Nuffield Ireland

We develop leaders who will shape the future of Irish agriculture and local, national and global communities 🌏 Visit our website for more details!

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

Join us on 6 November at Hodson Bay Hotel Athlone for Nuffield Ireland 30th Anniversary Conference and hear from our returning 2025 Nuffield Scholars.

Farming the Future is kindly sponsored by FBD Insurance.
🎟️ Book your place: https://t.co/npupLX0Po4

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

@bryanjdaniels Sorry for your loss, Bryan.

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

To mark our 30th anniversary, @NuffieldIreland has donated €5,000 to @EmbraceFARM, a thank-you to all the alumni who helped make the 2026 @NuffieldInt Triennial possible 💚

📸 Norma Rohan of @EmbraceFARM receives our donation cheque from Mary Webb & Gráinne Dwyer

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

🏆 Congratulations to Dr Zoe McKay, 2025 @NuffieldIreland Scholar, winner of the 2026 Padraig Walshe Award for best presentation, voted by attendees at our 30th Anniversary Conference!
Her study: Future Grasslands: Building Resilience Through Adaptation to Climate Change 🌱

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

Zoe went on to win the 2026 Padraig Walshe Award for best returning Scholar presentation! 🏆

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

Yesterday Dr. Zoe McKay presented at the @NuffieldIreland #FarmingTheFuture conference.

Zoe is a returning 2025 Nuffield Ireland Scholar and discussed the topic:
“competitive advantage lies in growing grass, but how do we protect that in a changing climate?”

Zoe highlighted how changing rainfall patterns are affecting grass growth and farm productivity, while drought and the pressures of farming can also take a toll on farmers’ mental health.
She stressed the importance of adapting to climate change, not just reducing emissions, pointing to more diverse pastures, better feed planning and water management as ways to build resilience.

But farmers can’t be expected to find all the solutions themselves.
Zoe called for better climate risk tools, dedicated research funding and policies that support adaptation, including grass-fed standards that allow farming systems to evolve.

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

Great to hear from our 2027 Nuffield Ireland Scholars at today's #FarmingTheFuture conference!

Emma Flynn, Shauna Jager, Niamh Brennan and Tom McGrath took the opportunity to introduce themselves ahead of their Nuffield journeys.

Best of luck to all four! 👏

#Nuffield30

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

What will tomorrow’s consumers want?

At #FarmingTheFuture, Paul Kelly, Richard Cooper, Mandy Hennebry & Jack Boland discussed trust in Irish food, changing nutrition trends, GLP-1s and the influence of social media on what we eat.

#Nuffield30 #IrishFood

[Mike Brady @BradyGroupAgri]

@NuffieldIreland annual conference’Farming the Future, People, Purpose, Possibilities.

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

Could the way farmers see themselves influence how they farm?

Our 2026 Nuffield Scholars shared how farmers in some countries refer to themselves as CEOs, reflecting a different approach to decisions and risk.

Food for thought at #FarmingTheFuture!

#Nuffield30

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

Ireland's competitive advantage is growing grass, but climate change is testing that.

At #FarmingTheFuture, Zoe McKay called for more diverse pastures, better climate risk tools and policies that help farmers adapt, not just reduce emissions.

#Nuffield30

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

“People are the most valuable part of any supply chain.”

At #FarmingTheFuture, Majella McCafferty highlighted gaps between farmers, businesses and consumers, and the need to ensure the effort of producing food translates into real value for farmers.

#Nuffield30

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

“AI can make a decision, but it does not have to deal with the consequences.”

Dr Siobhán Jordan of Teagasc challenges us to ask what problem technology solves and whether we want high-tech or highly resilient farming.

AI must earn our trust.

#FarmingTheFuture #Nuffield30

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

“Farmers need courage to let the next generation do things differently.” – Aisling Meehan

“Women are the secret weapon.” – Claire Brennan

Great discussion with Dr Catherine Farrell & David Kerr at #FarmingTheFuture.

#Nuffield30

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

Generous incentives alone won't get more trees planted on Irish farms.

At #FarmingTheFuture, Marina Conway highlights rigid rules, concerns over permanence and the need for greater farmer choice and better advisory support.

#NuffieldIreland #Agroforestry

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

Generational renewal is a challenge for farming worldwide, including Ireland’s sheep sector.

At #FarmingTheFuture, 2025 Scholar Seamus McMenamin highlights education, diversification and capturing more added value as key considerations for the future.

#Nuffield30

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

Tomorrow's the big day!

Executive Director and 2000 Scholar Catherine Lascurettes has a message ahead of Nuffield Ireland’s 30th anniversary conference in Athlone.

Everyone welcome - last chance to book!

🎟️ https://t.co/Ae5QGvznZs

#Nuffield30

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

Jim McCarthy was one of Nuffield Ireland’s first Scholars in 1996, alongside the late, great Padraig Walshe.

Here’s a glimpse of Jim’s farm in Romania!

Join our 30th anniversary celebration in Athlone on 6 Nov.

🎟️ https://t.co/pnw0mBB5vA

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

Catch up with 2026 Nuffield Ireland Scholar Kenny McAuley as he shares an update from his Nuffield travels!

Hear from Kenny and our other 2026 Scholars at #FarmingTheFuture this Friday, 6 Nov, in Athlone.

Everyone welcome!

🎟️ https://t.co/RdfiL5gj3z

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

What role could agroforestry play in Irish farming?

2025 Nuffield Scholar Marina Conway shares her research on agroforestry policy and practice at #FarmingTheFuture this Friday, 6 Nov, in Athlone.

Everyone welcome!

🎟️ https://t.co/npupLX0Po4

[Nuffield Ireland @NuffieldIreland]

How can we better connect food producers and consumers?

2025 Nuffield Scholar Majella McCafferty shares her findings at #FarmingTheFuture this Friday, 6 Nov, in Athlone.

Everyone welcome!

🎟️ https://t.co/npupLX0Po4