Two dozen new scholars, including three from horticulture, have been rewarded with spots on The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust’s class for 2025.
Agronomist Sam Brook of Vitacress Farms, farmer and researcher Ali Warren-Walker, and farmer Tom McVeigh are among the standouts selected for the honour, which provides funding to passionate people with the potential to make positive change in food, farming, horticulture and rural industries. Scholars are chosen with a view to developing tomorrow’s leaders within their individual business and the industry.
“Applications this year were incredibly strong, which made the job of our selection committee particularly challenging,” says Rupert Alers-Hankey, Director of the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust. “I have been so impressed by the cohort of 2025 Scholars, who come from a wide variety of backgrounds and sectors. The list of topics the Scholars have chosen to explore is inspiring and reflects some of our industry’s most pressing challenges. There is no doubt in my mind that the 2025 Nuffield Farming scholars will lead positive change in Agriculture.”
Brook, based in Sussex and backed by the Worshipful Company of Gardeners and East Sussex NFU, is committed to transforming the industry by integrating natural processes and regenerative practices into crop production, hoping to lead a movement towards more sustainable horticulture.
McVeigh, based in Suffolk, wants to diversify his family’s business and integrate nut production into the farming system to help improve sustainability and profitability.
Warren-Walker, based in Wales, wants to explore valorising waste streams or surplus from fruit and vegetable growing through encapsulation and spray drying methods, to preserve and enhance bioactives.
The Trust will introduce the new cohort at the Nuffield Farming Conference, to be held 19-21 November in Belfast. Applications for 2026 Nuffield Farming Scholarships will open in January 2025.
Tickets for the 2024 Nuffield Farming Conference in Belfast are now available to purchase. The conference is open to all and a connection to Nuffield Farming is not required. Ticketing and further details can be found on the Nuffield Farming website.
