Chairman’s Report

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 Directors and Executives at 2022 CSC

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

Sponsors’ Luncheon at the Kennel Club

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

Chairman’s tour of Exton Park

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.

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. 100 YEARS OF FAMILY FARMING - 1922-2022

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.

MERCER FARMING & PACKINGTON FREE RANGE

Blakenhall Park, Bar Lane, Barton-under-Needwood Staffordshire, DE13 8AJ 01283 711547