Top 10 Nuffield Visits

As I wrap up writing my report, I have had a lot of time over the past number of weeks to relive my travels and reflect on all that I have experienced in the past two years.  The people I have met, the things I have seen and the once in a lifetime adventures I have had all contribute to the learning experience that is Nuffield Study.  In honour of almost being done phase one of this process I am recapping some top 10 moments.

Top 10 Nuffield Visits:

10.  Alltech Conference, Normandy, France - An excellent conference with new people, interesting ideas and new perspectives.  Not to mention it was a beautiful town in the NorthEast of France and the conference centre was right on the beach.

9.  Allflex Plant Tour - Vitre, France - Staying on the French leg of my travels.  A behind the scenes tour of how ear tags are made was something to see.  

8.  Morning Star Pub - Belfast, Northern Ireland - Ok, I know what you are thinking.  Why did a pub land this low on the list?  It was not about the cider (well not just about the cider), this pub sold the products that they raised on their own farm and sources the rest of their supplies from local producers.  A shining example of how the Taste of Ulster Program can excel.  Not to mention the food was phenomenal.

7.  Nuffield Place, Huntercombe, United Kingdom - No Nuffield trip through the UK is complete without a visit to Lord Nuffield's home.  Learning about the man who starting the Nuffield Scholarship program was a very simple way to show gratitude and a fascinating journey back in time.

6.  SIAL Show, Shanghai, China - Dubbed "Asia's Food Marketplace"  attending this food service trade show was a full on assault on the senses, much like China as a whole, it needs to be seen in person to be appreciated.

 

5.  Beef Processing Plant Tours - In Canada it is a rare treat to get behind the scenes at one of our packing plants and rarer still when the plant is operating but I was able to visit plants in Australia, Northern Ireland and Brazil.  Seeing the traceability systems in these plants and the basic system employed in Brazil was a learning experience all it its own.

4.  Coffee Plantation, near Ribeirão Preto, Brazil - For those of you who know me the only surprise should be that this comes in at number four.  I love coffee but being a Canadian we don't get the chance to grow our own coffee beans.  I visit to a plantation in Central Brazil during harvest was a special treat for this coffee lover.  

3.  Fairs & Exhibitions - Visiting agricultural fairs is something that I have done for a number of years.  I spent a day at a fair in a number of countries; Argentina, Australia, Ireland and United Kingdom.  Seeing how agriculture innovation at each of these events and the youth who are the up and coming farmers is always a treat.  

2.  Contemporary Scholar's Conference, Sydney/Canberra, Australia - The official kick off event for all new Nuffield Scholar's, it is also the only chance that all the 2014 Scholar from around the world get together in one place.  Meeting so many great people in one place in one week was something else.

1.  On Farm Visits- By far the highlight of all my trips.  Whether it was pasture tours in Argentina, a day with Mr. Li in Qingdao, China or sitting down at the kitchen table to discuss ideas and swap Nuffield stories.  The face to face meetings with fellow scholars, current and past is the best part of the experience.  Nuffielders are innovative, optimistic, passionate people about agriculture and from that great conversations occur.