The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust (NFST) has announced the appointment of 2021 Nuffield Farming Scholars, two of whom are involved in the food, farming and rural industries in Scotland:

Ranald Angus from Thurso, Caithness is a partner in his family’s farming businesses, where he oversees the arable production on their mixed enterprises of beef cattle, sheep, cereals, and forestry. Believing that farmers have an important role to play in combating climate change, he aims ensure that industry is well-equipped to tackle it by understanding the potential benefits of soil carbon sequestration.

John Gray from Carnoustie, Scotland, is the Managing Director of Angus Soft Fruits, which breeds, grows, sources and packs soft fruit for retail. He has ambitious plans to expand the business internationally whilst still ensuring that growers get a fair share of the value chain and is curious to explore why UK farmers and growers take the majority of risk within the supply chain but receive the smallest reward. Key to his study will be understanding how the UK industry can ensure its economic sustainability by maximising their share of the value chain.

The group of 20 Scholars, who come from across UK farming and rural industries, will seek guidance from industry leaders, experts and pioneers as they undertake their studies.

“Following an unprecedented and challenging year for UK agriculture, we are pleased to announce our 2021 Scholars,” says Mike Vacher, Nuffield Farming Director. “They have been carefully selected for both their passion for their chosen topic, and for their potential as future leaders within UK agriculture.

“Our 2021 scholars have selected a range of topics that span the breadth of the industry, including livestock, soft fruits, aquaculture and workforce diversity. A Nuffield scholarship is a life changing experience, and will no doubt prove invaluable to both Scholar businesses and to the industry as a whole.”

“On behalf of Nuffield Farming, I wish the 2021 Scholars the very best of luck as they prepare to start their studies. We are excited to hear more about the knowledge and experiences you gain over the course of your journeys. In these ever-changing times, what you bring back with you will play a vital role in driving UK agriculture forward,” adds Mike.

RHASS Chairman Bill Gray said: "There were a number of very strong Scottish candidates put forward for selection this year, which bodes well for the future of our industry. John is a first-class candidate and is a leader of a very important business in Scotland.

“We are delighted to support his Nuffield Scholarship, alongside the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers, and look forward to hearing more about his studies and how they will help Scottish agriculture, in particular the soft fruit sector.

"This year has really highlighted how challenging the soft fruit sector is in regard to supply and staffing, as well as the complexities of post-Brexit trade. We are confident that John's planned scholarship travels will be enlightening, and we wish him the very best of luck."

The 2021 Nuffield Farming Scholars are;

Ranald Angus (Caithness, Scotland)

· Topic: ‘"Bridging the carbon divide" - Marketing soil sequestered carbon for economic, agronomic & climatic regeneration’

· Generously supported by The MacRobert Trust

Ian Baggs (Dorset, South West)

· Topic: ‘Sustainable forage cropping for dairy cattle in the face of climate change challenges’

· Generously supported by The Trehane Trust

Matthew Blyth (Sussex, South East)

· Topic: ‘Evaluating the potential cost benefits of electronic data recording for UK sheep and beef farms’

· Generously supported by The John Oldacre Foundation

Anna Bowen (Ceredigion, Wales)

· Topic: ‘Can the UK improve the ethics of its dairy calf management while retaining profitability?’

· Generously supported by The Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust (A Clyde Higgs Scholarship) - A Young Nuffield Award

Richard Copas (Buckinghamshire, Central)

· Topic: ‘The mechanization of cherry production and harvest’

· Generously supported by Malcom Isaac NSch

Dan De Baerdemaecker (East Sussex, South East)

· Topic: ‘Influences affecting management and productivity of deer as a semi-domesticated species in an intensive farming system’

· Generously supported by The Studley College Trust

John Gray (Angus, Scotland)

· Topic: ‘Fresh produce supply chain excellence - Growing our share of the value chain’

· Generously supported jointly by Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland & the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers

Keith Gue (West Sussex, South East)

· Topic: ‘Could Dairy be the Pig and Poultry of the future?’

· Generously supported by East Sussex NFU

Geoff Guy (Nottinghamshire, East Midlands)

· Topic: ‘Deer Farming and Landscape Scale Management of Wild Deer to Combat Habitat Degradation and Produce Sustainable Venison in the UK’

· Generously supported by The John Oldacre Foundation

Camilla Hayselden-Ashby (Kent, South East)

· Topic: ‘Hemp: how can UK farmers take advantage of this profitable, sustainable crop?’

· Generously supported by NFU Mutual Charitable Trust

Robert Howe (Lancashire, Northern)

· Topic: ‘Exploring & defining the role of Farm Vets within Regenerative Agriculture’

· Generously supported by AHDB

Aisla Jones (Greater Manchester, Northern)

· Topic: ‘How can retail and supply chains create demand for more sustainable aquaculture feed?’

· Generously supported by The Richard Lawes Foundation

James MacCartney (Rutland, East Midlands)

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

· Generously supported by Worshipful Company of Butchers

Chris Manley (Somerset, South West)

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

· Generously supported by Worshipful Company of Farmers with Savills

Adrian Marshall (Suffolk, Anglia)

· Topic: ‘Can welfare expectations of consumers be met by the UK commercial egg sector in the short and long term?’

· Generously supported by The BEMB Trust

Emily McVeigh (Suffolk, Anglia)

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

· Generously supported by Alan and Anne Beckett NSchs

Navaratnam (Theeb) Partheeban (Essex, Anglia)

· Topic: ‘Encouraging and supporting an ethnically diverse workforce in the agricultural, farming and veterinary sector’

· Generously supported by McDonald's UK & Ireland

Gary Thompson (County Antrim, Northern Ireland)

· Topic: ‘Breaking dairy farming's addiction to inorganic fertilizer: The road to rehabilitation’

· Generously supported by The Thomas Henry Foundation

Edward Towers (Lancashire, Northern)

· Topic: ‘Atmospheric carbon to organic matter to crypto/e-currency’

· Generously supported by The John Oldacre Foundation

Claire Whittle (Wrexham, Wales)

· Topic: ‘Do regenerative agriculture principles improve the health and welfare of livestock?’

· Generously supported by McDonald's UK & Ireland

###

Notes to the Editor:

The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust (NFST) is a registered charity (Reg. Charity No. 1098519) that awards approximately 20 scholarships annually in the UK to young people between the ages of 22 and 45 from across the agricultural industry.

There is no need for formal qualifications in order to apply for a Nuffield Scholarship; instead, the Trust looks to unlock an individual’s potential and broaden horizons through study and travel overseas. Scholars are selected with a view to developing tomorrow’s leaders within their individual business and the industry as a whole.

Nuffield Farming member countries span the globe, with established programmes in Australia, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Kenya, and Zimbabwe; Associate countries also include Brazil, USA, South Africa, and Southern Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan).

Nuffield Scholarships are only made possible by the generous support of sponsors from across agriculture and the food industry. NFST work with over 100 sponsors to develop individuals who will become tomorrow’s leaders and inspire change in our industry.

For more information, please contact:

Kendra Hall, Reverberate PR: 07495 572639 or kendra@reverberate-pr.co.uk