2000 Nuffield Farming Scholarship Winners

The 2000 Nuffield Farming Scholarship winners are Adrian Gault of Opotiki, and Hugh Ritchie of Otane, Hawke's Bay.

Outstanding farmers are awarded scholarships to allow them to study agricultural subjects of their choice internationally, following an initial program in South East Asia, the United Kingdom, and Europe.

Adrian Gualt, a sheep/beef farmer and orchardist, will study the biotechnology application of gene marking and marker assisted selection in the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States and New Zealand.

He believes that the ability to specifically select animals, trees and crops that can out-perform others, or have disease resistances, could improve the economic viability and environmental sustainability of New Zealand's primary sector.

Hugh Ritchie is Farm Manager of a family-owned livestock and cropping farm at Otane, Hawke's Bay. He will study arable farming sustainability with regard to soil health using minimum tillage, and water usage in Europe, Canada/USA, and France.

Hugh considers that more and more issues on resource use are being questioned, not only at a local level but also in international market places, and that the adoption of 'best practise' methods will be demanded by end consumers.

The Scholarships are sponsored by: Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc), Meat New Zealand, New Zealand Dairy Board, New Zealand Wool Board, Mackenzie Charitable Foundation, New Zealand Nuffield Farming Scholars Association, Pipfruit Growers NZ Inc, and Zespri International Ltd.

ENDS For further information, contact: Peter Jensen, Chairman of New Zealand Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust, Phone (07) 543 1061 Mobile (025) 972 551 Fax (07) 543 2551

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