9:50am Monday 15th March 2010
By Mike Pryce
AHEREFORDSHIRE farm expert has left England on the first leg of a worldwide journey of a lifetime, searching for innovative ways to improve communication between farmers, rural organisations and the public.
Adam West from Ledbury is one of just 21 winners of the Nuffield Farming Scholarships 2010, all drawn from farming, food, and rural industries. He will begin his travels in the United States, at an international conference on the global food crisis, before setting off on solo studies in his chosen destinations Australia, New Zealand, California and Sweden.
There, he will meet industry experts and search out groundbreaking information and techniques that he hopes will help to steer the future of UK farming.
Mr West, who is aged 40, currently works for Natural England as a land management adviser. He was born on his parents’ farm near Ledbury, before being the first member of his family to go to university, at Keele in Staffordshire. He graduated in biochemistry and biology and went on to gain a post-graduate degree in crop protection from Harper Adams College, near Newport, Shropshire, which is now a university. After that, he worked in farm management, in fresh produce supply for supermarkets, and then joined Natural England.
He is based in Worcester.
Mr West said: “I am passionate about farming and the food chain industry and I think that came through in my presentation to the panel of senior industry experts who selected me for a scholarship.
The poor perception and lack of understanding that the British public has of farming and rural issues needs to be addressed if people are to realise the value and quality of their countryside and food. It is imperative that farmers and stakeholders communicate with each other and with the public more effectively.
“I have seen farming from the tractor, the food marketing side and from a land management perspective and I am aware that in other countries they have a quite different view of national food production and rural issues, often a more positive one. I aim to come back with some fresh ideas to improve the public perception of farming and the countryside, which will, I hope include greater industry co-ordination.”
Touching down at Washington DC, Mr West was joined by Nuffield scholars from Australia Canada, France, Ireland and New Zealand as well as delegates from likeminded associations around the world. The focus of this year’s scholarships is the Global Food Crisis.
Mr West said: “Natural England has been very supportive and will be contributing my annual training time allowance towards the study. I am indebted to the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust and Natural England for this wonderful opportunity to have a positive influence on the industry that means so much to me.”
Mr West is leaving his wife Kate and baby son Tim to travel for eight weeks during the coming 18 months to complete his research and present his recommendations at the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust Conference in November 2011.
Roger Owen from Natural England said: “I congratulate Adam on his success at being awarded this prestigious scholarship. It will provide a wonderful opportunity not only for Adam to experience how different countries and communities work to better integrate food production and consumer understanding, but also enable him to implement some of his findings here in the West Midlands.”
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