful Norfolk Countryside. What a story so far in Sam’s life and we look forward to seeing Sam report and presentation. A great visit with such energy enthusiasm and sheer determination.

June 28th Golf day was at Greetham Valley in Rutland, hosted by Helen and Geoff Woolley. We had a great turnout and welcomed new members to the society. It was a very hot day but with a nice breeze that helped us navigate a very interesting and tough test of golf.

The game was won by Steve Ward and Jill Rose with a great score, with the Jill Willows Champagne achievement award going to David Holmes playing his first game in 25 years. Hiring clubs and a trolley he managed to play really well and still had golf balls to spare at the 18th - Well done!

We now head for our autumn meeting at Tewkesbury kindly hosted by Oliver Surman and our Winter meeting at Celtic Manor on the Tuesday of the Nuffield Conference

As you will gauge this Society is not just about golf, it’s about meeting up with potential, recent and long standing Scholars and their partners in a relaxed format.

I would like to thank everyone who hosted, attended and competed in the Nuffield Golf Society. We will be circulating dates and venues for next year very soon. To register an interest please email david@farmeco.co.uk David Rose NSch, Golf Society Chair

FRIENDS OF NUFFIELD FARMING

Would you like to join or can you provide an introduction to other potential ‘Friends of’ Sponsors and support Nuffield Farming to deliver a lifetime of change for Scholars who will help to shape the future of British Agriculture? The value of a Scholarship far exceeds the initial period of study, as many emerge as leaders and mentors for future generations.

My Nuffield has really opened doors for me. Towards the end of my travelling, I started a company with the aim of reducing the need for antibiotics. We've inspired positive change in agriculture on over 1500 UK farms and, as of June 2020, are also now operating in Southern African countries. From concept to international business in 3 years… Thank you Nuffield!

Our ‘Friends of Nuffield Farming’ package will help you deliver commercial and corporate social responsibility (CSR) objectives and align your business or brand with one of the industry’s most high-profile organisations.

Our communications reach a large and influential audience of Scholars, industry leaders and media outlets through a variety of channels:

• E-Newsletter circulated to ~900 recipients

• 21,600 unique visitors to our website in 2020

• 15,500 followers across Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube

This support package includes a range of benefits:

• Two tickets for each Nuffield Farming Annual Conference for the duration of

The great thing about Nuffield is that it’s an adventure!

It’s starting with an idea, exploring it and coming up with things you didn’t expect. You just need an open mind and a blank sheet of paperthe rest is just exciting. Not only did I enjoy doing it, but the lessons I learnt are still with me now and shaping everything I do today.

Michael Dart NSch 2010

your commitment, including all sessions over both days, the Annual Dinner and VVIP Reception and Lunch;

• Receipt of all electronic Newsletters and the Annual Reports

• Space for your one page advertisements in each Annual Report and a half page promotion in each Annual Conference programme;

• Access and networking opportunities for all Regional and Study Groups’ Events except those at which personal information is discussed;

• Display of your logo on the Nuffield Farming website along with links to your own;

• Messaging on behalf of your organisation through the electronic Newsletters and/or direct emails;

• Potential to display the Nuffield Farming logo on your own website;

• Potential for reciprocal benefits, for example, with assistance to senior management training.

Your support can help to ensure that we are able to deliver this essential programme, improve our offerings and use our position to continue making a difference.

Please email Mike Vacher, Director, for more information: director@nuffieldscholar.org

For anyone with a passion for food and farming, a Nuffield Farming Scholarship opens doors, creates unique opportunities, and arms you with the gravitas and credibility to lead real, positive change. I know - it’s worked for me.

Aled Rhys Davies NSch 2015

Barbara Bray NSch 2017

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED JOINING THE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT?

It has never been more important for those involved in farm management and food production to be able to demonstrate high standards of competence, integrity and ethics.

How do you do this in an industry that is so diverse and disparate? By joining an organisation which is committed to:

•Promoting high standards in the practice and management in agriculture

•Promoting training and CPD in all aspects of agricultural business management and creating a demonstrable career progression

•Encouraging the provision and attainment of professional qualifications

•Championing the achievements in high standards of agricultural practice

•Providing unique opportunities to network and share best practice.

That organisation is the Institute of Agricultural Management run by, and for, those committed to a vibrant, sustainable and socially-aware farming industry.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT

WHO CAN JOIN?

Membership is open to those involved in farm, land and rural environment management including farmers, farm managers, consultants, advisors, lecturers, researchers and students.

ACTIVITIES BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

• The opportunity to progress through a structured career programme

• Access to specially designed training programmes including the Leadership Development Programme and the Farm Management Skills Programme as well as an industry recognised Continuous Development Programme

• National events including a National Farm Walk and the prestigious National Farm Management Conference as well as our annual Question Time evening

• Regional branches organise a programme of meetings and events providing an excellent forum for networking and the exchange of ideas

• The opportunity to develop your skills and expertise to help develop your career

• A structured career progression

• The chance to meet regularly with likeminded people in the industry and build a diverse and varied network

• Involvement in a range of events

• Access to the International Journal of Agricultural Management

BIODIVERSITY FOR THE FUTURE OF FRUIT FARMING

THATCHERS CIDER

BUTLER 2020 NUFFIELD SCHOLAR

With the ever-decreasing chemical arsenal UK fruit growers have to work with, is now the time to take a big leap towards biological control for pest and disease issues in our orchards?

I am a commercial fruit grower whom loves the ideology of organic and regenerative farming for environmental reasons, however I am very sceptical over its merits in terms of the financial business sustainability and security.

As custodians of the land we farm it is hugely important that we work in conjunction with nature and the environment. We must do what we can to reduce damage and also improve where possible. We have a big responsibility to provide a large sustainable flow of quality produce to the public year after year by having a business model that works.

My project is based on researching global methods and strategies to see if it is possible to maintain good yielding orchards with a high percentage of class one fruit to feed an ever-growing population, while reducing a proportion of chemical inputs with biological control. This is a method I feel we must learn about and implement very soon as I believe it will be taken out of our hands and forced upon us whether we like it or not.

The countries that I visited were Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom and Chile. In these countries I visited a number of growers, research centres, agronomists, tree and plant nurseries, vineyards / wineries, universities, packhouses and machinery manufacturing factories.

The discoveries that I made were very varied depending on the area I was visiting but nether the less very interesting as a whole. It shows that wherever we are in the world we are all fighting the same battles but with different rules,

regulations, mindsets and cultures. Some areas or regions do not have the restrictions that we have in the UK with regards to chemical ammunition. These people can be focused more on immediate issues that affect their business which could include water shortages, frost risks, labour shortages and market instability.

Where biodiversity was being implemented there were fascinating methods of drilling cover crops in alternate rows to combat nematode issues, gene editing solutions to pathogens in trees and plants, wildflower meadows for increased pollination insects, mycorrhizal fungi added to the soil for root health and water retention, beneficial insects released in orchards to combat certain pests and the creation of habitat for year-round housing of such beneficials.

A stand out conversation that was unfortunately unanimous was the global increase in prices on all aspects of farming impacting people’s priorities. Being green is great but we must not go into the red.

DAVID

Proud to support The Nuffield Farming scholarship Trust.

Seventeen years ago Martin Thatcher, fourth generation cider maker, was awarded a coveted Nuffield Farming Scholarship. The insight he gained helped transform the family business to what it is today. Thatchers are proud to support the Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust helping others unlock their potential.

JOHN OLDACRE FOUNDATION

GEOFF GUY 2021 NUFFIELD SCHOLAR

Wild deer populations in the UK are at an all-time high, and the population is still growing. This growth is challenging to rural businesses, particularly forestry and arable agriculture, as well as being damaging to habitats, with knock on effects to other species. There are also increasing issues caused by deer on roads an in urban areas.

While these challenges need to be faced deer also present some unique opportunities. As game they are a sought after sporting quarry and venison is a premium product so is the overpopulation of wild deer a potentially underutilised source of sustainable venison?

Striking a balance between the management of deer populations, reduction of their negative impacts and maintaining a sustainable supply of deer as a sporting resource as well as a food source is the subject of this study and report. This was topical when the study was proposed in 2020 and the recent DEFRA consultation on deer management clearly recognises the issues caused by deer and seeks to review legislation and practice in an effort to manage the deer issue.

One particular challenge of getting any meaningful level of control on overpopulated deer is that deer are no respecter of man-made boundaries, unless those boundaries are enforced physically by fences etc… While deer may roam more or less freely, management activities are often restricted by those boundaries so however effective the deer management is in a given location a lack of deer management in neighbouring areas can undo good work done elsewhere.

A landscape scale management approach may be the answer and this study has researched deer management approaches around the world which could advise the kind of cooperative, landscape scale management that

might be more impactful in the UK. Landscape scale management is a holistic approach to management which aims to reconcile the sometimes-competing interests of economic and conservation activities over large areas.

One of the key findings of this study was the significance of local culture in advising and informing approaches to wildlife management. Being able to compare developing deer management policy in the UK with approaches from other countries, which seem to be shaped not only by culture but particularly in The United States by hard academic data related to deer populations, movements and habitat use has led to the following conclusions which will be presented in full in this report:

• The UK needs more concrete data on deer population, movements and land/habitat use to inform the creation of an effective deer management policy and cull plan.

• More deer need to be culled in the UK to reduce negative impacts of overpopulation on habitats, road traffic collisions and rural economic activities. This could be achieved through a combination of measures including encouraging new entrants into recreational deer stalking.

• The UK could take advantage of the current legislative framework which makes the supply of wild venison into the human food chain relatively simple to create an outlet for venison produced by a higher level of culling.

LANDSCAPE SCALE MANAGEMENT OF WILD DEER TO COMBAT IMPACTS ON HABITATS AND RURAL ENTERPRISES AND PRODUCE SUSTAINABLE VENISON IN THE UK

ROYAL WELSH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

With the global population set to rise from 7.9 billion to 9.8 billion between now and 2050, world governments are faced with an overwhelming dilemma: how to feed the future without putting irreparable strain on our planet’s already overburdened soils and oceans?

Our food system needs to be part of the solution to climate change while also meeting the challenge of feeding a growing population in a way that is sustainable for the planet. This can only be achieved through the adoption of new technologies and changes in business practices.

Global investment in AgriTech was $51.7bn in 2021; an 85% increase over 2020. Investors are continuing to invest in this sector because it represents a new approach to tackling climate change and the market potential is nearly limitless precisely because our appetites are too. This allows entrepreneurs to have a profound impact on agriculture and the food system by ensuring they have the necessary finance to develop new business models and reshape production, consumption, transportation and delivery systems.

This project explores and evaluate the AgriTech vision of investors (the providers of finance), entrepreneurs (those who seek-and-solve), and policymakers (those who guide and regulate the industry) and considers: Are we all heading in the same direction?

Because of its expertise in a cross-section of technologies and disciplines, from sensors, AI and big data, to robotics, the USA has found itself to be at the forefront of AgriTech and the home to many start-ups in this field. Europe can also claim to have AgriTech champions. For example, the Italy has successfully incorporated blockchain into its agricultural system. Because of this. the countries visited included USA, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, France, Italy, and Spain.

The investment argument for AgriTech is multifaceted. It is anticipated that 7 out of 10 people will live in cities by 2050, with an increased middle-class society. Middle-class people generally have healthier diets with greater demand for fresh fruits and vegetables.

This trend helps explain investors interest in controlled farming systems, that uses technology within a controlled environment to maximise output while also minimising inputs.

The cost of traditional agriculture is becoming more expensive (when taking into account, for example, climate change, soil health, complex supply chains, water consumption). Despite this, only 4% of $51.7bn was invested in technologies that could have a direct impact on traditional farming methods and help tackle these costs.

Outputs of this study showed that alternative metrics are required, such as “return on energy” or “environmental efficiency”, for technology investment decisions in traditional agriculture. Such measures will ensure the allocation of finance to support those technologies that will allow farmers to reduce their impact on the planet. The development of such technologies will need to be supported by the government who has the capacity to make investment decisions not based on financial returns alone. Further, traditional agriculture needs to learn and adopt the technologies from farming in controlled environment systems. While it is not possible to control all the elements of traditional agriculture, it is possible to measure each aspect and modify farming practices accordingly.

EDWARD JONES 2020 NUFFIELD SCHOLAR

ARE WE INVESTIGATING IN THE RIGHT AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION?

THE IMPACT OF CORPORATE BUSINESS ON AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

CENTRAL REGION FARMERS TRUST

The success of corporate business is measured in how much value it creates for shareholders. Over the years various financial metrics have been developed to indicate success such as profit generated which in turn influences shareprice and dividend yield. Yet the relentless focus on financial return has led to some questionable practices becoming commonplace such as those which exploit the world’s natural resources, damage the environment and take advantage of the vulnerable.

It is only relatively recently that rather than just asking ‘how much profit has been generated’ the question of ‘how profit is generated’ has been posed. The world of finance has identified that those businesses who operate more morally, ethically and in an environmentally sensitive way are better at controlling risk and therefore constitute better investment options. In order to measure this, Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting has been developed which measures the non-financial performance of a business. This is an emerging science which currently lacks statutory control but it has become increasingly important to the world of investment.

Within the food and agriculture sectors, corporate businesses are now having to place greater emphasis on the impact of their supply chains on the environment and on labour exploitation. But different businesses have different approaches and the relative complexity of supply chains highlights the difficulty of finding simple solutions which drive sustainable, positive impact.

The purpose of this project was to understand the ways in which corporate business can genuinely drive change throughout agricultural supply chains through seeking examples of different methods and approaches taken to understand what has worked well and what hasn’t, and how these approaches have actually affected farm livelihoods. There were several key findings which were identified:

• There is no simple solution. One size doesn’t fit all and it may be more appropriate to

pursue a portfolio of desired outcomes which allow existing supply chains and farmers flexibility to identify their own solutions.

• The balance of risk and reward should be shared. The current focus is for farmers to change their agricultural practices, yet this can carry significant risk and their (corporate) customers should be prepared to help offset this risk and/or share in any associated reward.

• Duplication is inefficient. By aligning with charities, NGOs, or academics, corporate business can help to fund vital work by experts which will drive change across the sector for the greater good.

• Action should be in the common interest. Care must be taken in marketing the development of positive impact as a point of difference over the competition. Such action can lead to shortcuts (such as replacing supply chains rather than working with existing incumbents), greenwashing and customer confusion.

• Certification isn’t always the answer. Unless certification means something to the consumer or attracts a market premium, it can be expensive and time-consuming burden to the farmer and/or supply chain.

Corporate businesses have the potential to play a vital role in agricultural change to mutual benefit, but to do so they must identify and engage key players and ensure that their strategies are built from the farm up, allowing farmers the freedom to identify the most appropriate solutions for their given resources in order to deliver the desired outcome.

LUCY MACLENNAN 2020 NUFFIELD SCHOLAR

JOHN OLDACRE FOUNDATION

TERESA MEADOWS 2020 NUFFIELD SCHOLAR

Increasing the use of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for the control of pests, weeds and diseases in UK arable farming has become more pressing. Although IPM practices have been used for generations, the recent loss of key active ingredients, new government policies and an increased environmental consciousness have raised the need to adopt a more integrated approach on-farm, using all five components of IPM – prevention, cultural, physical, biological and chemical controls.

How is it best to motivate the further widespread adoption of these IPM methods? What techniques and best practice can we learn from diverse countries and different agricultural sectors to apply to our UK arable farming system? Which factors have created an incentive, or are seen as barriers, to increasing the uptake of IPM practices? These were the questions I set out to ask on my Nuffield Farming Scholarship journey.

From the doors that opened to farms, businesses and organisations around the world, both virtually and in-person, the conversations showed that using all elements of the RESET Mindset Model for behaviour change would lead to IPM uptake. Successes in motivating change and adopting practices around the world have come from implementing rules, education, social pressure, economic stimuli and the use of tools.

Through the studies and discussions, effective change can be seen from:

• Rules - policies, product registration, markets, certification and resistance

• Education – training, knowledge, capacity building, language, efficacy and risk management

• Social pressure – lead farmers, communities of practice, extension, trust and consumers

• Economic stimuli – premiums, markets, systems, a cheaper alternative and business benefits

• Tools – research, monitoring, time, practices, techniques and future innovations

By putting into play the different elements in these five areas and ‘pressing all of the buttons’ of the RESET mindset model in the UK, IPM adoption in the arable farming sector would be advanced. The need is to be able to move individuals, agronomists and the industry from this adoption being as a result of the rules – regulatory IPM –towards a motivation to adopt through having the knowledge, community support, financial incentives and the resources required – voluntary IPM.

Furthermore, as an industry, we need to encourage a step-change in how we view IPM towards taking a holistic and integrated systems approach. Aiming for optimum plant health, soil health and a diverse ecosystem will ultimately achieve a reduction in pests, weeds and diseases and create a more resilient arable farming sector – rather than thinking “what can we kill?”, can we move to thinking, “what can we introduce”?

As Gwendolyn Ellen, from the Oregon IPM Center in the US said, “to think ecologically is not only a radical act, but imperative” – working together to put into practice IPM strategies on a large-scale in our arable farming sector will have a benefit for our crops, economics, the environment and human wellbeing.

INCREASING THE UPTAKE OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT IN UK ARABLE FARMING

ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTING BLACK AND PEOPLE OF COLOUR IN AGRICULTURE

MCDONALD’S UK & IRELAND

Having an agricultural sector that attracts and retains a diversity of people is vital if we are to future proof our industry. Unfortunately, this sector is the least diverse sector in the U.K., especially when it comes to people who identify as Black or a Person of Colour (BPOC). Estimates vary between 0.8-1.2% in U.K. agriculture, in a country where Ethnic Minorites make up between 13-16% of the general population and 33% of all children. We are not attracting a large population of the public and wanting people to support us and join us means we must represent them more.

The objective of the study was to travel and learn how we can understand the barriers and create solutions to encouraging BPOC people entering and thriving in the U.K. agricultural sector.

Initially I spent time understanding the situation in the U.K. by interacting with various organisations and individuals. I then travelled to the U.S. as it has a large BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) population, a shared history with the U.K. and very similar issues with regards to recruiting BPOC people into the agricultural sector. In my first visit, I travelled around Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia, as these states have the highest percentage of minority farmers in the US. In my second visit, I travelled around Texas, as this state has the highest number of minority farmers in the U.S. Visits included museums, speaking to farmers, ranchers, cowboys, growers, vets and educators and exploring other sectors like baseball and the military.

In U.S. agriculture, there is a current drive to highlight the social justice movement and history of BIPOC people. They are also actively celebrating difference including other faiths and cultures. This is something the U.K. sector should embrace. Engaging with more diverse groups and people and joining with them, can only help increase in understanding, highlight the similarities we share and break down negative biases which holds back so much progress.

Many barriers are systemic and were created in the past but are still very relevant and active today. Creating equity and inclusion is crucial. Equity means creating a more level playing field and inclusion is making people feel like they belong. From acknowledging and accepting the past, creating positive opportunities for marginalised people, platforming and promoting BPOC people and creating support networks and systems to help BPOC people be an equal part of the sector is key to making any programme a success.

Change is an incredibly slow and a difficult process but is important if we want a modern sector. The social justice movement only started and survived due the hard work, dedication and sacrifices many people made. If we are to make positive change then we need leaders to lead and enable affirmative action to happen.

By increasing the diversity of people in our sector and inspiring the next generation, we will help bring around more ideas, innovation and talent plus makes the sector representative of the country we serve. To achieve this, we need to start investing more time, money and effort into working for positive change. As Jesse Jackson once said, “When everyone is included, everyone wins.”

NAVARATNAM PARTHEEBAN 2021 NUFFIELD SCHOLAR

Investing in more sustainable farming.

We source from over 23,000 British & Irish farmers and we’re investing millions to help set farms up for a more sustainable future.

A little change that will have a positive impact on British and Irish farming.

Change a little, change a lot ™

INNOVATING AGTECH ENTREPRENEURSHIP

ELIZABETH

CREAK CHARITABLE TRUST (A CLYDE HIGGS SCHOLARSHIP)

HANNAH SENIOR 2020 NUFFIELD SCHOLAR

The potential for entrepreneurs to bring new products and services to Agriculture (“AgTech”) has recently created a focus for start-up activity ($19Bn invested in “onfarm” innovations in 2021). Most AgTech innovations promise to tackle some or all of agriculture’s most pressing issues: environmental impact, labour issues and farmer profitability. The goal is typically to make farming more sustainable, productive and/ or profitable.

This study set out to explore what other parts of the world teach us about creating a vibrant AgTech entrepreneurial community. It rapidly expanded to ask more fundamental questions – such as whether it’s likely that AgTech entrepreneurship can really influence farming, the environment and the food industry in the way founders and investors hope.

It became clear that AgTech sits within an incredibly complex set of interactions and feedback loops – the food system, biological ecosystems, and economic systems – which makes the impact of a new technology hard to predict. What starts as a good idea can have unexpectedly negative consequences as, for example, the environmental impact of Green Revolution showed.

One reason for this is the “Chain of Extraction” between the environment, farmer, entrepreneur and investors. The essence in this chain is that benefits accrue more in one direction than the other, although the currency of the extraction varies and could include biodiversity, time, risk, opportunity costs, financial returns. This chain isn’t the result of some malign genius – most people are trying to do the right thing most of the time - it’s an emergent property arising from “human organisation” characteristics such as how we solve problems, invest our capital and measure success.

Creating a vibrant environment for AgTech to tackle the huge challenges agriculture faces requires awareness of this dynamic and creative approaches to actively seek ways to align interests. In effect, to “regenerate” rather than “extract”. Examples include:

• Involving farmers earlier and more substantially in new technology development – such as the way AgLaunch works with farmers to select and trial entrepreneurs’ new innovations while ensuring the risks farmers take and the expertise they share is reflected when financial returns are distributed.

• Diversifying and innovating around how investments are made, to suit the characteristics of the agricultural sector. There are innovative models to structure start-up investment (such as convertible revenue based finance or redeemably equity). Using these more frequently may enable investors to get strong financial returns and allow a wider range of businesses to attract appropriate investment despite the long adoption timeframes and market dynamics of the AgriFood sector.

• Shifting mindsets to accommodate more “systems thinking” and an openness to generating “collaborative advantage” to supplement traditional frameworks for commercial success. New Zealand’s Te Hono movement aims to build a more holistic mindset among leaders of their Primary Industries to move from “volume to values”.

This research questions the appropriateness of modelling AgTech entrepreneurship ecosystems too closely on the “Silicon Valley model” that is embedded in our collective mindset: Farming is a very different ‘problem space’ to computing or software. A greater diversity of approaches – affecting which entrepreneurial ideas are backed, how they are financed, who invests and what resources are recognised as investment –would have beneficial implications for investors, entrepreneurs, farmers, and the environment alike.

Elizabeth Creak was born in Slough in 1926. She attended McGill University in Canada before working for Allen Lane at Penguin Books in both the UK and latterly America, where she helped to establish their new venture. She returned to the UK to eventually work with her uncle, Clyde Higgs, who by then had built up a thriving two thousand acre dairy farm in Warwickshire. Prior to this, Clyde had also developed a four thousand acre farm in the foothills of Mount Kilamanjaro and held a number of other positions including: Managing Director of English Farms in Wiltshire; Agricultural correspondent of the BBC and Council Member of the Royal Agricultural Society. Clyde was a highly innovative and enterprising farmer who was well known for challenging the status quo and cross-fertilizing best practices among farmers in the UK and around the world. His practical approach and constant quest for efficiency, gained at the family’s electric motor business, helped him to significantly increase output across his farms. He clearly recognized a similar passion and ability in Elizabeth and mentored her to become his successor.

In 1963 Elizabeth inherited Clyde’s farm in Warwickshire and ran it with great success for a number of years. She was a highly capable and well respected farmer and brought many creative ideas to the world of farming. She eventually sold the bulk of the business, but maintained a substantial acreage around Stratford. Elizabeth’s business acumen, determination and integrity were the reasons she was invited on to the boards of many local charitable organizations including the Royal Agricultural Society, the Stoneleigh Abbey Trust and the Stratford Society. She was the first female chairman of the Warwickshire branch of the NFU and in 1998 she became the first woman to hold the office of High Sheriff of Warwickshire. She was also a keen supporter of local craftsmen, artists and the theatre.

Elizabeth passed away in October 2013 and left the bulk of her estate to the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust. Elizabeth created the Trust to provide ‘Clyde Higgs Scholarships’ in agriculture; support and encourage new blood in farming and finance projects to help farmers survive and ultimately thrive in their challenging modern environment.

THE ROLE OF BRANDS IN SCALING REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY AND NATIONAL TRUST

In 2019, regenerative farming was a fringe movement. Two years later I was reading about it on the side of a breakfast cereal packet. That is because corporates are rapidly realising that farmers hold the solutions to some of their biggest board-room issues. As a result, they are increasingly engaging in how the land that produces their raw ingredients and materials is managed.

But whilst the supply chain’s intent to source from regenerative farms is clear (and we hope sincere), making it happen is far from simple. That’s because success or failure hinges on influencing a farmer’s decision making on the ground; and right now, farmers are under immense strain. Recent global events have only re-enforced the structural issues that define the high-risk low-profit business models in agriculture, putting farmers even more on the back foot. Therefore, they treat supply chain intervention with scepticism and caution.

This report explores how these two parties can be brought together to solve each other’s problems. How corporate commitments to regenerative agriculture can bring about meaningful change on farms. My conclusions are relevant to any organisation who aspires to source from, enable or report on regenerative farming in their value chain. It has lessons to guide corporates, investors and institutional landowners in leveraging their influence to have genuine impact at scale.

My research included visiting organisations and farms across California, Australia, and the UK. I learned lessons first-hand from trying regenerative approaches on our own farm. And I learned from amongst the 1,000 members of Future Farmers, an organisation I chaired until 2022.

Shortly after starting my research I co-founded a business, Grassroots Farming, as an opportunity to implement and test my findings. This has resulted in a new regenerative beef supply chain working directly with farmers as change agents to service over fifty restaurants in and around London.

These are the main conclusions of my report:

1. To successfully enable regenerative agriculture within their value chains, corporates must solve problems for farmers on the ground.

2. Corporates must get comfortable with a version of regenerative agriculture that empowers farmers to make their own on-farm decisions, whilst meeting the corporate’s reporting objectives.

3. To embed long-term outcomes, corporates must address the stark imbalance of risk and value that exists between them and farmers.

Corporate interest in agriculture should be welcomed by farmers. If used for good, it could leverage a system-wide transition in how land is managed at scale. But it is also fraught with risks even for the well intentioned; the biggest being that it increases extractive demands on farmers, re-enforcing the degenerative cycles that led corporates to regenerative agriculture in the first place. Not to mention ‘greenwashing’ and disillusionment.

Bringing about meaningful change is not as easy as making statements on the side of cereal packets. But change is happening. Change must happen. The challenge now, is how to make it happen right.

ALASTAIR TRICKETT 2020 NUFFIELD SCHOLAR

At the heart of farming, food and the countryside. Supporting. Researching. Challenging. Inspiring. Educating.

Proud to support the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust

Become a member

yas.co.uk

The National Trust is proud to support the Nuffield Scholars programme.

The National Trust was founded on the simple and enduring idea that people need historic, beautiful and natural places. We take our responsibility to protect very seriously, and we want beautiful places to look and feel amazing forever.

Faming is the National Trust’s primary land use spanning over 200,000ha, and conserving the natural and cultural heritage of our farmland is no small task. By enabling farmers to explore innovative farming practice from around the world and bringing these ideas back to our farming communities, we see huge benefits in the protection and enhancement of the environmental, and the social and financial wellbeing of these communities. This exploration of innovative practices helps us to play our part in restoring a healthy, beautiful, natural environment.

2020 SCHOLARS

Policies for a transition to agroecology by 2045 (Scotland)

MacRobert Trust

Biodiversity for the Future of Fruit Farming

Thatchers Cider

CARR-ARCHER

How seed breeding could reduce farm inputs in the future

Worshipful Company of Farmers with Savills & Central Region Farmers Trust

How to progress a farming business from ‘Good’ to ‘Great’

Thatchers Cider

Mapping out a green growth strategy for UK horticulture

Worshipful Company of Fruiterers & Food Chain Scholarship

Are we investing in the right agriculture technology and innovation?

Royal Welsh Agricultural Society

Frost protection and post frost care in cool climate viticulture

John Oldacre Foundation

Unlocking the potential of Data Use and Agri-tech within Agriculture

Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association

The impact of corporate business on agricultural transition

Central Region Farmers Trust

Increasing the uptake of integrated pest management in uk arable farming

John Oldacre Foundation

The position of farming in the public consciousness

Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland

The Family Farm’s Sustainability and Profitability Through Joint Venture Farming

John Oldacre Foundation, McDonalds UK & Ireland & Young Nuffield (Bob Matson) Award

EDWARD JONES

TERESA MEADOWS

AOIFE BEHAN

ANGUS RUSSELL

PETER CRAVEN

JAMIE LOCKHART

LIZZIE

FRED LANGDALE

EMMA PATTERSON TAYLOR

DAVID BUTLER

NICOLA HARRISON

LUCY MACLENNAN

2020 SCHOLARS

HANNAH SENIOR

Innovating AgTech Entrepreneurship

Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust (a Clyde Higgs Scholarship)

JAMES STOBART

Effective monitoring methods that measure ecological outcomes in grazing systems

The Company of Merchants of the Staple of England & AHDB

2018 SCHOLARS

SAMUEL SMITH

Regenerative agriculture: a shared ambition for the future of farming?

McDonald’s Restaurants

ALASTAIR TRICKETT

The Role of Brands in Scaling Regenerative Agriculture

Yorkshire Agricultural Society & National Trust

GARY SPENCE

I can’t believe it’s not beef! Can livestock compete with alternative proteins?

Thomas Henry Foundation

2019 SCHOLARS

SAMUEL STEGGLES

The journey to maturityNavigating sustainable food business growth

NFU Mutual Charitable Trust

Artisan Cheese: how farming systems impact cheese quality

Will Carbon be the Dairy Quota of the Future?

McDoanld’s UK & Ireland

How do we make dairy farming an attractive career choice for the Millennial generation?

Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust (a Clyde Higgs Scholarship)

Achieving excellence in university and college farms. Implementing best practice from home and abroad

John Oldacre Foundation

JAMES STANDEN

SAM MARTIN

MARTIN GOTT

Alan & Anne Beckett NSchs

JOE TOWERS

2021 SCHOLARS

“Bridging the carbon divide”

- Marketing soil sequestered carbon for economic, agronomic & climatic regeneration

MacRobert Trust

BAGGS

Sustainable forage cropping for dairy cattle in the face of climate change challenges

The Trehane Trust

Evaluating the potential cost benefits of electronic data recording for UK sheep and beef farms

Can the UK improve the ethics of its dairy calf management while retaining profitability?

Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust (a Clyde Higgs Scholarship) and a Young Nuffield Award

The mechanization of cherry production and harvest

Malcom Isaac NSch

Influences affecting management and productivity of deer as a semidomesticated species in an intensive farming system

The Studley College Trust

Fresh produce supply chain excellence - Growing our share of the value chain

Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland and Worshipful Company of Fruiterers

Could Dairy be the Pig and Poultry of the future?

East Sussex NFU

Landscape scale management of wild deer to combat impacts on habitats and rural enterprises and produce sustainable venison in the UK

CAMILLA HAYSELDEN-ASHBY

Hemp: how can UK farmers take advantage of this profitable, sustainable crop?

NFU Mutual Charitable Trust

Exploring & defining the role of Farm Vets within Regenerative Agriculture AHDB

How can retail and supply chains create demand for more sustainable aquaculture feed?

Richard Lawes Foundation

DAN DE BAERDEMAECKER

RANALD ANGUS

AISLA JONES

ANNA BOWEN

KEITH GUE

MATTHEW BLYTH

John Oldacre Foundation

JOHN GRAY

ROBERT HOWE

IAN

RICHARD COPAS

GEOFF GUY

John Oldacre Foundation

UK red meat production: How to win the battle for environmental sustainability in the mind of the consumer

Worshipful Company of Butchers

Taking Agriculture to the Leading Edge: What can we learn from the best leaders inside and outside Agriculture?

Worshipful Company of Farmers with Savills

Can welfare expectations of consumers be met by the UK commercial egg sector in the short and long term?

BEMB Trust

EMILY MCVEIGH

Farm to glass: Assessing how farms can benefit from future trends in the drinks industry

Alan and Anne Beckett NSchs

NAVARATNAM (THEEB) PARTHEEBAN

Encouraging and Supporting Black and People of Colour in Agriculture

McDonald’s UK & Ireland

GARY THOMPSON

Breaking dairy farming’s addiction to inorganic fertilizer: The road to rehabilitation

Thomas Henry Foundation

Atmospheric carbon to organic matter to crypto/ecurrency

John Oldacre Foundation

Do regenerative agriculture principles improve the health and welfare of livestock?

McDonald’s UK & Ireland

CHRIS MANLEY

ADRIAN MARSHALL

JAMES MACCARTNEY

CLAIRE WHITTLE

EDWARD TOWERS

2022 SCHOLARS

Too fat? A study on female livestock in areas with extreme seasonal variability

Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland & Worshipful Company of Farmers with Savills

CRESSWELL

Cattle health schemes: what does success look like?

Central Region Farmers Trust

Circular economy principles for the sustainable farming of nutritious insects feed and food ingredients

Richard Lawes Foundation

HALL

Building trust in British farming through increased transparency of on-farm livestock production

Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust & AHDB

Living the Farming Ladder The Trehane Trust

Utilisation and impact of robotics on large scale dairy farms

MacRobert Trust

MILES MIDDLETON

Working towards Net Zero in the Dairy sector: Trade offs, opportunity costs and alternative allocations for scarce resources

Yorkshire Agricultural Society

EMILY PADFIELD

The mob-grazed flerd: improving soil, biodiversity and farm incomes

Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust (a Clyde Higgs Scholarship)

ROB HAVARD

Evaluation of beef cattle selection methods for profitability in grass fed production systems

Worshipful Company of Butchers

PICK

Can maincrop potatoes be grown in a regenerative system?

How to create a local soil carbon market between farmers and utility companies

John Oldacre Foundation

Cover and catch cropping opportunities in UK arable agriculture

McDonald’s UK and Ireland

KENDRA

VIC BALLANTYNE

TOBY SIMPSON

ALI COOK

BEN HUNT

OLI CHEDGEY

JAMES

Alan & Anne Beckett Award

OLIVIA CHAMPION

LIZ

Do regenerative farming practices pave the way for UK agriculture to meet Net Zero?

McDonald’s UK and Ireland

Poultry Manure: a study into the storage, bi-product capabilities & the impact on environment sustainability BEMB Trust

Investigate sustainable methods to improve gastrointestinal parasite management, reducing anthelmintic resistance in the UK sheep flock

Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, Worshipful Company of Farmers with Savills & Young Nuffield Award

Biomass heat into cooling within intensive poultry production - mitigating climate change

NFU Mutual Charitable Trust

Bioenergy crops: An opportunity to address the triple bottom line John Oldacre Foundation

TOM YOUNG

Sustainable water use: Opportunities for agriculture based on cross-disciplinary knowledge sharing

Worshipful Company of Gardeners

DAVID THROUP

JAMES WRIGHT

MIRANDA TIMMERMAN

CHRIS TAYLOR

HELEN WYMAN

2023 NEW SCHOLARS

A comparative analysis of seaweed farming - lessons for the UK

Richard Lawes Foundation

How to counteract the agronomic and market challenges facing UK potato growers

McDonald’s UK and Ireland and Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association

Processes. People. Potential: Optimising business structure and team management to improve health, welfare and performance in our dairy industry

Trehane Trust

Born to be wild? Does the future success of marginal farming lie in the untapped potential of rewilding?

Worshipful Company of Farmers with Savills

Creating forests that thrive in a changing climate

Displacing empty calories with nutrient dense food: How can UK farmers be rewarded for practices that promote nutrient density?

Yorkshire Agricultural Society and Worshipful Company of Fruiterers

LUKE BREEDON

The New Black Gold? Can Biochar Help to Improve Agricultural Efficiency, Productivity and Carbon Sequestration in the UK

Alan and Anne Beckett NSchs

WILLIAM BROWN

Finding synergy between the traditional farming model and vertical farms

Central Region Farmers Trust and Food Chain Scholarships

Gate to grid, a responsible model for integrated energy production

Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust (a Clyde Higgs Scholarship)

Working together: How dairy farmers & environmental organisations can achieve sustainable food security & combat climate change AHDB

JONNY HANSON

Large carnivore reintroductions to Britain and Ireland: farmers’ perspectives and management options

Thomas Henry Foundation

A Review of Alternative

Sources for Net Zero Egg Production in the UK

HANNAH BATTY

HENRY ALEXANDER

BYRON BRAITHWAITE

John Oldacre Foundation

HANNAH FLOWER

JAMES BLISS

THOMAS CLARK

ALISTAIR MCBAIN

Protein

MacRobert Trust

HARRY BARNETT

RUTH GRICE

What can farmers do to make a positive impact on the health of their local community?

CLAIRE TAYLOR

Turning the tide on the anti-farming agenda Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland

There is a buzz around insect protein in the broiler industry, does the idea have legs?

The Poultry Meat Award: Aviagen, Cobb Europe & Hubbard

ROISIN TAYLOR

Revival and Survival: adapting for a 2-degree warming world within the British Cut Flower Industry

John Oldacre Foundation

ANDREW SINCOCK

Waste not, want not - How to maximise your organic manures

McDonald’s UK and Ireland

VAN HEERDEN

The Future of Work is NOT what you think it is! AgriLeadership for tomorrow’s world East Sussex NFU

SYLWIA SOBOLEWSKA

Feed Efficiency and Targeted Genetic Selection as the Key for Sustainable Performance and Profitability in Laying Hens

BEMB Research and Education Trust

THOMAS PEARSON

NFU Mutual Charitable Trust

IZAK

GEORGE ROACH

Event Date

Launch

The Oxford Farming Conference

4th – 6th January

Dairy Tech - Stoneleigh 1st February

Nuffield 2022 Scholars Pre-CSC Briefing 5th – 10th March

Nuffield Contemporary Scholars Conference (Canada) 11th – 18th March

Nuffield Triennial Conference (South Island, New Zealand) 24th March – 1st April

Devon Country Show 18th – 20th May

Royal Bath and West Show 1st – 3rd June

Kenilworth Show 3rd June

Royal Cornwall Show 8th – 10th June

Cereals – The Arable Show 13th & 14th June

The South of England Show 9th – 11th June

The Royal Three Counties Show 16th – 18th June

Lincolnshire Show 21st & 22nd June

The Royal Highland Show 22nd – 25th June

The Royal Norfolk Show 28th & 29th June

Groundswell 28th & 29th June

The Great Yorkshire Show 11th – 14th July

The Royal Welsh Show

Nuffield Farming Reception 24th – 27th July

UK

The Dairy Show 4th October 2024

JOIN US AT THE 2023 NUFFIELD FARMING CONFERENCE

Nuffield South East is delighted to be hosting the 2023 Nuffield Farming Conference. The conference will take place on Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th November 2023 in Brighton (venue tbc)

It will provide the perfect backdrop for another jam-packed programme of Scholar presentations together with a celebration of all things Nuffield!

Offers of support for the 2023 Nuffield Conference, including food and drink for the conference menus, auction or raffle prizes and sponsorship, are especially welcome. Please contact Mike Vacher (director@nuffieldscholar.org)

We look forward to welcoming you to the Conference next year.

The Farmers Club is farming’s home from home in London. Members are all involved in farming, agriculture, food, drink and related industries and welcomes all ages and families.

The Club based at 3 Whitehall Court, London, offers a home from home environment with accommodation, an excellent Restaurant showcasing great British food and a Bar that has witnessed many a farming debate. A range of function rooms are also available for business and social occasions and the wonderful Terrace overlooking the River Thames is the perfect place to watch the world go by. In addition to a selection of function rooms, some overlooking the River Thames the Shaw Room and Business Suite also ensure that if needed, business can be done during your stay.

A busy Club Events programme takes place throughout the year covering farming and agricultural subjects and many an event for your social calendar. The club also goes “Club to Country” and can be seen at agricultural shows and trips around the UK and beyond and the vibrant Under 35’s membership section has an array of events for the next generation.

All these provide a wonderful opportunity to take a break and/or network with other like-minded members.

The Farmers Club has a great reputation for the best of British food and is ideal for business, pleasure and leisure.

NUFFIELD FARMING LEGACY

If you have benefited from the Nuffield experience you will know what a positive impact it can have on an individual’s life and career. You will also know that Nuffield benefits the wider industry and is playing a vital role in helping Society meet a variety of environmental challenges.

Nuffield is very fortunate in that it has enthusiastic sponsors who support individual scholars but covering all our overheads and funding additional activities is an ongoing challenge. A gift in your Will can help ensure that the Nuffield experience is available to future generations.

If you would like to remember Nuffield in your Will, there are three main types of gift you can make:

• Pecuniary Gift - is the gift of a particular sum of money

• Specific Gift - is the gift of a specific item that could be for example - a property, a painting, a piece of jewellery or an antique.

• Residuary Gift - is the gift of all (or part) of the value of your estate after debts, liabilities and other legacies have been paid

If you would like to leave Nuffield a gift in your Will the following wording may be helpful: “Igive(detailsoflegacy)toNuffieldFarmingScholarshipTrustLimited (CharityRegistration Number:1098519),SouthillFarm,StapleFitzpaine,Taunton,Somerset,TA35SH,foritsgeneral charitablepurposesandIdirectthatareceiptfromtheChairmanordulyauthorisedofficershall beavalidandappropriateformofdischarge.”

If you have already made your Will and decide that you would like to add a gift to Nuffield, the following wording for a codicil may be helpful when you visit your Solicitor or legal advisor: “I(name)of(address)declarethistobemyfirstcodiciltomylastWilldated(date).Igive (detailsoflegacy)toNuffieldFarmingScholarshipTrustLimited(CharityRegistrationNumber: 1098519),SouthillFarm,StapleFitzpaine,Taunton,Somerset,TA35SH,foritsgeneralcharitable purposesandIdirectthatareceiptfromtheChairmanordulyauthorisedofficershallbevalidand appropriateformofdischarge.InallotherrespectsIconfirmmyWill.”

NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUAL REPORT 2022

Nuffield is an organisation that awards individuals with life changing opportunities that span their personal and professional lives, with a view to developing agricultural sector leaders and innovators of the future. We have funding available to sponsor overseas travel and assist with a period of study, and we’re always looking to attract new candidates. If you are farming yourself, or work in an industry associated to agriculture and rural industry, then please take the opportunity to explore our website and find out what Nuffield has to offer. WWW.NUFFIELDSCHOLAR.ORG