The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) will continue as the main conference sponsor of the 2024 Nuffield Farming annual conference. Returning scholars will share their findings and will be welcoming the new cohort of 2025 scholars to Belfast from 19 to 21 November 2024.

The partnership reflects AHDB's commitment to fostering innovation and leadership within the agricultural sector by supporting Nuffield's mission of advancing positive change in agriculture.

The event brings together industry leaders, farmers, and scholars to collaborate, share insights, and drive forward-thinking solutions for the challenges facing the agricultural industry today. It also aligns closely with strategic priorities and commitment to cultivating resilient, knowledge-based leadership.

Graham Wilkinson, CEO of AHDB, said: "Our collaboration with Nuffield is a testament to our shared values of education, innovation, and leadership within agriculture. This partnership provides not only invaluable support to emerging leaders but also delivers tangible benefits to levy payers, the backbone of British agriculture. Through platforms like this, we can bring industry-leading expertise directly to those who can use it to strengthen and grow their businesses.

"Supporting initiatives like Nuffield Scholarships has allowed AHDB to champion innovative thinking and practical solutions that benefit the entire industry. Through shared knowledge, strategic collaboration, and strong, decisive leadership, we are paving the way for a sustainable, resilient future in agriculture. We look forward to many more years of partnership with Nuffield, inspiring the next generation of agricultural leaders."

The conference also highlights AHDB-sponsored scholars presenting research directly aligned with AHDB's strategic goals, including Rob Howe's exploration of farm veterinarians' roles to help farmers maximise Natural Capital Value', and Ruth Grice's insights into collaboration between dairy farmers and environmental organisations to achieve sustainable food security. These contributions illustrate the meaningful impact of Nuffield scholars' work on the industry and on AHDB's wider network of stakeholders.

Joining the scholars, AHDB's own Izak van Heerden, AgriLeader Programme Lead, will present on 'AgriLeadership for Tomorrow's World', a timely exploration into the evolving future of work in agriculture. His insights are part of AHDB's broader AgriLeader programme, which aligns with Nuffield's aim "to develop the future leaders of the farming, horticulture, forestry, and rural industries" with the partnership providing levy payers with a platform for tackling the sector's challenges.

AHDB's sponsorship of the Nuffield annual conference also extends to supporting the development of Nuffield's AgDiversity programme - an online Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) training module, aimed at fostering more inclusive workplaces and reaching underrepresented groups across the agricultural industry. This initiative underscores the joint commitment of both AHDB and Nuffield to building a more diverse and equitable sector.

As AHDB looks toward a future of shared success, Mr Wilkinson also emphasised the importance of continued collaboration, adding: "The Nuffield programme provides our industry's future leaders with unmatched opportunities to gain fresh perspectives and bring new ideas home, supporting our mission of helping levy payers unlock their full potential. Together with Nuffield, we are creating a legacy of positive change for British agriculture."