What was it all about?

Nuffield Scholarships provide an opportunity for scholars to travel overseas on a research scholarship relating to their business and industry. It is a 16-week program consisting of both group and individual travel. The objective is to increase primary production knowledge, management skills and techniques.

Ben Haslett, whose family business produces citrus, almonds, wine grapes and stone fruit, was awarded a 2015 Nuffield Scholarship from the horticulture industry under project AH14014. He studied how rural communities can secure information, infrastructure and representation required to be competitive in a world market.

In March-April 2015 Ben toured the UK, France, Washington DC, California, Mexico, Brazil and New Zealand over six weeks, with nine other scholars.

On his nine weeks of individual study, he travelled to California and Nebraska in the US, France, Spain, and the Netherlands and also markets in Hong Kong.

Ben concluded from his study that access to political positions by farmers increases influence and, when coupled with good levels of funding, helped protect the interests of regional areas. The needs of rural Australia would be better communicated with the establishment of a truly representative, well resourced, peak advocacy body that can present a clear, costed case to key decision makers.

The Nuffield Farming Scholarship program is a very targeted and proven way of investing directly into the advancement of Australian agriculture. The benefits of the Nuffield Scholarship do not cease on their return to Australia. Rather, as a consequence of his or her experience, Scholars are generally committed to a life-long involvement in the international Nuffield network driven by a thirst for continued learning.

ACT NOW

• Watch Ben presenting the findings of his study to his peers at the Nuffield Australia National Conference
• Read this profile on Ben and his project on the Nuffield Australia website
• Access Ben’s final written report