Nuffield Australia Farming Scholars
If Australian primary industry sectors are to compete and succeed internationally, producers must
establish themselves at the forefront of production, distribution and management.
Nuffield Australia's scholarship program gives primary producers the opportunity to learn about the
forces shaping international trade policy in key markets, the issues behind consumer sentiment, and the
technological advances being implemented by producers in other countries. The information that
Scholars gather while overseas helps them make rational management decisions that position their
enterprises so they benefit from international opportunities as they arise.
This project addresses FRDC outcome: The knowledge and skills of people in and supporting the
Australian fishing industry, and in the wider community,are developed and used so that Australians
derive maximum economic, environmental and social benefits from
fisheries research and development
Challenge 4 actions addressed by this project:
Develop industry champions to bridge the gap between Australian-based knowledge and that developed
overseas. NRP-4 RRDP-7
Foster an environment that encourages innovation and its adoption to assist the development of the
industry. NRP-4 RRDP-7
Enhance opportunities for information and technology transfer within and between sectors. NRP-4
RRDP-7
Final report
Through FRDC scholarships, Nuffield Australia aims to provide a significant boost to the fishing and aquaculture industry's understanding of the international forces affecting the industry and the need to adopt new technology and management practices to continue to maintain productivity growth.
The following FRDC scholarships were awarded:
- 2008 Lester Marshall, Port Lincoln
- 2009 Adam Butterworth, Port Lincoln
- 2010 Ian Duthie, Tasmania
In addition, and largely as a result of promotion of Nuffield scholarships within the industry as a result of this project, Ben Tyley was awarded a Sidney Myer scholarship in 2010.
Outcomes include encouragement for greater participation by younger primary producers in their industries; nurturing of a mindset amongst young primary producers to take a global perspective of their enterprises; encouraging an ethos of lifelong learning; and membership of an elite group of farmers around the world – an invaluable lifelong network of contacts and information transfer.