Grains Research and Development Corporation chairman John Woods said the GRDC was proud to be associated with Nuffield Australia and the growth in capacity it provides to the grains industry.

“It’s not just the grains industry, though, as we believe Nuffield Farming Scholarships build capacity for the entire agricultural industry, so the value of the scholarship program cannot be overstated,” Mr Woods said.

“The scholars who come through the program bring a huge breadth of understanding and insight to our industry, and GRDC is invested in capturing that for the grains industry.

“Indeed, it is these kinds of motivated and enthusiastic people that the GRDC hopes will potentially work with us in the future, perhaps even at a panel or board level.”

Each GRDC-funded scholarship provides a $30,000 bursary for the recipient to study a topic relevant to their business and industry.

It incorporates a Contemporary Scholars Conference, Global Focus Program and individual study program of 16 weeks over two years, with flexibility provided.

Previous recipients’ research topics have included the use of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones for use in data capture on-farm; achieving sustainable high yields from continuous double-cropping with overhead irrigation; and the co-existence of agriculture and mining.

Mr Woods said the scholarships were an example of the diversity of the GRDC’s investments.

“The GRDC’s primary objective is to drive the discovery, development and delivery of world-class innovation to enhance the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Australian grain growers and benefit the industry and the wider community,” he said.

“We do that in a number of ways, including research, but the Nuffield Scholarships are about investing in leadership for the future.

“Our scholars not only contribute to our industry through their research, but also through that leadership and network that Nuffield provides.

“It really is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to build capacity in their business, in the grains industry and in agriculture.

“We look forward to seeing all the applications and choosing our scholars for 2018.”

Applications close June 16.