Rural insurer NFU Mutual is seeking recipients for its Centenary Award bursaries, which will pay for up to 75% of post-graduate agriculture students’ course fees.
The award was set up in 2010 to celebrate NFU Mutual’s 100th anniversary to support the agricultural leaders of the future and to champion research and innovation within the industry.
The awards are available to those who have gained, or are expected to gain, a 2:1 or above in an agriculture-related degree and who and have been accepted or provisionally accepted onto a UK masters or PhD course in agriculture starting during the 2024/25 academic year.
NFU Mutual said studies should feature sustainable agriculture and climate change, international agricultural development, or the application of science and innovative technologies in agriculture as a key part of the course.
The closing date for applications for the bursaries is June 30, 2024 and recipients will be announced in October by NFU Mutual.
Judges will be looking for applicants who are not only excellent academic performers, but also have a “real passion” for agriculture and demonstrate potential to become future industry leaders.
To date, 52 young people have received help through the Centenary Award to help further their education, NFU Mutual said.
2023 recipients
Three postgraduate agricultural students from across the UK were selected to receive a Centenary Award bursary for the 2023/2024 academic year.
The students chosen and their courses were:
- Megan Phillips, Herefordshire – MSc Sustainable and Efficient Food Production, Aberystwyth University;
- Peter Reis, Cornwall – MSc Ruminant Nutrition, Harper Adams University;
- Ludo de Falbe, Norfolk – MPhil Crop Sciences, University of Cambridge.
Phillips is a graduate trainee at Dunbia, and is undertaking her masters course to support her career aspirations.
“I’ve always been interested in animal genetics and red meat production to help farmers across the UK,” she said.
“The teaching of this masters degree is allowing me to see the financial and physical positives of experimental ideas which bring both farmers’ opinions and business knowledge into the equation.”
Reis, who works full time as a ruminant nutritionist at Mole Valley Feed Solutions, is undertaking his masters degree to help bring new and novel techniques to the farmers he works under.
“I have a real passion to learn about and pioneer new feeding techniques to increase the efficiency of dairy, beef and sheep farms in the region, while also decreasing the carbon footprint of the industry,” he said.
“My goal is to become a leader in nutrition within Cornwall and Devon, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to enhance my knowledge.”
De Falbe is undertaking his masters to explore techniques to develop resilience of crops to climate change.
“My studies include an investigation into gas exchange plants, and how the air spaces in leaves develop, with a view to improving water-use efficiency,” he said.
On the 2023 bursary recipients, NFU Mutual chair Jim McLaren said: “Our Centenary Award bursary scheme aims to champion research and innovation for the UK agricultural industry, while also supporting passionate individuals to advance their careers.
“We are delighted to be supporting Megan, Peter and Ludo with our Centenary Award bursaries, and wish them all the very best for their postgraduate courses.”
