Nuffield scholarship opens door to global farming research for Killucan woman

A Killucan woman is one of four people to receive Nuffield Ireland Scholarships for 2027.

Emma Flynn, who works with Bord Bia, said she was “shocked” to have been selected for the scholarship, which will allow her to travel internationally while researching the future of tillage farming.

Under the 18-month programme she will examine how farmers are balancing sustainability and profitability, with a focus on how sustainable practices can improve the competitiveness of tillage farms.

“Tillage is going through a tough time on margin and prices,” Emma said. “I want to look at how sustainability can drive competitive advantage on tillage farms and look at global best practice in that.”

Emma will be able to carry out her Nuffield researches alongside her job with Bord Bia as Project and Scheme co-ordinator for Horticulture and Tillage, working across national sustainability and quality assurance programmes, including the development of a new assurance programme for Irish combinable crops.

Along with working with Bord Bia, Emma is also involved in the family farm run by her parents, Adrian and Philomena, growing cereals and rotational crops. The family also have a machinery business.

Emma is a graduate of Agricultural Science from SETU in Waterford and subsequently completed an MSc in Food Business Strategy at UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.

She comes from a family of three sets of twins. She and her twin are 28, their siblings are 27 and 10. The scholarship will involve international travel, and Emma is due to attend a conference in Zimbabwe next February before taking part in a six-week Global Focus programme involving travel and research.

She will then undertake further research as part of the scholarship, choosing the countries and locations most relevant to her study.

Emma said one of the major benefits of the programme was the international network. “There’s Nuffield scholars all over New Zealand, UK, Australia. There’s loads of different scholars and it’s like a great community,” she said.

“So, when you’re going abroad, you can contact a Nuffield scholar in that country. So it’s great information sharing as well: it’s not just you get the scholarship and the chance to study, it’s getting into that community and drawing from their knowledge as well.”

Nuffield Ireland chair Grainne Dwyer said Emma combined a strong background in agricultural science and food business with practical experience of assurance programmes and farming.

“Her research into how farmers around the world balance sustainability and profitability will help to inform the future of Irish tillage, and we look forward to seeing what she brings back,” she said.

Emma will be formally introduced as one of the 2027 Nuffield Ireland Scholars at their annual conference, Farming the Future – People, Purpose, Possibilities, at the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone on Friday November 6.

The conference will examine the future of farming and will feature discussions on farming, nature and the next generation, the changing consumer and the potential impact of artificial intelligence, robotics and data on agriculture.

The four 2027 Nuffield Ireland Scholars will conduct their research over the next two years before presenting their findings at the 2028 Nuffield Ireland Conference.

Nuffield Ireland 30th Anniversary Conference - Farming the Future