THE 2023 Nuffield Farming ‘Super Conference’ will be held at Sandy Park in Exeter on 14-16 November, and all members of the food, farming and rural industries are invited to attend – tickets are not exclusive to Scholars.

With more than 35 Scholars set to share the experiences of their Scholarship studies, this will be Nuffield’s largest event ever.

Tickets are now available to all, and full details about the conference can be found on the Trust’s website.

Here's a look at the conference in 2021: 

As Nuffield Farming’s flagship event, the Conference primarily consists of presentations from the most recent group of Nuffield Scholars. Presenters will have spent the previous two years travelling abroad, studying their topic of choice and speaking to some of the world’s leading experts, farmers and businesses.

Scholars are then asked to share their learnings and experiences with the wider industry in a written report, edited video, and live conference presentation.

South West Farmer: Scholars at the 2023 conference.Scholars at the 2023 conference. (Image: Nuffield Farming)

Several of the Scholars presenting in 2023 also hail from the South West:

  • Ian Baggs, Wareham

Sustainable forage cropping for dairy cattle in the face of climate change challenges
Sponsored by The Trehane Trust

  • Olivia Champion, Torquay

Can carbon neutral edible insects be farmed profitably?
Sponsored by The Richard Lawes Foundation

  • Kendra Hall, Salisbury

Building trust in British farming through increased transparency of livestock production
Sponsored by AHDB & Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust

  • Ben Hunt, Poole

Can you farm Carbon?
Sponsored by The John Oldacre Foundation

  • Chris Manley, Taunton

Developing farming leaders. How getting to know yourself, your team and your community can make a farm a great place to work
Sponsored by Worshipful Company of Farmers

A complete list of presenting Scholars and their topics can be found here.

“Tickets to our Conference are not restricted just to Scholars, and Nuffield welcomes anyone who wishes to attend,” says Mike Vacher, Director of the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust.

“With study titles spanning a huge range of topics and sectors, this year’s event is not to be missed for anyone who works within the food, farming, rural and land-based industries in the UK.

“We look forward to hearing from our 2020, 2021 and 2022 Scholars about net zero agendas, public perceptions, plant breeding, livestock management, aquaculture, viticulture, deer management, robotics, data monitoring, water – the list goes on.”

The three-day agenda includes a welcome buffet, formal Annual Dinner, and farm visits to two prominent regional businesses: Wastenage Farms, where Pete and Di Wastenage milk 2700 cows on a low-cost, pasture-based system, and Darts Farm, home of an award-winning farm shop, a herd of Ruby Red Devon cattle and hand-picked seasonal produce.

South West Farmer: Previous Nuffield Farming Conference event.

Awards will also be presented, highlighting those who have made exceptional contributions to the industry. Jake Freestone, winner of the Bullock Award honouring a Scholar who has done the most with their Nuffield experience, will share his journey since completing his Scholarship.

Additionally, there will be ample opportunities for networking and socialising with other delegates, and the Annual Dinner is a special night for groups to come together while celebrate the industry.

As the newest – and largest ever – Nuffield cohort, the 2024 Scholars will be formally presented their Scholarships at the conference, six of whom are from the South West:

  • Laura Awdry, Truro

Every Calf has a Value, but is every calf equal? Sustainable and profitable dairy beef production in the UK
Sponsored by Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust

  • Sophie Gregory, Thornecombe

What is the future for organic farming
Sponsored by The Trehane Trust

  • Polly Hilton, Exeter

Elevating the value of, pride in, and respect for British Fine Cider
Sponsored jointly by Worshipful Company of Fruiterers and Three Counties Agricultural Society

  • Dan Smith, Monmouth (Gloucestershire)

Generation Regeneration. We need you.
Sponsored by McDonald's UK & Ireland

  • Cormac White, Frome

Developing a sustainable grazing-based small ruminant dairy system suitable for new entrants with alternative supply chain models
Sponsored by The Thomas Henry Foundation

  • Harold Winslet, Bristol

For Peat's Sake! Do we need a new approach to peatland agriculture?
Sponsored by Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association