Today on series two of Tales of a Nuffield Scholar supported by NFU Mutual we continue looking ahead to the 2026 Nuffield Farming Scholarships Conference in Leeds ๐๏ธ Across this series weโre hearing from scholars who will feature within the conference presentation groups, giving a flavour of the conversations, ideas and experiences set to shape the event ๐
This episode focuses on the presentation group โGrowing New Possibilities: Seaweed to Sustainable Timberโ with Molly Gupta, Peter Rowe and Tom McVeigh ๐ฑ
We spoke about three very different journeys into land use and natural resource management, from seaweed farming and food systems through to commercial forestry and agroforestry. What was fascinating was how all three scholars arrived at similar questions around sustainability, resilience and how we make better use of the resources around us ๐
Molly shared her journey from an urban upbringing in West London into the world of food systems and seaweed farming, exploring how seaweed could play a bigger role in food, feed and environmental solutions. Peter spoke about commercial forestry and the opportunities that exist to diversify timber production in the UK, while Tom discussed his search for profitable future crops, focusing on the potential for hazelnuts and tree crops within British farming systems ๐
Across the conversation there were some brilliant discussions around innovation, resource efficiency and learning from other countries. Whether it was seaweed farming in Tanzania and Madagascar, forestry systems in South America and Europe, or nut production across North America and the continent, all three highlighted the value of stepping outside the UK to see how others are tackling similar challenges ๐พ
One of the strongest themes running through the episode was curiosity. Each scholar started with a question, but all found their topics evolving as they travelled, met people and uncovered opportunities they had never originally planned to explore. It was a great reminder that some of the best discoveries happen when you leave room for the unexpected
Without giving away everything that will be shared on stage in Leeds, this episode offered another fascinating glimpse into the future opportunities emerging across farming, forestry and food systems.
Thank you to NFU Mutual for their support of this project.
Enjoy! ๐
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