The award scheme, launched by large rural insurer NFU Mutual to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2010, gives annual bursaries to pay 75% of course fees for selected post graduate students in agriculture.

2012 was the third year of the scheme, and the following five students have been selected for the award this year:

•    Francine Gilman, MSc Livestock Production Science, Writtle College
•    James Hill, MSc Rural Estate Management, Royal Agricultural College.
•    Lynne Harbison, MSc Agricultural Development Economics, The University of Reading.
•    Stephanie Collingbourne, PhD in Agriculture (pig genetics), Writtle College.
•    Georgia Mitrousia, PhD in Life Sciences (prevention of disease in oilseed rape), The University of Hertfordshire.

In talking about the award, Richard Percy, NFU Mutual Chairman, said: “At NFU Mutual we recognise the crucial role students in agriculture play in the future of the industry.  Our aim for the Centenary Award scheme is to create a long-standing legacy for the future, and highlight our commitment to young people and the countryside.”

The award was open to students who had gained, or were expected to gain, a 2:1 or above in agriculture or a closely related degree, and had been accepted on a Masters or PhD course in agriculture in the UK.

To select the students, the award’s judging panel looked for applicants who were not only excellent academic performers, but were also committed to the future of agriculture. The objective was to select potential rural leaders of the future, so that the bursary payments will not only help the individual students, but also benefit the agricultural industry at large.

Mr Percy added: “As a rural insurer, with its history interwoven in farming, NFU Mutual recognises the challenges facing the agricultural industry such as climate change, food security, and international agricultural development.”

 In response to this, the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust specifically identified three topic areas of interest for the 2012 award – which had to be a main part of the student’s course:
•    Sustainable agriculture
•    Climate change and agriculture
•    International agricultural development

The Centenary Award is a long-term scheme, and bursaries will again be available in 2013. Next year a new topic area will be added to the award criteria - the application of science and innovative technology to the agricultural industry.

Applications for the award next year will be invited from the start of January 2013 Information about the scheme can be found on the NFU Mutual website: www.nfumutual.co.uk

In the meantime, prospective post graduate agricultural students who would like to find out more about the award can contact centenary_award@nfumutual.co.uk.