R2Kast - People in Food and Farming/All In

Today on series two of Tales of a Nuffield Scholar supported by NFU Mutual we begin looking ahead to the 2026 Nuffield Farming Scholarships Conference in Leeds 🎙️ Across this series we’ll hear from scholars who will feature within the conference presentation groups, giving a flavour of the conversations, ideas and experiences set to shape the event 🌍This first episode focuses on the presentation group “New Pathways for Land, Rivers, Carbon and Nature” with Ali Warren Walker, Laura Underdown, Stu Oates and Ben Andrews 🌱We spoke about the journeys that brought each of them into agriculture and Nuffield, from commercial science and food systems through to regenerative farming, television, environmental research and flooding resilience. It was fascinating hearing how different backgrounds and industries can all arrive at similar questions around the future of land use and sustainability 🚜Across the episode we explored everything from fossil free farming and natural capital markets through to waste valorisation, flooding, biodiversity and the role of farming in protecting rivers and ecosystems. One of the most interesting parts was hearing how much their thinking has already changed through travel, conversations and seeing systems first hand around the world 🌍There were some brilliant discussions around collaboration too, particularly how farmers, researchers and businesses can work together rather than in isolation. While all four scholars have very different topics, there was a clear thread running through the conversation about resilience, curiosity and challenging the way things have always been done 🌾We also got a real insight into the Nuffield experience itself, how topics evolve during travel, how ideas get reshaped by the people you meet, and why being open minded is such an important part of the process. Without giving away everything that will be shared on stage in Leeds, this episode gives a really strong taste of what people can expect from the conference later this year  Thank you to NFU Mutual for their support of this project.Enjoy! 🙂 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I had Karen on the R2Kast 🎙️ She is Co-Dean in Agricultural Science and Practice at the Royal Agricultural University, working across teaching, research and international partnerships. 🌾We spoke about her journey from Venezuela to Spain and then into the UK, building a career in agronomy and agricultural systems before moving into academia and leadership. It was a really interesting look at how different agricultural systems around the world compare and what that brings into teaching. 🍎  A big part of the conversation focused on education. What students are learning, how university farms are used for research and teaching, and why creating space to test ideas matters. We also spoke about international collaboration, particularly in China, and how bringing students and ideas together improves learning on both sides. 🌍We also touched on research, innovation and where agriculture is heading, especially around sustainability, food systems and resilience.Enjoy! 🙂 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Sarah Hughes 🎙️ Sarah works with Syngenta leading their amenity business across the UK and Ireland, covering sectors such as turf, forestry, pest management and ornamentals. She is also a 2017 Nuffield Scholar whose study explored the economics of vertical farming and whether controlled environment agriculture could offer viable opportunities for food production 🌾We spoke about Sarah’s unusual career path through agriculture, from training as an agronomist and working in arable crops to later running her own edible flower business supplying high end restaurants and hotels. That experience of producing high value crops sparked her interest in vertical farming and ultimately shaped the focus of her Nuffield study 🚜Sarah’s travels took her across the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Dubai and the United States, alongside the global Nuffield group on the CSC in Brazil. She reflected on how much excitement surrounded vertical farming at the time and how her research quickly showed the real challenge was the economics behind it. The technology could work, but the costs of energy, labour and infrastructure often made the model incredibly difficult to sustain 🌍We also spoke about balancing Nuffield with family life, running a business and raising two children at the same time. Sarah made a really important point that there is no single way to complete a Nuffield Scholarship. Everyone’s circumstances are different and sometimes the best approach is simply finding a way to make it work around the life you already have 🌱Thank you to NFU Mutual for their support of this project.Enjoy! 🙂 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we welcome Liz Barron-Majerik to the R2Kast 🎙️ Scotland Director for Lantra and someone who has spent years working across STEM, forestry and land-based education. 🌾We started with the ALBAS awards, celebrating excellence in land-based and aquaculture skills, and the wider development programme that supports finalists beyond the ceremony itself. Liz explained how industry champions are developed, how mentoring and partnership working are recognised, and why celebrating learners and educators matters across the sector.We then went into her background, from studying plants and completing a PhD with the Agronomy Institute in Orkney, to leading departments at UHI Inverness including the forestry school. A big part of the conversation focused on apprenticeships, course design and the reality of creating qualifications that meet industry need rather than simply industry want.We spoke about Lantra’s role in approving training providers, shaping national occupational standards, supporting pre-apprenticeships through agricultural rings, and working cross border to share best practice. The discussion also covered STEM engagement, the importance of conversation over process, and her move to Qualification Scotland as Chief Accreditation Officer.Enjoy! 🙂 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we welcome Nikki and Ollie Lake to the R2Kast 🎙️ A farming couple who have built Thorabella Farm around direct sales, diversification and connecting people back to where their food comes from. 🌾We spoke about starting from scratch, buying 40 acres and gradually building a mixed system with buffalo, Jersey cows and sheep. Buffalo became central to the business, both from a grazing and commercial perspective, with meat sold directly to customers through farm sales, catering and events.A big part of the conversation focused on direct to consumer food systems. Why they believe consumers need to reconnect with food production, what changes when people buy straight from farms, and how transparency and face to face conversations shift understanding around meat and welfare.We also discussed diversification, winning Diversified Farm of the Year, the realities of filming farm life for television, and the financial balancing act of making a smaller acreage work through value adding rather than scale.Enjoy! 🙂 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we welcome Jackie Hough to the R2Kast 🎙️ A sheep farmer in the Boland Fells and Industry Manager for Land Based at City & Guilds. 🌾We began with life on the farm in the north of England, running around 700 to 800 sheep alongside finishing cattle. We discussed lambing indoors in challenging terrain, breed choices including Cheviot mules and Bluefaced Leicesters, and why systems have to adapt to remain commercially viable.The conversation then moved into her role at City & Guilds. Jackie explained how vocational qualifications are developed, how employer industry boards feed directly into qualification design, and why industry voice is essential in shaping training for the future workforce.We spoke about certificates of competence under the NPTC banner, short courses, competency based assessment and the importance of keeping qualifications relevant to real farm businesses. There was also discussion around apprenticeships, curriculum development and the need to bring agriculture more clearly into mainstream education pathways.Enjoy! 🙂 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.