Topics ranging from sustainable agriculture and renewable energy as an alternative farm income, were amongst some of the research conducted by the 2012 Nuffield Scholars who presented their year-long studies at the Nuffield Australia Autumn Tour that was held in Armidale last month.
The conference took in tours of leading farm operations and Cooperative research Centres by Nuffield Scholars and Alumni. Guest speakers included National Farmers Federation President Jock Laurie, Peter Rasmussen who has been the Australian Trade Commissioner based in Germany for the last five years, and the Vice President of Eastern Operations for Santos, James Baulderstone.
The Tour concluded with a dinner at Booloominbah at the University of New England with special guest, Independent Member for New England, Tony Windsor.
CEO of Nuffield Australia Jim Geltch was pleased to bring the Autumn Tour to the New England region from where a number of Nuffield Scholars over the years have originated.
“Nuffield Australia has two national events a year, the autumn and spring tours, with the objective of this Autumn Tour to give our returning scholars a forum to report to their peers,” said Jim Geltch.
“Within this forum we tour farm and research operations which are a part of the continual learning process of engaging our alumni from years gone by, to come back and see innovative businesses as well as getting together from a social perspective.”
The tour included visits to the Poultry CRC, Costas Tomato Farm at Guyra and to Rob and Fiona Kelly’s property at Mount William with Rob a previous Nuffield scholar.
Only seven of the actual 18 scholars were in Armidale for the Autumn Tour.
“We had subjects as diverse as looking at grain production in sub-tropical agriculture, corporate dairy farming, renewable energy, vegetable production and sustainability of farming practises,” said Mr Geltch.
He described the real essence of Nuffield as the personal development that occurs over the scholarship period.
“The scholarship itself consists of 16 weeks travelling overseas, six weeks of which is done as a group, which is an enormous team building experience for them, where they end up being friends for life,” said Mr Geltch.
“The personal development that scholars achieve articulates into leadership within their industry.”
Through the Nuffield Scholarships, the scholars gain a global perspective on agriculture. The big issues in agriculture of food security and sustainability are high priorities for the scholars.
The key difference of the Nuffield Scholarship program is that it selects farmers.
“We religiously guard that area; we believe that people up the value chain in agri-business have plenty of opportunities for enhancement,” said Jim Geltch.
“This is a tertiary opportunity, if you like, for farmers; not to say that all our farmers are not tertiary educated, however there is a view within Nuffield that we must remember that farmers out there have enormous capacity and we must offer them these opportunities to study as well.”
Story: Jo Harrison
