Four new scholars have been selected for the Nuffield International Programme beginning in 2027, ahead of Nuffield’s annual conference, taking place on Friday 6 November at the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone. The young scholars will conduct international research to benefit the tillage, pig, poultry, horticulture and dairy sectors.
Niamh Brennan comes from a farming and equine background in Kilcruise, Co Laois. She is currently working as a senior policy executive with the IFA, responsible for horticulture, potatoes, renewable energy and equine. She is a UCD agricultural science graduate and is an active COPA-COGECA member.
Her Nuffield study will examine how Ireland can strengthen its domestic potato and horticulture sector to improve food security, reduce reliance on imports and build a more resilient food supply. She hopes to make international visits to growers, industry organisations, researchers and policymakers to inform her research.
“I will explore how policy, investment and industry collaboration can support growers to overcome challenges such as rising production costs, labour availability, climate challenges and access to technology,” she said.
Shauna Jagger hails from Blessington, Co Wicklow, and is now living in Ballyhaise, Co Cavan. She is a client executive for pigmeat and poultry at Bord Bia. Having not grown up on a farm, she is now involved in her partner’s family dairy and poultry farm and is building her own pedigree Angus herd.
Her study will look at the future of the Irish poultry and pig sectors.
“There are great benefits that the intensive sectors bring, in terms of efficiency,” she said.
“Both pork and poultry are being more highly consumed from that value for money perspective, but also for the health and versatility attributes.
“It would be interesting to see how other countries do it, whether it’s other countries with massive intensive pigs and poultry scale and production, or whether it’s small.”
Tom McGrath comes from a farm in Shanagarry, Co Cork, and is head of commercial at Glenilen Farm, the west Cork dairy business.
McGrath began his career at Ornua and has led Glenilen’s commercial strategy since 2014, growing turnover to over €20m.
His study will focus on creating greater value from Irish milk.
“Ireland is exceptionally good at producing milk. The next opportunity is ensuring we capture more of its value,” he said.
“Ireland produces some of the best milk in the world, yet a significant proportion of the yogurt on our supermarket shelves is imported. I want to understand how we can turn more Irish milk into higher-value Irish products.”
McGrath plans to study successful value-added dairy businesses internationally with particular interest in Australia and New Zealand.
Emma Flynn comes from a tillage farm at Killucan, Co Westmeath, and is currently project and scheme co-ordinator for horticulture and tillage at Bord Bia. She is a SETU agricultural science graduate with an MSc in food business strategy.
Flynn said her study will look at potential value propositions for Irish grain.
“At the minute, it’s very bad out there for the tillage sector,” she said.
“I think it is very topical to see if we could have a value add, and if sustainability can play a part in that.”
Emma said the focus of her study may change as the programme progresses, but she will explore how growers, internationally, balance sustainability with profitability, hoping to bring this knowledge back home.
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