FARMING NEWS, ADVICE AND MARKETS
A NEW £15,000 bursary to research and recommend a roadmap for British dairy farmers to become net zero has been announced.
The Trehane Trust, best known for its sponsorship of dairy-focused Nuffield Scholars, is welcoming individual or joint applications for the fellowship, with applicants requiring “technical knowhow, practical farming experience and a commercial understanding of the UK dairy industry and its current environmental challenges”.
Strong analytical skills and the practical and economic application of knowledge will also be needed, and a network of relevant UK and global contacts is an advantage.
Diana Allen, chair of the Trehane Trust, said: “We have been developing this fellowship study to address the challenges faced by UK dairy farmers as they adjust and adapt to new practices that would reduce their emissions.
“We are looking for a clear and focussed insight into the UK dairy industry requirements and the practical application of guidelines and initiatives on farm that promote mitigation and adaptation of climate change. These should include the economic implications to help dairy producers to invest wisely and confidently.”
The fellowship is expected to take about 12 weeks, spread within a nine to 12-month timeframe. Most of the research will be desk-based, but some international travel to policy and research centres is anticipated, to identify what other countries are doing to reduce their agricultural emissions.
The successful applicant(s) will be expected to provide the Trehane Trust with regular updates on progress, so that these findings can be a part of guiding the UK dairy industry into a net zero position.
Funds can be awarded to either UK or overseas residents with an interest and involvement in the UK agricultural and food production sectors.
Expressions of interest are invited until Sunday, February 28, and the award will be made by March 31. Further details and application forms are available from Rachel Bowcutt, Trehane Trust secretariat at RABDF, on rachelbowcutt@rabdf.co.uk or 0845 458 2711. Prospective applicants can also submit their own expressions of interest directly.