Nuffield Australia Scholarships have opened applications to provide Australian farmers and fishers with a global perspective to learn, grow and remain competitive.
Each scholarship is valued at $30,000 with up to 20 available this year, enabling producers to discover ideas and forge connections with businesses across the globe to improve value chains.
Nuffield Australia Scholarships are open to farmers, fishers and those in associated industries between the ages of 28 and 45. No tertiary education qualifications are necessary and each scholar will spend 14 weeks of travel over 18 months studying an important topic for the industry.
These scholarships will help the Australian agricultural sector navigate the global marketplace and seize opportunities, according to Nuffield Australia CEO and 2013 Nuffield Scholar Jodie Redcliffe.
“Building capacity in agriculture, horticulture and fishing is more important as ever, as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and trade tensions,” Redcliffe said.
“There has never been a better time to research how the world has changed and how agricultural sectors can adapt to complex food supply chains, trade restrictions and changing consumer behaviour going forward.”
This year’s program has been tailored for recipients to navigate the global uncertainty and take advantage of being the world’s most influential agricultural network.
“We’re offering greater access to online learning than ever before, including virtual connections to the global alumni network – 485-strong in Australia and 1,850 worldwide – as well as other agribusiness leaders,” Redcliffe said.
“If COVID-19 travel restrictions continue, we will reschedule or roll over to extended timelines for the travel component. We are committed to delivering the same high-quality and valued program as we have for the past 70 years.”
The virtual tours of farms and agribusinesses have been “eye-opening” for current scholar and WA pasture seed producer and beef farmer, Robert Bell.
“Nuffield has a level of access that no other scholarship program has. It has a huge global network of like-minded farmers and agribusiness operators who have welcomed us into their businesses and been happy to answer our questions,” Bell said.
“And the virtual tours have been scheduled at the start or the end of the day, so it’s just been brilliant to fit it around existing commitments.”
Able to travel to Africa, New Zealand, Europe, the Middle East and the US in 2019 and early 2020, western Queensland beef producer and 2019 scholar Bec Burnham said her experience was “an incredible personal and professional development opportunity.”
“The Nuffield Scholarship’s point of difference is that you learn not only from within your agricultural interest, but also the opportunity to learn across-industries and countries,” Burnham said.
“To be able to connect to both the extensive Nuffield Australia and international alumni is priceless.”
Nuffield Australia Scholarship applications close 6 August 2021, with shortlisted applicants interviewed in September and October. Successful applicants for 2022 scholarships will be awarded at the Nuffield Australia National Conference in Tamworth, NSW on 11 October 2021.